2012 Northeast Region Winner: Sarah Peterson

I'm proud to be a part of MK Peterson Farm, a third generation family farm, located in the southwest corner of Michigan. On our farm we raise corn and soybeans on just over 1,000 acres of ground, and run a cow herd of around 300 head of Angus Simmental cross cattle on about 400 acres of pasture. We take advantage of our own corn and local availability of byproduct feeds in our onsite feedlot, where we grow out the majority of our calves to sell as fat cattle. Our farm is operated by four families including my husband’s parents, grandmother, brother, and Alan and I which provides a great environment not only for crop and cattle production but also for raising our kids.

Sarah's Nomination: Sarah Peterson's positive agricultural influence began long before graduating from Michigan State University with a B.S. in animal science specializing in agribusiness management, but it is what she has accomplished since then that makes her an outstanding candidate for Farm Mom of the Year. Seven years ago she married into our neighbor's farm operation, raising 1,050 acres of corn and soybeans as well as 320 head of Angus Simmental cross cattle. Various family members of all three generations continue to live and work on the farm. She and her husband, Alan, have two young children, ages 6 and 3. She fosters a love for animals in her kids by having goats, chickens, and horses near her homestead as well as a garden they help her tend to. The kids participate in 4-H and her oldest also plays youth soccer.

Video: Sarah (1:36min)

Her responsibilities on the farm include record keeping, helping to feed and process cattle, plow fields for planting, and filling in as a combine driver during meal times or whenever necessary. Sarah is on the Cass County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, is the Chairperson of the Promotion and Education Committee, and a member of the Young Farmer Committee. In 2010, she won the Michigan Farm Bureau Outstanding Young Agricultural Leader Award, in large part because she developed and executed a local farmer's CARE public relations campaign. That campaign was the national winner for the 2010 County Activities of Excellence Award for the American Farm Bureau Federation. She is passionate about educating the younger generation about the importance of agriculture. She has been known to bring in animals to her church preschool as well as speaking to local primary schools. She also volunteers her time with local fundraisers. Her children couldn't ask for a better role model in their Mom.