A New Future on an Old Farm

Beth Hoffman, a journalist with a three-decade career focused on agriculture and food, never imagined she would one day run a farm in rural Iowa. After meeting and marrying her husband, John Hogeland, she transitioned from city life to managing a 570-acre farm in Monroe County. Hoffman uses her journalistic background to write about sustainable farming and share stories of farmers through her column "In the Dirt" and her book Bet the Farm: The Dollars and Sense of Growing Food in America. Despite the financial challenges of farming, Hoffman and her husband prioritize sustainability and operate a diverse farm that grows hay, oats, and grass-fed cattle. With her focus on alternative crops and minimal pesticide use, Hoffman hopes to inspire others to rethink modern agriculture's approach.