Meet Bette Lu Lerwick - 2011 Northwest Region Farm Mom Winner

Bette Lu and her husband run Homestead Acres, a combination cattle and dryland/irrigated family operation, in Albin, Wyoming. The family’s fourth generation is currently living and working on the original homestead. Bette Lu was nominated by her daughter.
Bette Lu's Nomination: If you take the road-less-traveled far enough, down gravel roads bracketing fields of sweat equity, you may find yourself in Wyoming and begin to wonder about the people who call these high-plains home. What does it take to plant a garden the size of a townhouse, or a square mile of sunflowers? And how do you raise teenagers 60 miles from the nearest hint of fast food, anyway?

You can’t quantify the impact an American farm mom has on her family, farm, community, or the agriculture industry, and mine is no exception.

Family Support: On a farm, it is impossible to “come home from work.” The kitchen table is the conference room, the mudroom the lobby, and the farmyard an unparalleled training center. Mom fills many supportive roles -- event planner, caterer, custodian, hired-hand, manager, and administrative assistant, to name a few. She is also a full-time caregiver for another amazing farm mom -- my grandmother.

Farm Support: Mom drives the tractor, bakes bread, delivers calves, and preserves enough garden produce to fill pantry and freezers. She helps with bookkeeping, maintains the farmyard, and still finds time to drive 60 miles to town for parts and groceries.

Community Support: Mom got EMT training for the rural volunteer fire department, volunteers in the school system, cooks for fundraisers, and makes a special effort to attend every community memorial service.

Supporting Agriculture: The best way to educate consumers about agriculture is to share your story and lifestyle with them. Mom has always opened her home to those interested in agriculture. She and Dad have welcomed exchange students, at-risk youths, and others to our farm for months at a time. They were featured in three media stories last year, including a state-wide newspaper and a national magazine. Family farms remain viable because of American farm moms like mine.
Follow the link if you want to vote for Bette Lu to be the 2011 Farm Mom national winner