EXIRA, Iowa — Even at a young age, Clara Lauritsen had a passion for feeding cattle.

“Feeding cattle is all I have ever known,” she says. “My dad put me in my first pay loader at the age of 9, and I’ve never questioned the career path I would follow.”

Ryan Steffensen didn’t want to wait until his children were grown or he was retired before getting involved.

“I’m trying to get involved early,” the 32-year-old says, explaining that he wants to be able to act in time to make a difference in his life and career, as well as in the lives of his children.

Michael Vittetoe grew up on a generational farm in Washington, Iowa, watching his father and grandfather operate the business, but farming wasn’t his focus as a child.

The 35-year-old said he was “indifferent” about farming, doing the normal chores and helping his father out with the farrow-to-finish hog operation. However, when studying engineering at Iowa State University, he started thinking more about the lifestyle.

WELLMAN, Iowa — The plan, says Matt Gent, was always coming home to farm.

“I knew from a pretty young age that this is what I wanted to do,” he says.