When was the last time you left the farm?

Colleen Stegenga
Aug 2, 2025
Aug 2, 2025

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

When was the last time you packed a bag and headed out of town? I mean a real trip away, just for you, not to deliver cattle to market, attend a farm conference, or watch your kids compete at state. It seems that most farmers rank a solo vacation at the absolute bottom of their to-do list, somewhere below "reorganize the tool shed" and "fix that gate that's been broken since spring."

kAmq6EH66? 52:=J 49@C6D[ D62D@?2= 56>2?5D[ 2?5 E96 4@?DE2?E C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ @7 42C:?8 7@C =:G6DE@4< 2?5 4C@AD[ ?F>6C@FD 5FE:6D E2<6 AC64656?46 367@C6 H6 6G6? 4@?D:56C D4965F=:?8 5@H?E:>6 7@C @FCD6=G6D] p =24< @7 E:>6[ >@?6J[ 2?5 8F:=E @7 =62G:?8 E96 @A6C2E:@? :? D@>6@?6 6=D6VD 92?5D @7E6? AC6G6?ED 72C>6CD 7C@> AFCDF:?8 ?6H 25G6?EFC6D]k^Am

kAm{6EVD 36 9@?6DE 23@FE E96 F?:BF6 32CC:6CD 72C>6CD 7246 H96? :E 4@>6D E@ E2<:?8 E:>6 2H2Jik^Am

kF=mk=:mkDEC@?8m%96 2?:>2=D 42?VE H2:E \k^DEC@?8m 52:CJ 4@HD ?665 >:=<:?8 6G6CJ `a 9@FCD] q667 42EE=6 ?665 52:=J 4964<D] r9:4<6?D ?665 7665:?8] &?=:<6 @77:46 H@C<6CD H9@ 42? AFE AC@;64ED @? 9@=5[ 72C>6CD >2?286 =:G:?8 C6DA@?D:3:=:E:6D E92E 4@?E:?F6 2C@F?5 E96 4=@4<]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m$62D@?2= E:>:?8 \k^DEC@?8m %96C6VD ?6G6C 2 Q8@@5Q E:>6 E@ =62G6] $AC:?8 A=2?E:?8[ DF>>6C 4F=E:G2E:@?[ 72== 92CG6DE[ H:?E6C >2:?E6?2?46j 6249 D62D@? 3C:?8D :ED @H? FC86?E 56>2?5D] qJ E96 E:>6 @?6 D62D@? 6?5D[ J@FVC6 2=C625J AC6A2C:?8 7@C E96 ?6IE] k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8mu:?2?4:2= AC6DDFC6k^DEC@?8m \ 6G6CJ 5@==2C DA6?E @? G242E:@? :D 2 5@==2C ?@E :?G6DE65 324< :?E@ E96 @A6C2E:@?] (96? J@FVC6 4@?DE2?E=J ;F88=:?8 6BF:A>6?E A2J>6?ED[ :?AFE 4@DED[ 2?5 >2C<6E G@=2E:=:EJ[ =6:DFC6 EC2G6= 766=D :CC6DA@?D:3=6]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m%CFDE :DDF6Dk^DEC@?8m \ 72C>6CD 2C6 4@?EC@=\@C:6?E65 3J ?646DD:EJ] (62E96C[ >2C<6ED[ 2?5 8@G6C?>6?E C68F=2E:@?D 4C62E6 6?@F89 F?46CE2:?EJ 2?5 255:?8 E96 G2C:23=6 @7 D@>6@?6 6=D6 >2?28:?8 J@FC @A6C2E:@? 766=D =:<6 E6>AE:?8 5:D2DE6C]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8mrF=EFC2= 8F:=E \k^DEC@?8m 72C> 4@>>F?:E:6D @7E6? G:6H 4@?DE2?E H@C< 2D 2 G:CEF6] %2<:?8 E:>6 7@C J@FCD6=7 42? 766= D6=7:D9 H96? J@FC ?6:893@CD 2C6 8C:?5:?8 E9C@F89 g_\9@FC H66<D]k^=:mk^F=m

k9bm%96 >6?E2= 962=E9 4@DE @7 ?6G6C 86EE:?8 2H2Jk^9bm

kAmp7E6C 564256D @7 EC62E:?8 4=:6?ED H:E9 DEC6DD\C6=2E65 5:D@C56CD[ x 42? E6== J@F E92E E96 Q2=H2JD @?Q ?2EFC6 @7 72C>:?8 4C62E6D 2 A6C764E DE@C> 7@C >6?E2= 962=E9 AC@3=6>Dik^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mr9C@?:4 DEC6DD 364@>6D ?@C>2=ik^DEC@?8m (96? J@F ?6G6C 7F==J 5:D4@??64E 7C@> H@C< C6DA@?D:3:=:E:6D[ J@FC 3@5J DE2JD :? 2 4@?DE2?E DE2E6 @7 =@H\=6G6= DEC6DD] %9:D =625D E@ A9JD:42= 962=E9 AC@3=6>D[ D=66A :DDF6D[ 2?5 6>@E:@?2= 6I92FDE:@? E92E 72C>6CD @7E6? >:DE2<6 7@C Q;FDE A2CE @7 E96 ;@3]Qk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m!6CDA64E:G6 EF??6= G:D:@?ik^DEC@?8m (96? J@FC 6?E:C6 H@C=5 C6G@=G6D 2C@F?5 J@FC 72C>[ D>2== AC@3=6>D 42? 766= 42E2DEC@A9:4] %92E 3C@<6? EC24E@C 364@>6D 2 A6CD@?2= 72:=FC6] p 325 4C@A J62C 364@>6D 6G:56?46 E92E J@FVC6 ?@E 4FE @FE 7@C 72C>:?8] v6EE:?8 2H2J 96=AD J@F C6>6>36C E92E D6E324<D 2C6 E6>A@C2CJ 2?5 >2?28623=6]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m#6=2E:@?D9:A DEC2:?ik^DEC@?8m $A@FD6D 2?5 49:=5C6? DF776C H96? 72C>6CD ?6G6C >6?E2==J =62G6 H@C<] u2>:=J 4@?G6CD2E:@?D C6G@=G6 2C@F?5 72C> AC@3=6>D] '242E:@?D 86E 42?46=65 7@C 92CG6DE] tG6?EF2==J[ 72>:=J >6>36CD DE@A 6IA64E:?8 J@FC 7F== 2EE6?E:@? 3642FD6 E96J <?@H E96 72C> 2=H2JD 4@>6D 7:CDE]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m{@DE :56?E:EJik^DEC@?8m u2C>6CD @7E6? 364@>6 D@ :56?E:7:65 H:E9 E96:C H@C< E92E E96J =@D6 E@F49 H:E9 @E96C 2DA64ED @7 E96>D6=G6D] (9@ 2C6 J@F H96? J@FVC6 ?@E 4964<:?8 42EE=6 @C A=2??:?8 4C@A C@E2E:@?Dn v6EE:?8 2H2J 7C@> E96 72C> 96=AD J@F C6>6>36C]k^Am

k9bm%96 D4:6?46 369:?5 86EE:?8 2H2Jk^9bm

kAm#6D62C49 4@?D:DE6?E=J D9@HD E92E E2<:?8 E:>6 2H2J 7C@> H@C<[ C62==J 2H2J[ ?@E ;FDE 2 52J @77 DA6?E 7:I:?8 6BF:A>6?E 42? AC@G:56 >62DFC23=6 >6?E2= 962=E9 36?67:EDik^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mq6EE6C D=66A A2EE6C?Dk^DEC@?8mi %C2G6=[ 6DA64:2==J E@ 5:776C6?E E:>6 K@?6D @C 6?G:C@?>6?ED[ 42? 96=A C6D6E 5:DCFAE65 D=66A 4J4=6D] x7 J@FVG6 366? =J:?8 2H2<6 2E b 2]>] H@CCJ:?8 23@FE 4@>>@5:EJ AC:46D[ 2 76H ?:89ED @7 G242E:@? D=66A >:89E 36 6I24E=J H92E J@FC 3@5J ?665D E@ C6>6>36C 9@H E@ C6DE]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m#65F465 3FC?@FEik^DEC@?8m $EF5:6D D9@H E92E A6@A=6 H9@ E2<6 C68F=2C G242E:@?D C6A@CE =@H6C =6G6=D @7 ;@3 3FC?@FE 2?5 9:896C ;@3 D2E:D724E:@?] u@C 72C>6CD[ E9:D EC2?D=2E6D E@ C6?6H65 6?E9FD:2D> 7@C E96 H@C< E92E 42==65 J@F E@ 28C:4F=EFC6 :? E96 7:CDE A=246]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mx>AC@G65 >@@5 2?5 4C62E:G:EJik^DEC@?8m tIA@DFC6 E@ ?6H 6?G:C@?>6?ED[ A6@A=6[ 2?5 6IA6C:6?46D DE:>F=2E6D 5:776C6?E A2CED @7 J@FC 3C2:?] *@F >:89E C6EFC? 9@>6 H:E9 7C6D9 D@=FE:@?D E@ @=5 AC@3=6>D @C ?6H :562D 7@C J@FC @A6C2E:@?]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mt?92?465 C6=2E:@?D9:ADik^DEC@?8m %:>6 2H2J 7C@> H@C< C6DA@?D:3:=:E:6D 2==@HD J@F E@ C64@??64E H:E9 72>:=J >6>36CD 2D A6@A=6[ ?@E ;FDE 76==@H 72C> H@C<6CD] *@FC DA@FD6 C6>6>36CD H9J E96J 76== :? =@G6 H:E9 J@F] *@FC 49:=5C6? D66 J@F 2D >@C6 E92? ;FDE E96 A6CD@? H9@ 2DD:8?D 49@C6D]k^Am

k9bm|2<:?8 72C> 7C:6?5=J EC2G6= H@C<k^9bm

kAm%96 <6J E@ DF446DD7F= EC2G6= :D A=2??:?8 E92E C6DA64ED 3@E9 J@FC ?665 7@C C6DE 2?5 J@FC 72C>VD @A6C2E:@?2= C6BF:C6>6?EDik^Am

People are also reading…

County school’s Easter parties created lasting memories
Virtual fence shows potential for producers
Fertilizer prices seasonally higher, rising globally
Couples partner to open Sasquatch Acres farmstand
Farmers visit Mexico ahead of USMCA talks
Defend Digestive Function to Protect Profitability
Social media talk burns my britches
Divine intent of creation respected
Good cattle and a giving nature: Late cowboy to receive hall of fame honors
Upside Robotics builds robots with sensors to fertilize cornfields in tiny doses
Brooks Chalky Butte Angus Ranch 2026 Production Sale
Nations race to secure enough fertilizer
2026 Farm Financial Stability loans overwhelm BND
The sacrifice and perseverance of a ranch woman
Precision ag technology put to work

kAmkDEC@?8m$E2CE D>2==ik^DEC@?8m *@F 5@?VE ?665 2 EH@\H66< tFC@A62? G242E:@?] p =@?8 H66<6?5 2H2J 42? AC@G:56 D:8?:7:42?E >6?E2= 962=E9 36?67:ED] tG6? @?6 ?:89E :? 2 9@E6= 2? 9@FC 7C@> 9@>6 42? 3C62< E96 4J4=6 @7 4@?DE2?E 72C> 2H2C6?6DD]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m!=2? 2C@F?5 J@FC 42=6?52Cik^DEC@?8m (@C< H:E9 J@FC D62D@?2= C9JE9>D :?DE625 @7 282:?DE E96>] (:?E6C >:89E @776C >@C6 7=6I:3:=:EJ 7@C 52:CJ @A6C2E:@?D] {2E6 72== 4@F=5 H@C< 7@C 4C@A 72C>6CD 27E6C 92CG6DE] z?@H J@FC 72C>VD ?2EFC2= D=@H A6C:@5D]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mrC62E6 C6=:23=6 DFAA@CE DJDE6>Dik^DEC@?8m s6G6=@A C6=2E:@?D9:AD H:E9 ?6:893@CD[ 72>:=J >6>36CD[ @C 9:C65 96=A H9@ 42? 4@>A6E6?E=J >2?286 J@FC @A6C2E:@? 7@C D9@CE A6C:@5D] $E2CE H:E9 52J EC:AD E@ 3F:=5 ECFDE 367@C6 2EE6>AE:?8 =@?86C 23D6?46D]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mr@>3:?6 3FD:?6DD H:E9 A=62DFC6ik^DEC@?8m %92E 28C:4F=EFC2= 4@?76C6?46 :? 2 H2C> 4=:>2E6n tIE6?5 :E 3J 2 76H 52JD] |66E:?8 H:E9 D665 562=6CD :? 2?@E96C DE2E6n qC:?8 J@FC DA@FD6 2?5 6IA=@C6 E96 2C62] %C2:?:?8 AC@8C2>D @7E6? E2<6 A=246 :? :?E6C6DE:?8 =@42E:@?D D@ E2<6 25G2?E286]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m{6G6C286 E649?@=@8Jik^DEC@?8m $64FC:EJ 42>6C2D[ 2FE@>2E65 7665:?8 DJDE6>D[ 2?5 D>2CEA9@?6 >@?:E@C:?8 42? 96=A J@F <66A 2? 6J6 @? 4C:E:42= @A6C2E:@?D H9:=6 DE:== 2==@H:?8 >6?E2= 5:DE2?46 7C@> 52:=J >2?286>6?E 564:D:@?D]k^Am

k9bmqF586E 7C:6?5=J @AE:@?D 7@C 72C> 72>:=:6Dk^9bm

kAm%C2G6= 5@6D?VE 92G6 E@ 3C62< E96 72C> 3F586Eik^Am

kAmkDEC@?8muC:6?5 2?5 72>:=J ?6EH@C<Dik^DEC@?8m %92E 4@==686 C@@>>2E6 H9@ >@G65 E@ r@=@C25@ 92D 366? :?G:E:?8 J@F E@ G:D:E 7@C J62CD] *@FC 4@FD:? :? %6I2D 92D 2 8F6DE C@@> 2?5 H2?ED E@ D9@H J@F E96:C @A6C2E:@?] %96D6 G:D:ED 4@>3:?6 42E49:?8 FA H:E9 7C:6?5D 2?5 6IA6C:6?4:?8 ?6H A=246D]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m~77\D62D@? 56DE:?2E:@?Dik^DEC@?8m q6249 C6D@CED @776C 566A 5:D4@F?ED :? H:?E6C] |@F?E2:? 56DE:?2E:@?D 2C6 4962A6C :? DF>>6C] %C2G6=:?8 5FC:?8 @77\A62< E:>6D 42? 4FE 4@DED 5C2>2E:42==J H9:=6 DE:== AC@G:5:?8 E96 >6?E2= 962=E9 36?67:ED @7 86EE:?8 2H2J] k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mt5F42E:@?2= EC2G6=ik^DEC@?8m tIE6?D:@? AC@8C2>D[ 72C> E@FCD[ 2?5 28C:4F=EFC2= >:DD:@?D @7E6? AC@G:56 DECF4EFC65 EC2G6= @AA@CEF?:E:6D 2E C65F465 4@DED] *@FV== 82:? ?6H <?@H=6586 H9:=6 6IA6C:6?4:?8 5:776C6?E A=246D 2?5 4F=EFC6D]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m'@=F?E66C @AA@CEF?:E:6Dik^DEC@?8m s:D2DE6C C6=:67[ >:DD:@? H@C<[ 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ D6CG:46 AC@;64ED 42? AC@G:56 >62?:?87F= EC2G6= 6IA6C:6?46D H9:=6 4@?EC:3FE:?8 E@ 42FD6D J@F 42C6 23@FE] |2?J @C82?:K2E:@?D 4@G6C EC2G6= 6IA6?D6D 7@C G@=F?E66CD] %9:D @AE:@? :D A6CD@?2==J @?6 @7 >J 72G@C:E6D]k^Am

k9bmr@>:?8 9@>6 C6?6H65k^9bm

kAm%96 36DE A2CE @7 86EE:?8 2H2Jn r@>:?8 9@>6 H:E9 7C6D9 6J6D 2?5 C6?6H65 6?6C8J] !C@3=6>D E92E D66>65 :?DFC>@F?E23=6 367@C6 J@F =67E @7E6? 92G6 @3G:@FD D@=FE:@?D H96? J@F C6EFC?] tBF:A>6?E E92EVD 366? 7CFDEC2E:?8 J@F 7@C >@?E9D >:89E 86E 7:I65 :? 2? 27E6C?@@? H96? J@F 2AAC@249 :E H:E9 2 C6DE65 >:?5]k^Am

kAm*@FC 72>:=J ?@E:46D E96 5:776C6?46[ E@@] r9:=5C6? D66 2 A2C6?E H9@VD >@C6 A2E:6?E 2?5 AC6D6?E] $A@FD6D C65:D4@G6C E96 A6CD@? E96J >2CC:65 36?62E9 E96 72C>6C A6CD@?2]k^Am

k9bm%96 A6C>:DD:@? J@FVG6 366? H2:E:?8 7@Ck^9bm

kAmx7 J@FVC6 C625:?8 E9:D 2?5 E9:?<:?8 Qx D9@F=5 E2<6 2 EC:A[Q 4@?D:56C E9:D J@FC @77:4:2= A6C>:DD:@?] *@FC 72C> H:== DFCG:G6] *@FC 2?:>2=D H:== 36 7:?6] *@FC ?6:893@CD H@?VE E9:?< =6DD @7 J@F 7@C E2<:?8 42C6 @7 J@FC >6?E2= 962=E9]k^Am

kAm%96 36DE 72C>6CD x <?@H[ E96 @?6D H9@VG6 >2:?E2:?65 DF446DD7F= @A6C2E:@?D 7@C 564256D H9:=6 AC6D6CG:?8 E96:C >2CC:286D 2?5 C6=2E:@?D9:AD H:E9 E96:C 49:=5C6?[ 2C6 E96 @?6D H9@ F?56CDE2?5 E92E E2<:?8 42C6 @7 E96>D6=G6D :D?VE D6=7:D9j :EVD 6DD6?E:2=]k^Am

kAm(92E 2C6 J@F H2:E:?8 7@Cn !F== @FE E92E 42=6?52C[ 42== FA 2 7C:6?5[ E2=< E@ J@FC DA@FD6[ 2?5 DE2CE 5C62>:?8 @7 A=246D J@FVG6 2=H2JD H2?E65 E@ D66] *@FC 72C> ?665D J@F 2E J@FC 36DE[ 2?5 D@>6E:>6D 86EE:?8 2H2J :D 6I24E=J H92E :E E2<6D E@ 86E E96C6]k^Am

kAm%96 E:>6 :D ?@H] *@FC >6?E2= 962=E9 2?5 J@FC 72C> H:== E92?< J@F]k^Am

Colleen Stegenga, MSW, LCSW-PIP, QMHP, is a therapist and owner of Embracing Change Counseling Services, with offices in Sioux Falls and Mitchell. Reach her at colleen@embracingchangecs.com or visit www.embracingchangecs.com.