Emma (Prange) Nelson knew from a very young age that regardless of where life led her, she’d always protect her family’s farm. Her youngest childhood memories involve feeding pigs, riding in a buddy seat, driving a truck across a barn lot and painting “those fuel tanks that always needed it, but no one wanted to do it.”
Learning the Ropes
Emma is currently the fifth-generation owner and operator of her family farm – Prange Farms. The youngest of four sisters, Emma quickly found herself learning the ropes farm life working alongside her father.
“My journey as a woman in ag wouldn’t have happened without my dad,” Emma admits. “He was always my mentor, teaching me everything he could while we worked together.”
Emma acknowledges she could be stubborn at times learning the ways of a row-crop farm, but her father always pushed her to keep learning, trying and figuring things out.
A Calling Home
Emma had nearly completed her master’s degree in ministerial leadership when tragedy struck — her father unexpectedly passed away.
“I remember my mom looking at me a few days after the service and asking me what I wanted to do,” Emma recounts. “I looked at my husband and then back at her and responded, ‘I always told Dad that as long as I was able, nothing was ever going to happen to this farm, so I’m going to take care of it.’"
That was in July of 2011 and Emma, along with her husband Ryan, has kept her word. Though she was studying to be a part-time church consultant, she always planned to be involved with the farm in some capacity.
“Dad was never sure if the farm could sustain multiple families, so he told me early on that I needed to have another source of income,” recalls Emma. “Growing up in the church, I had a heart for ministry, how churches function and how to create a welcoming environment to bring more people in. I never actually put that degree to work in a church, but I do feel that the lessons learned in strategic planning have helped on the farm.”
The Sixth Generation
Emma and Ryan adopted their son, Elijah, as a newborn. Now nearly four years old, Elijah is making his own memories of farm life.
“So far, Eli loves farming,” Emma says. “He loves riding in the equipment, helping take care of cattle and planting his own ‘seeds’ year-round. I’m anxious to see how his love and passion grow throughout his life, but, ultimately, it will be his decision on what role will be or how invested he wants to be as he gets older.”
A Woman in Ag
While farm life lends itself to unique opportunities for a family, juggling being a wife, mother and owner of the family farm isn’t always easy.
“It’s a difficult balancing act,” Emma confesses. “My dad always made it a priority to stop working and come to school events, basketball games and anything else we had growing up. It is my intention to do the same. Family is too important to push to the side for work.”
While Emma had an early entry into the ag industry, she has still had challenges to overcome as a woman in the industry, and one of the biggest has been overcoming the learning curve.
“There were several pieces of equipment I had never ran and had never driven on the road when my dad passed,” Emma says. “With it happening so suddenly, there just never seemed like there was enough time to learn everything, but I’m thankful for the neighbors who stepped in to answer questions and help when needed.”
One of her favorite memories occurred when she was just 16 or 17 years old. While drilling soybeans in a field near a busy road, a car pulled into the drive. Assuming there may be a problem, Emma stopped the tractor, got out and approached the car to find a gentleman who seemed a bit bewildered.
“He looked at me and said, ‘well now I’ve seen it all, a woman driving a tractor,’” Emma remembers. “I didn’t really know how to respond to that. I grew up watching my mom drive a tractor every spring doing tillage work. To me, this wasn’t a new idea or even abnormal. But it made me realize that not everyone looks at ag the same way.”
But Emma is encouraged by the progress she’s seen in recent years, listening to female agronomists at field days, working with women in equipment dealerships and behind parts counters.
“I think there are more women in ag than most people know or realize, and educating others is what will continue to help break these barriers. Women in ag are more than just farm wives; they are an active part in the day-to-day workings of the business and family. Their role matters just as much as anyone else’s.”