A rider pulls the reins taut and cuts the horse hard, the animal’s face bent low, focused on separating the cow from its herd. Dirt sprays from the horse’s powerful hooves, its blaze intent on reaching forward; its rider even more intent on keeping the horse’s movement fluid, yet focused. For Faith Farris, this is what it means to be alive.

A native of Midway, Tex., Faith has been riding horses since she was three years old. Faith lives and breathes horses, often sporting a trophy belt buckle and well-worn cap on her family’s ranch. She comes from a long line of horse trainers and cattlemen who passed their knowledge and equine prowess along to each generation of riders. The 19 year old spends a great deal of time on the ranch and started cutting horses when she was six, before studying hauling at 11.

When her father, Mitch Farris, first showed her how to cut horses, something inside Faith ignited. She knew this was something she was destined to be great at – and great doesn’t even begin to touch the surface. 

Faith has shown great horses, with impressive pedigrees, such as Quite the Fat Cat - “Ben,” Smooth Serena Ray and Big Shoes to Phil - “Phil.”

Faith applied her Farris training and shot out of the cutting pen hot, winning the AQHYA World Championships in 2017, 2018 and 2021 (Ben, Serena and Phil); NYCHA Junior Youth World Championships in 2018 (Serena); NYCHA Senior Youth World Championships in 2021 (Phil); NHSRA Girls Cutting World Championship in 2021 (Phil) and THSRA Girls Cutting State Championship in 2021 (Phil).

This is Faith’s last year in the Youth category and she’s expected to be inducted into the Youth Hall of Fame. Lately, She’s focusing on trade classes and school, alongside showing and assisting in her region with the NYCHA. 

In an interview with WesternWomen.com, Faith said, “I used to be so scared to death to show against all these kids. And scared that I was going to lose. And now I just feel I know I can do it with my horse, and I feel comfortable that I’ve gotten better throughout the years.”

Faith’s responsibility and work ethic has led to her success. Each time she saddles up for a competition, it’s a test of faith and of her motivation. Horses will always be her number one passion, and her accolades and awards showcase just how strong her commitment is. Faith’s advice for kids looking to get into cutting horses? Always move toward your dream. 

“You have to think you can do it,” Faith said. “Chase your dream, no matter what it is. If you think you can’t ride, know that anyone can and [others] will help you along the road.”

Her time competing in the NYCHA has helped her form relationships and meet lifelong friends. Faith’s family has watched her radiate positivity in the arena and shine bright in a sport they believe in.

Outside of the arena, Faith attends cosmetology school in Bryan, Tex, a passion she’s been pursuing since she was 13. She brings grace and flair to her show outfits, and Faith wants to use her passion for hair and makeup to help every young woman feel beautiful. Recently, Faith was accepted into Texas Tech and is pursuing an Agriculture Marketing degree. She’s interested in growing appreciation for agriculture and wants to use her success to market equestrian sports and ag awareness for the next generation. 

Faith is having the time of her life and we’re excited to see where the young rider steers her potential. You can follow Faith and see more cutting competition action (and her trusty steed, Phil) on her TikTok. 

Martha Stewart is the Founder of the first multi-channel lifestyle company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, an entrepreneur, bestselling author of 99 to date lifestyle books and Emmy Award-winning television show host. Reaching more than 100 million devoted fans on a monthly basis through her magazines, television shows, books, and products for the home, sold at multiple retail and online outlets, Martha is the “go-to” source for the homemaker. She and her talented staff provide trusted, timely, and useful information on all aspects of everyday living: cooking, entertaining, gardening, home renovating, collecting, organizing, crafting, healthy living, holidays, weddings and pet care, both in print and social media.

We like to know how things work. At least that’s the case for Brent Gwinn, a Product Engineer at Kubota Tractor Corporation. 

Ever since he was a little boy, you could say that Brent had all the makings of an engineer. He was fascinated with taking things apart and then putting them back together again. And he was good at it, too. 

Brent grew up in Houston, Texas and spent most of his youth there. The Gwinn family had a farm in East Texas and it was on this farm that Brent fell in love with machinery. It was the spark that ignited his passion for agricultural machinery. 

He decided to pursue a degree in engineering and applied to college at Oklahoma State University. Four years later, he received a Bachelor's degree in Biosystems and Ag Engineering from OSU. 

In 2019, Brent interned with Kubota Tractor Corporation. During his internship, he helped work on a design project, prepared materials for Kubota’s annual summer sales meeting and learned from some incredible engineers. His work was impressive, making him a prime candidate for a full-time position at Kubota! 

Brent has been a Product Engineer for a little over two years now, and has spent time working on Kubota’s RTV, M Series and hay tools product lines. 

It’s a very hands-on job, which is part of the reason Brent loves it so much. Some days require him to be working on paperwork and designs at his desk, but others let him test prototypes out in the field. Those are his favorite days!

Brent works with other departments at Kubota to make sure his designs meet the level of quality and reliability that Kubota customers are interested in. If the team can dream it, Brent can help build it. 

His advice to anyone interested in becoming an engineer? Always continue to learn new things. There’s always something new to learn! 

Engineers need to be curious, as the world is constantly changing around us and there’s not just one way to do things. 

He says, “dive in wherever you can.” Find a college program that matches your interests, explore summer internship opportunities, connect with teachers and professors to learn one-on-one and stay curious! 

It’s a big world out there, filled with things to take apart and put back together again. Curious learners are innovative ones. Who knows, you might just be a Product Engineer at Kubota one day!

Riding bikes taught Jeremy Witek what is meant to feel alive. He started Global Action Sports Solutions with one desire in mind– to create the world standard in adventure sport facility and trail development with unforgettable commitment to user experience. Now, 20 years later, G.A.S.S. Parks has completed more than 70 projects in 29 different countries, including involvement in events such as: Red Bull Rampage, Red Bull Ride’n’Style, GoPro Mountain Games, X Games and Downhill Taxco.

Jeremy and his team rely on Kubota construction equipment to help them build skateparks, bicycle trails and even motocross tracks. They’re currently using Kubota U17, U27-4 and U35-4 mini excavators, as well as a SVL65-2 skid steer to make sure there’s no obstacle they can’t conquer. They work to create parks and trails that are accessible to adventurers of all ages and skill levels. Jeremy encourages local kids and members of the community to assist him in finishing each project and shows them how these tracks bring riders, skaters and hikers together. In order to terraform and design these trails, Jeremy and the G.A.S.S. team have to wait for favorable weather, which means they get to do a fair amount of biking in their downtime!

G.A.S.S. Parks is currently building a downhill bike park for the La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians in San Diego, California. The bike park is located on the La Jolla Indian Reservation campground, which sees over 100,000 visitors annually, and is set to open fall 2022. G.A.S.S. expects over 20,000 mountain bikers to visit the new park, which will feature a shuttle system for riders and their bikes. Each trail that Jeremy and his crew build is built in a way that preserves nature and gives it plenty of room to grow.

The G.A.S.S. Parks team features project updates on their Facebook and Instagram pages and are planning on starting a high-end YouTube channel later this year. Laying the groundwork for the next generation of skaters, bikers and hikers… G.A.S.S. Parks and Kubota know how to get the job done!

Molli Foxley is a big city kid who never thought she’d be wearing cowgirl boots every day. 

Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, Molli never had a rural environment to grow up in or any firsthand ag experience. Molli’s grandfather and great grandfather had feedlot operations, but the properties were sold before she was born. But Molli has always loved animals. 

From an early age, Molli wanted to be a veterinarian and she pursued the career path up through her first year of college in Tennessee. Veterinarian classes are tough and Molli started to rethink her career path, so she took some time off from school and moved to New Orleans, Louisiana. In New Orleans, she started working at a dog rescue and let her love for animals guide her along a new path. 

Molli re-enrolled in school, this time at Louisiana State University, with an ag science major. She began looking for ways to get involved and was accepted into the LSU Central Research Station Beef Unit. 

After graduating, Molli wasn’t sure where she’d end up next. Her passion for cattle and experiences working in the Beef Unit at LSU inspired her to look for a job where she could work with livestock. The best part about the ag industry? There are SO many paths and opportunities waiting out there for you, and Molli knew there was one waiting for her!

She found a listing for an internship with the East Foundation in South Texas and was accepted as a Ranch Management intern. The East Foundation is a science-minded, working cattle operation spread across six ranches that promotes the advancement of land stewardship through ranching, science, and education, so she got to learn the ins and outs of ranch management, explore new terrain, see new wildlife, develop new passions and learn how far the value of a “work hard” ethic can take you. 

The East Foundation saw how hard Molli was working and offered her a full-time position after her internship. Now, she’s been working full-time at the East Foundation for over three years as an Assistant Livestock Manager to a Unit Foreman. But Molli is more than just a ranch hand. She’s in charge of numerous herds of cattle, making sure they’re well fed, watered and exactly where they need to be. 

There are three pillars to Molli’s role as a Unit Foreman: Ranching, Science, and Education. 

Molli works with the other livestock managers and foremen to ensure they’re safely managing the cattle. Her passion for animals plays a key role in the position and she gets to care for plenty of cows and baby calves while out in the field.

But she isn’t in the field every single day! The East Foundation also conducts lots of research to determine the best conditions for cattle in South Texas. Molli gets to assist with rotational and continuous grazing research comparisons, monitoring the conditions of the grazing pastures and the effects on the herd’s health and growth. Molli’s experience working in the Beef Unit at LSU prepared her for the research opportunities that come with ranching, and this is one of her favorite parts of the job! 

She also gets the opportunity to educate local students that visit the East Foundation ranches. Molli works with the students and gets to show them how exciting and difficult ranching can be. Her passion is inspiring and even if just one kid leaves the East Foundation a bigger ranching advocate than before, Molli considers her job done. 

Molli’s key advice to anyone interested in animals and agriculture? You don’t have to grow up in a rural town or have family members to get into the industry. Find the path that works best for you and see where it leads! 

There are countless opportunities in your community and the surrounding areas to get involved. You can find summer camps, community programs, FFA and 4-H organizations always looking for eager individuals to get involved! Grab a parent and start looking for opportunities in your area. You might be surprised what’s waiting for you down the path! 

If creativity is the name of the game, then Leslie Gregory is playing it!

From painting rocks to creating masterpieces on canvas, Leslie grew up wanting to add color to everything. She dabbled in watercolor, graduated to acrylics and began teaching herself how to use Microsoft Paint and other computer programs to create digital artwork.

In her senior year of high school, Leslie took a computer applications class that introduced her to website design and coding. She started out by creating her own website, and she surprised herself with how much she loved solving coding problems and designing her own site.

Initially, Leslie thought about pursuing theater in college, but after taking the computer applications class, Leslie began to think her calling wasn’t on the stage. She decided to take a leap of faith and enrolled at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock, studying Web Design and Development. Leslie also received an IT minor, Digital Graphics minor and a Design certification. Pretty impressive, right?

While she was studying for class, Leslie was always looking for somewhere that she could put her creativity to work. She started working at Team SI as an intern on their Kubota platform, she worked as a desk monitor for her dormitory, did graphic design for a local bakery in Little Rock and was an EIT ambassador– all at the same time! Talk about a hard worker.

Her internship at Team SI kickstarted Leslie’s career in web development and, thankfully, it led to a full time job! She learned so much about the digital world, how to work with clients and just how intense “real world” projects can be. Hey, we’ve all get to move on from homework at some point!

Leslie’s internship helped her to get her foot in the door with a smaller company and her gracefulness when juggling multiple tasks and organized leadership has led to extreme success for Leslie!

She currently works as the Director of Kubota Projects at TracTru, Kubota Tractor Corporation’s preferred website vendor, and loves how often her daily tasks change. She gets to utilize all of her favorite skills and no two days at TracTru look exactly the same. She uses her design skills, project management and organizational skills, as well as her coding ability! She’s a natural leader and enjoys the diversity of tasks that fill up her time.

Working with Kubota is different from anything Leslie has ever done before. She grew up in the suburbs and never had an opportunity or need to work with heavy equipment. Through working with Kubota, Leslie has grown to love what the company stands for and considers herself a member of the Kubota Country community. Since graduating college, Leslie has become a major ag-vocate and can talk-the-talk with anyone in the equipment industry.

Leslie’s favorite project to work on was creating Kubota Country. The community hub started as an idea and Leslie got to help nurture this idea from conception all the way to final development! She’s loved watching the entire community come together and contribute to Kubota Country. Leslie loves Kubota’s mission and supports it both professionally and personally!

Her advice to kids? Don’t be afraid to jump in and try something new. Leslie thought theater was calling her name, but if she hadn’t pursued web development and digital design, she wouldn’t be where she is today. And Leslie loves where she is today.

Isaac Miller grew up around two grandfathers who were amatuer photographers. There were always cameras sitting around the house, but everything changed when Isaac bought his first camera to catalog plants. 

What started out as cataloging plants to practice rangeland identification turned into shooting pictures for fun! Isaac was heavily involved in 4H and practiced his identification and photography skills throughout high school. He enrolled in rangeland science at Texas A&M, but felt an urge to pursue his true passion– photography. 

Isaac’s passion grew and grew, giving him the opportunity to work on photoshoots for Kubota Construction Equipment, Kubota Life on the Ranch, Double R Ranch, STIHL, Leatherman, Neptune Aviation and more! He’s gotten to meet some incredible people, travel to unforgettable locations and create pictures and memories that will last a lifetime.

Isaac's favorite pictures are those that tell a story about the person in the image. Whether working with farmers, ranchers, steel mill workers or construction workers on a jobsite, there’s always a story to tell.

His childhood experiences and passions have gotten him to where he is now, and Isaac is forever thankful that he bought that camera and started following in his grandfathers’ footsteps.

Isaac’s advice to young photographers? Try everything! Isaac went from photographing plants to wanting to be an outdoor sports photographer, but what he discovered is that you’ll find your passion by taking as many pictures as you can. New styles, new themes, new filters… with enough practice, you’ll find a style that’s uniquely YOU! 

Dan Janssen never thought skateboarding in his neighborhood cul de sac would lead him to his dream career. 

Dan grew up in California and was always surrounded by skaters and surfers ripping through sunny streets and riding Pacific tubes. His passion for action led him to enter an amateur skate league and make friends at the various skate and surf shops in town. It was in these shops that Dan fell in love with skateboard deck designs and logos. 

A local surf shop owner was in need of new graphics for t-shirts, so Dan started sketching designs. Suddenly, Dan was creating designs and graphics for the surf community and getting paid to do it, at just 13 years old. When he started earning his first few paychecks, Dan realized that he had found his passion. He could make a living doing what he loved. 

He continued working with local shops and creating designs, as well as taking art classes during all four years of high school. Dan’s art teacher had a studio at her house and encouraged her students to stop by and create anything in their wildest dreams. Her encouragement and support of Dan’s artwork solidified his feeling that he could make a career out of design. 

Dan was accepted into the Denver Art Institute, so he packed up and moved to Denver, where he traded his surfboard for a snowboard. But he always knew the West coast would be his home. 

After graduating, he moved back home to California and started working at DC Shoes, a company that designed skateboarding shoes. Dan loved this job and was even able to start doing freelancing work for people he had met in the skating and surfing worlds. It wasn’t about the money– it was about meeting people with the same passion for design. But eventually Dan was ready to take a leap of faith and start his own shop. And he took it.  

He packed his bags again, this time staying on the West coast, and moving to Portland, where he opened up Lincoln Design Co. The contacts and friends he had met doing freelance work wanted to continue working with Dan, allowing him to hire some employees and begin working with more clients. Dan started working with Kubota and helped create the Kubota Country logo, a project that he had so much fun working on, and a project that we’re so thankful he helped us with. 

His favorite part of design work is creating logos and branding for a client. When Dan sees a logo he’s helped create on a t-shirt or website, it fills him with immense gratitude. 

When it comes to inspiration, “grab as much as you can for tools to access– pens, paper, crayons and start making stuff! It doesn’t have to be illustrations. It could be popsicle sticks,” said Dan. 

He encourages aspiring artists to find the materials they love working with and get comfortable working with them. One of his employees loves to paint, but others might not share that passion. All of them are incredible artists and unique in their style. It’s just one of the many things Dan loves about his work. The design industry is a diverse one and full of ever-changing challenges that keep artists on their toes. Every day looks different for Dan and that’s part of the excitement. It helps his creative spark never burn out. 

You can browse Dan’s online portfolio and work on his website Lincoln Design Co.

Dr. Lisa Baxter never expected to be playing with grass and Legos for a living. 

Lisa earned a PhD in Plant and Soil Science from Texas Tech University before returning to the University of Georgia, where she got her masters degree, to start a full-time research position. 

She began conducting research, assisting county extension agents in 159 counties with forage issues, setting demos, writing manuscripts, mentoring and teaching students, alongside other office tasks. Lisa loves data and the story that it tells, and she values the time she spends out in the field and the joy it brings her. So, Lisa bought a custom Lego minifigure and started to brainstorm a playful joke she could share with her coworkers. 

The Lego Forage Specialist was suddenly the new kid in town and made an appearance in Lisa’s office, email threads and on demo jobs! Lisa takes pictures with her Lego minifigure in the field and posts them to social media pages she created for her Lego lookalike. But it wasn’t just her coworkers that loved the Lego minifigure, it was farmers and ranchers in the area, too. 

They began asking Lisa to do demos and send them pictures of the Lego minifigure working out their forage concerns. Most farmers and ranchers ask questions about weed control and hay production. Instead of receiving a boring, old email with information on their forage conditions, Lisa sends exciting, playful emails as if she were a miniature version of herself– the Lego Forage Specialist!

Summertime for Allen meant helping out on his grandparents’ farm in New Jersey. His grandparents began teaching Allen about farming when he wasn’t in the classroom and his love for summer and farm living grew and grew. 

Allen slowly moved his way further south, finding himself with six acres of land, perfect for growing organic vegetables and sunflowers. He’s always been captivated by the beauty of sunflowers! 

Word quickly spread that Allen was growing fresh vegetables and his friends and family started asking him if they could share in the nutritious goodness– who wouldn’t? Allen became encouraged by his friends’ interest and he opened a roadside stand in 2015, to sell his vegetables and flowers. His stand was so successful that Allen only had a few items left at the end of each day. He was surprised by this because most people around his farm sold vegetables and crops, but his flower stand was performing incredibly well. Allen decided to focus entirely on flower production– becoming Allen the Flower Farmer.

Allen and his wife now have 15 acres of land, which they cultivate with their Kubota BX1500 and L3901. They grow all kinds of flowers and can have up to 15 different flower types growing at any given time! They’re known for their sunflowers, but people come from all over to see the dahlias, cosmos, zinnias and gladiolas that they grow. 

People drive from all over for Allen’s “Pick your Own” events and flower photo ops. Guests love walking through beautiful, lovely smelling flowers and, as Allen would put it, “there’s just something about looking at a field of flowers that everyone enjoys!”

Be sure to visit Allen, his wife and their dog as they continue to bring flowers, “From Farm to Vase!”

Lauren and Ben Denny took a leap of faith when they moved from their home in Idaho to their family’s 30 year old land in McAlester, Oklahoma. The land was seven generations old, but had never been used, so the two started Simple Country Ranch in 2020 and became first generation ranchers and farmers. 

The two started documenting their progress online and discovered a community interested in what they were working on. Lauren saw this opportunity to use her teaching background and engage with students and families in the community, while also learning from other ranchers and farmers across the United States! Through their farmer friends and hard work, the Denny’s have learned how to use their Kubota RTV, Kubota tractor, baler, drum cutter and rake.

Simple Country Ranch went from one chicken to 30, and they’ve also added: lambs, mini horses, mini donkeys, horses, alpacas, pasture raised pigs, goats, nigerian pygmy goats, babydoll sheep and highland cows. Kids that visit Simple Country Ranch love taking pictures with the animals and getting to help feed them. 

For Lauren, the community involved in Simple Country Ranch is her favorite part of being a rancher. Simple Country Ranch offers family fun for the surrounding community, as well as themed camp days for kids! They’ve had Easter events, food vendors, farmer’s markets, a fall festival, pumpkin launching, Christmas events and more! 

She also runs the Simply Stained Shop, a farmhouse goods store that makes custom creations and ships them across the nation. The success of the Simply Stained Shop lets Lauren put more money into Simple Country Ranch and continue building opportunities for the community. Lauren even wrote a book about Winston, their curious farm dog, who investigates why the apples are missing out of their tree. The book is based entirely on real events and includes QR codes for interactive storytelling. 

Future projects for Simple Country Ranch include: building a podcast, creating educational workshops with hands-on experience, networking with more ranchers and farmers and continuing to show people the joys and excitement of ranching and farming.

City life is fun and exciting, but Mallory Palmer realized her family was missing out on an important ingredient in life– wide open spaces. 

The Palmers moved out of the city to Escondido, California and settled onto a 2.5 acre property. Mallory, who grew up in a hard-working and resourceful home, began teaching herself how to garden, grow regenerative crops, compost and had plenty of eager, little farmhands to help her out! 

Mallory quickly realized that her kids were getting hands-on experience and learning skills that they wouldn’t learn behind a computer screen or a desk. The Palmers wanted other children to share in this learning and be able to experience opportunities to play outside, get their hands dirty and, most importantly, be a kid!

Before Mallory knew it, Burned Oak Farm had two tractors, 18 animals, 12 garden beds, two chicken runs and 40 handheld baby chicks. Mallory and her husband started an enrichment program for kids visiting Burned Oak Farm, giving them lessons in farming, agriculture, history and science through farm-related tasks. Kids get to learn about the farm’s tractors, pet and feed farm animals, gather eggs, create fun science projects like Solar Eclipse S’mores and “Play the Day Away!”

Check out Burned Oak Farms’ website to learn more about the Palmer’s story and the experience they’re providing fun-loving kids just like YOU!

Ron Simmons started Master Blend Family Farm with little experience in the agriculture business. In 2012, he started raising a small head of hogs to help supply his North Carolina community with food. His operation has since doubled in size and is producing superior pork cuts to local businesses and farm-to-table shipments across the country! 

Ron’s community was impacted by COVID-19, just like countless others across the nation. But Ron didn’t let that stop his farm’s momentum. He used this opportunity to build up his community and drive awareness to local restaurants which he supplies and the local promotion sparked the idea of creating a food truck with Master Blend Family Farm samples!

Ron has always enjoyed educating those around him and he continues to raise local awareness about food deserts; areas where it’s difficult to source high quality, affordable foods. As a producer, entrepreneur and educator, Ron is helping his community understand the importance of healthy foods, fresh produce and the agriculture industry. 

A result of his efforts? Master Blend Family Farms is building a school to educate and serve their community!

Ron couldn’t have made it this far without the incredible mentors in his agricultural journey and he wants to pay it forward by mentoring others and helping them start their own journeys!