The White House Project

Mara Solberg

After twenty-five years of farming, my husband and I recently retired. We grew mostly small grain crops like wheat and soybeans, but over the years added sheep, chickens, geese, horses and goats, which taught us about the circle of life. What the horses didn’t eat, everyone down to the chickens ate. We lived a good life raising our children and working the land together as a family. We now rent our land to local farmers who continue good stewardship, and we are looking at growing produce to sell in town as well as growing lamb to be processed and sold off our farm.

Not long ago, we were featured in a book titled Unwanted Bread by James Coomber and Sheldon Green, which focused on what farmers around our state are doing to diversify due to the changes in agriculture on small farms. This was the beginning for me to realize I had a voice as a woman in the agricultural sector. Discovering my voice has been a lifelong journey, gaining momentum as I’ve grown older.

I began college at 42. I graduated with a degree in Psychology, and took some business classes as well, both which helped me branch out into the world. I discovered the New Women’s Leadership Institute in Moorhead, MN and have since become active in various grass roots movements. I serve with two Task Forces: one deals with expanding on the local farmers markets, creating more community gardens in Fargo-Moorhead, and opening doors to selling our produce directly to schools and universities; the second confronts serious abuse of alcohol in our young people today, especially in the three colleges in the Fargo-Moorhead area.

When I attended Go Run in Chicago earlier this month, I benefitted from the education and from meeting so many women I am impressed with, who have the same goals and hope for the future as I do. With the leadership skills I learned through Go Run and the Leadership Institute, I know I have the ability to achieve. Together, we can all do so much for our children and our country.

Mara Solberg lives on a farm south of Fargo with her husband Warren. Together they raised three children who are all grown. She graduated from Concordia College in 2001 with a degree in Psychology and currently raises ducks, geese, chickens and goats. She is pursuing a career as a stand-up comedian and enjoys visiting with friends on her front porch with a good cup of coffee.