How Local Community And Global Industry Keep This Family Farm Thriving.

Wood River farmer Michael Dibbern believes that agriculture is about far more than the business of working the land. It’s about connection—to the soil, to the farming community and to the small town he calls home. “Smaller communities are pretty tight-knit,” he says. “People want to get closer with their fellow community members and do fun things. The more they connect, the more likely they are to stick around and stay.”

That sense of connection influences how he spends
his time. From the cornfield to the baseball field, he believes community involvement is
what keeps small-town life vibrant and thriving for generations to come. “I sit on our local village board,” he says. “I want to give my time to making decisions for our community, but also to help out with the youth by coaching some T-ball.”

Seeking Common Ground

While he knows his rural neighbors appreciate how vital his work is to their community’s success, Dibbern wishes the broader public had a clearer view of what farming really demands—the constant decisions, the risks and the relentless drive to do things better. “People know we farm the land, we drive big tractors and we plant a lot of corn and soybeans,” he says. “But I don’t think people always understand the intricacies of agriculture, or that we’re just like any other small business, trying to stay profitable.”

He also points out the dangers of the work. “Unfortunately, everyone knows someone who’s either been in a farming accident or lost their life in one. Whether good or bad, farming bonds us. We look after each other because we all know this is a dangerous job.”

WORKING LOCALLY, THINKING GLOBALLY

Through the years, Dibbern has come to see that farming not only grounds him in his community but also connects him to something far larger—a global network that reaches well beyond his Nebraska fields. Dibbern serves as the president of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association.

“One of the biggest realizations I’ve had since I began farming is just how global this industry is,” he says. “Things that happen on the other side of the planet, whether you see it directly or not, affect what’s going on in your business right here at home.”

He’s seen it firsthand through shifting markets. “A drought in Brazil can send our prices for corn and soybeans higher,” he explains. “Or a huge crop down there—which has been more the norm—can depress our prices here.”