Hello, my name is Nathan Leier and I am from a small family farm in south central North Dakota. I graduated from Strasburg High School in 2009 and then went to college at Bismarck State College. Right out of college, I landed a job close to home, but I soon wanted to explore other options and to experience where I could go and what I could do independently. So, I got a job and I’ve been living in Bismarck for the last few years of my life. On the farm, I grew up with 6 siblings and lots of neighbors. There was always enough of us to play a backyard baseball game!
As most farmers will tell you, “Farming runs deep!” Despite all of farming’s difficulties and uncertainties, a young boy does not want to do anything else with his life but, “Do what dad does!” Seven years ago, this commercial was played during the Super Bowl and it sums up the life of a farmer in the most exact way! ( https://youtu.be/AMpZ0TGjbWE )Being in Bismarck has done nothing but made me miss the farm and more ready to say that living on the farm is where I belong. Some days are boring on the farm, but being the nature lover that I am, parking my wheelchair outside under a shade tree or close to the creek to hear the water run, is enough action for me.
As I grew up, I learned to care for various animals. All summer long, alongside my brothers and sisters, we would raise stock to take to the local fairs and eventually the State Fair. My parents also milked cows and raised other animals like chickens, goats, sheep, pigs, and beef cattle for a living.
Now, grain farming is the aspect of farming that I’m involved with, mostly because it is the part that I am still able to do. Wheat, corn, sunflowers, and soybeans are some popular crops that we grow. A large part of what I am able to do is because of my younger brother, Aaron. He will lift me into the combine or tractor. Once inside, I can operate the many functions needed to complete the job at hand. One of my favorite activities is driving the tractor and grain cart around the field and following the combine so he can dump onto it without stopping.
Farming is so much more than just physical work. It takes careful planning and execution. It takes a lot of money to do and it is important that every dollar is spent wisely to have a purpose and can be “recuperated” at the end of each farming year. This requires good record keeping and many hours in front of a computer. I was a huge part of this before I left the farm.
I love every part of farming and I want to do much more of it in the future. Farming with a disability has many challenges, but the feeling of pride that comes with farming is well worth the struggles! I am proud that I grew up on a farm, and it has taught me many life skills like the values of hard work and work ethics!
– Nathan Leier
****Nathan is a board member of the Youth Empowering Social Status. Nathan has a disorder called Fredreichs Ataxia that affects co-ordination, balance and speech. It is the most common type of hereditary ataxia thought to affect at least 1 in every 50,000 people.****