Notes on a Farm

We first met Josiah Harder, a young rancher with a quiet determination, at a farming conference in the Midwest. Soon after, he invited us to visit his farm on the banks of South Dakota’s Lake Oahe, a dammed section of the Missouri River. Just days before our arrival, Josiah married Sarah in Wisconsin, then drove a camper back to South Dakota with his new bride, his cousin, and their puppy, to start their life on the land together.

From June to September, Sarah took on the full responsibility of running Arrow J Acres, their grass-based cattle operation, while Josiah was away at Air Force basic training. Though she was new to farming, Sarah met each challenge head-on, overseeing the rhythm of rotational grazing, managing water lines, and ensuring the cattle thrived on the Fort Pierre pastures. Her background in the Air Force Academy had instilled a discipline that helped her adapt swiftly. In her daily work, she deepened her connection to the ranch’s holistic practices, experiencing the unique fulfillment of working with the land.

Throughout the summer, we stayed in touch with Sarah as she managed the operation with her dog, Buddy, by her side. When her handwritten journal entries arrived in our mailbox, they revealed a poetic reverence for the land and the quiet strength it takes to steward it alone. Her words, rich and reflective, could have come straight from the pages of the classic agrarian literature that many of us hold close—a testament to the profound solitude, purpose, and connection that define a season spent tending to Arrow J Acres.