Born and his wife, Jennifer, have been farming their entire lives. About 20 years ago, they transitioned from dairy farming and began grazing British White Park beef cattle. They manage about 100 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat.

When Born met SRPF President Brody Stapel about seven years ago, he was introduced to cover cropping and no-till practices. Having the background knowledge and passion for sustainable farming, Stapel inspired Born to take up the new challenge. Born was open to trying something new, so he began using cover crops. He continues to see the benefits of planting cover crops and practicing no-till, including higher crop yields, better soil health and less standing water in the f ields.

Over the past several years, Born’s involvement in SRPF has allowed him to connect with and learn from other farmers in the sustainability space. He says it’s all about surrounding yourself with the right people and being open to trying new things.

“It’s a group of good people,” Born said. “If you’re considering changing your practices and trying to be more sustainable, SRPF is a great place to learn from others doing the same thing.”