Hello. My name is Ethan Olsen, and I am a 4th generation rancher/farmer. I work with my parents, and we run a commercial cow/calf operation. We run a backgrounding feedlot as well and raise corn silage, grain corn, alfalfa, oats, barley, and sudangrass, all for the livestock and the feedlot. I also am a credit officer for Choice Bank. I underwrite agricultural loans for farmers and ranchers.
The miracle of life, a cow and her calf.
I ranch because it is a legacy of our family. I do it because I enjoy the beauty that God created. I enjoy being outside in the nature that God gave us. I love seeing the baby calves being born and come into this life and get up so quickly and how amazing that is. I keep doing it because one day when I have kids, I want them to see and understand the beauty in this world that our Savior provided to live off the land.
The biggest struggle in farming and ranching is being profitable. Trying to make a living in a world that is so dependent on us, but unfortunately people don’t appreciate what we do for them. Trying to teach people that agriculture is good and has a purpose is hard. Fighting for our legacy and not have the government come in and take our land isn’t easy.
I think farmers and ranchers are just trying to provide for their families and set up a legacy of hard work and show their kids that life is wonderful by the grace of God. I think society has made people complacent and lazy and not appreciate each other. We all are here to be God’s children and help serve Him, but we have forgotten how to do that because people have forgotten where they have come from.
I wanted to be a veterinarian. Working with cattle growing up, I realized there was a large demand. However, after four years of college I knew I was better with numbers, and I didn’t want to attend school for so long. Working for the bank I get to help other farmers/ranchers run their business successfully and give them opportunities. It has allowed me to understand how to better our family’s ranch knowing that it is a business and how to use what I have learned at the bank to try and be successful and set up an operation for my future family.
Me and my girlfriend Jenna.
I wish consumers knew that farmers and ranchers are stewards of the land. They work very hard to tend to their livestock and care for them like they are their own children. The farmers take care of the land and make sure the soil has all the nutrients it needs to provide bountiful crops for food to feed all of us in this world.
Ethan is the District 7 representative on the NDFB Young Farmer and Rancher Committee and lives in Morton County.