Production Blog

The opportunity to tell agriculture's story -- your story -- happens every year through DTN's project called View From the Cab.

The feature selects two individuals willing to report weekly throughout the growing season on crop conditions and a variety of rural and agricultural topics. The 2023 season will be the 18th year for this special editorial project that shows a behind-the-scenes look at farm operations and farmer thoughts in an in-depth way.

This year, Colorado farmer Marc Arnusch and Ohio farmer Luke Garrabrant held up their hand and were selected to share their views. Readers got an inside look at two very diverse weather pictures. Arnusch hails from the arid west where drought is always a challenge. Rainfall pushed planting back for Garrabrant and continued to show up nearly every time he needed it this season and sometimes when he didn't.

While readers learned about these two operations, the farmers were also learning from the experience. "I found myself vocalizing my thoughts and ideas more -- not just with your readers, but with my staff," Arnusch said. "Sometimes we were asked tough questions and there was benefit to talking about our philosophies on those topics."

Garrabrant, 26, felt he learned from Arnusch's experiences. "I think it's also going to be very interesting to look back in a year or years and see that we documented everything we did this season and see what kind of growth we've achieved from what we've learned this year."

What these farmers gave of their time and insights was paid back in spades by hearing from others reading the columns. "We got calls, emails and handwritten letters from farmers across the county that read the segment," Arnusch said. "That is incredibly humbling and fascinating and rewarding to make contact with other growers."

One of those reaching out was Arnusch's high school English teacher, who good naturedly critiqued some of his grammar. "I had to apologize to Miss Fithian a couple of times," he laughed.

Both farmers mentioned the benefit of learning how to tell their story beyond agriculture too. The 29 segments produced this year covered topics such as water rights, pesticide regulations, green energy projects and the pressures on agriculture from urban uses.

Watch for more input from Arnusch and Garrabrant as they transition to serve as DTN Farm Advisors, a group of trusted sources that help guide news coverage and provide updates as to what is happening on the farm.

Interested in lending your own voice to the discussion in 2023? Send a note to pamela.smith@dtn.com about your farming operation, the region you farm and why you'd like to be involved.

Past View From the Cab participants include:

2022: Marc Arnusch, Keenesburg, Colorado; Luke Garrabrant, Johnstown, Ohio

2021: Kellie Blair, Dayton, Iowa; Ryan Wieck, Umbarger, Texas

2020: Ryan Jenkins, Jay, Florida; Reid Thompson, Colfax, Illinois

2019: Ashley Andersen, Blair, Nebraska; Scott Wallis, Princeton, Indiana

2018: Kyle Krier, Claflin, Kansas; Genny Haun, Kenton, Ohio

2017: Zack Rendel, Miami, Oklahoma; Brent and Lisa Judisch, Cedar Falls, Iowa

2016: Chase Brown, Warrensburg, Illinois; Jim Hoover, Newport, Pennsylvania

2015: Lane Robinson, Cromwell, Indiana; Leon Kriesel, Gurley, Nebraska

2014: Karen and Bill Johnson, Avoca, Iowa; Jamie Harris, Madison, Florida

2013: William "Shep" Sheppard, Louisiana, Missouri; Kane Bercaw, Union City, Michigan

2012: Katie Sanger Hancock, Water Valley, Kentucky; Ryan Brodersen, Randolph, Nebraska

2011: Tom Tibbits, Minneapolis, Kansas; David Brandt, Carroll, Ohio

2010: Becton Bell, Wilson, Arkansas; Frank Zweber, Hoven, South Dakota

2009: Marcus Hess, Bushnell, Illinois; Matt Wolle, St. James, Minnesota

2008: Dan Pedersen, Underwood, Iowa; Brad Lindstrom, Varna, Illinois

2007: Matt Rush, Fairfield, Illinois; Jason Heijl, Abbott, Texas

2006: Bob Worth, Lake Benton, Minnesota; Keith Miller, Great Bend, Kansas

2005: Richard Oswald, Langdon, Missouri; Mark Rasumssen, Hoagland, Montana.

Pamela Smith can be reached at Pamela.smith@dtn.com

Follow her on Twitter @PamSmithDTN

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