Nebraska is full of rolling hills and fields of green dotted with plenty of cattle. At the Borg Farm, you will see all of that and more. Upon returning home to the farm after college, Hannah Borg set out on a new adventure, raising thousands of chickens! Seeing the process, hearing Hannah’s passion, and meeting the family behind the farm was a joy.
A COMMUNICATIONS INTERN
I met Hannah Borg during the summer she interned for FarmHer, honing her communication skills. At the end of the summer, she went back home to her family’s Nebraska farm. Going home to the farm for Hannah meant coming back to rural America. It also meant becoming a true entrepreneur, launching a new business within the family farm that had already existed for generations.
FARMING IS THE FAMILY BUSINESS
Hannah grew up in a farming family and takes her role as the 6th generation very seriously. As she neared the end of her college career her parents pitched her an opportunity she couldn’t pass up; Move home and work as a farmhand while helping her mom build a new enterprise on the farm. The family set about building the large chicken houses and installing the vast machinery and technology for the chickens.
RAISING CHICKENS IN NEBRASKA FOR COSTCO
Now that she is back at the farm, Hannah and her mother are quick to say it has been a learning experience. They contract with a local company to raise thousands of chickens each year. Those chickens go on to provide millions of pounds of meat to households across the country. Twice a year about 60,000 birds arrive as tiny chicks and are raised, cage-free for 21 weeks. Then they move down the road for the next stop where they lay the eggs that become the meat birds used by Costco for their rotisserie chickens! Yes, I’m a frequent purchaser and a big fan of Hannah’s chicken offspring!
A BEAUTIFUL MORNING DRIVE TO THE FARM
I arrive and meet Hannah on the family farm near Allen in North-Central Nebraska. Our ride to the farm was a beautiful one, watching the sunrise. Once at the farm, Hannah and her eager puppy greet me and we hit the ground running, ready for a full day of work.
FEED A BOTTLE CALF
First up, Hannah needs to feed her bottle calf. She explains that her dad’s focus on the farm is a herd of beef cattle. Her brother also has his own small herd of show cattle and this calf came from one of those. The calf is eager as any to drink the bottle of warm milk as Hannah quickly feeds him.
HORSES ARE HANNAH’S PASSION
From there we head up to the horse barn which is clearly one of Hannah’s favorite places on the farm. Hannah grew up riding horses and spent many years showing her horses as well. Today she is just feeding her old friends a few slabs of hay. While we are in the barn Hannah makes sure to stop and show off a piece of important family history, the tack room. The modern barn that is finished with beautiful old wood from buildings on the family’s original homestead.
TECHNOLOGY AND BIOSECURITY IN RAISING LIVESTOCK
Now, we head off to the main event and Hannah’s main focus at the farm, chickens. First up, we are going to suit up, making sure that all of the biosecurity systems they have in place are followed. The poultry and livestock industries have had extensive measures in place for years to reduce the risk of disease. I put on coveralls, boot covers, and a hairnet, then clean my feet and step inside the impressive operation. From the temperature controls to the automated feeding systems the next room clearly shows off the impressive technology. This is used to ensure the best environment for raising the chickens in their care. Every last step of the process of raising the birds has been thought out.
A BARN FULL OF CHICKENS
I step inside the chicken house with a fast-beating heart. Yes, I have a healthy fear of chickens. I’ve never actually had a bad encounter with a bird but for some reason, they put the fear of God into me! Inside the expansive building, I realize that the birds are actually not out to get me and relax, just a bit. While there are thousands of birds in the building they are actually surprisingly calm and quiet. Hannah picks up a bird, cradling it in her arms as she tells me how much she has learned in just one short year. She has learned A LOT!
LET’S HEAD TO DINNER
By now it is nearly lunchtime, which is actually called dinner in Nebraska. We drive a few miles down the gravel road to Grandma’s house. Well, Hannah’s grandma’s house anyways. Hannah talks a lot about how important her family is to her and our next stop helped me realize why.
DINNER ON THE FARM WITH GRANDMA
Grandma makes lunch every day for anyone who shows up. Sometimes a few, sometimes a lot, depending on how many of her cousins, uncles, or siblings are around. This is a tradition that Grandma has been doing since…forever!! It provides a chance for the family to gather, talk, connect, restore, and rest just a bit before they head back out for an afternoon of work. Grandma greets us with a dinner of freshly fried chicken (go figure), mashed potatoes and gravy, bread, and more. It is all delicious and that isn’t even all of it. It turns out Grandma has her very own soft-serve ice cream machine! Needless to say, we dug in and loved it all. Before we head out the door Grandma plays a few tunes on the piano, her granddaughter watching full of pride.
HER HOME IS ON THE FARM
Expanding the farm and bringing in a piece of diversification like the chicken houses was Hannah’s ticket to come back home. Then she really became the next generation to not just live but to work on the family farm. Hannah is clear in saying this isn’t for everybody, but I am glad it is for her. Hannah’s home is on the farm. She loves it and lives it. Hannah works hard and is dedicated to continuing a strong family legacy of her family farming in Nebraska.
