Wallaces Farmer

Confessions of a Farm Wife: Episode 26 217514

Emily interviewed me! Anything you've ever wondered: the doctor I didn't become, the grief that's shaped my life, and when it's best not to overthink.

Holly Spangler, Prairie Farmer Senior Editor

October 7, 2016

Well friends, the interviewer became the interviewee this week. I can't lie; I was a little nervous.

But Emily is a rockstar interviewer. We talked about everything from what it was like to go from living with 55 women to 1 man, to how my grand career plans took a sharp and marked detour. She asked how I recharged and we talked about creating - and being creative. 

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And for the life of me, I could not have been more surprised when she asked about my mother, and how crazy is that? Why wouldn’t I have guessed she might ask about Mom?! So please pardon my stunned silence for a second there, because it really is good to talk about the real and the hard things in our life, and what it all means as we use our grief to serve others and help them down their road.

But I promise it's not all that heavy! We did some rapid fire and a confession: we don't own a coffee pot. 

Plus, my thoughts on not becoming a doctor: "Do you want your life in my hands?" which led to another QOTD from Emily: "I'd rather you write my story than take care of my spleen!" Amen, sister.

And as always, we're talking food, family and farming. Give it a listen! 

P.S. That living-with-55-women thing? That was at 4-H House, and I highly recommend it. Check them out!

P.S.S. We're on Twitter and Instagram, too! Twitter: @emily_webel and @hollyspangler. Instagram: @emilywebel and @hspangler. (Instagram is my favorite!)

About the Author

Holly Spangler

Prairie Farmer Senior Editor, Farm Progress

Holly Spangler has covered Illinois agriculture for more than two decades, bringing meaningful production agriculture experience to the magazine’s coverage. She currently serves as editor of Prairie Farmer magazine and Executive Editor for Farm Progress, managing editorial staff at six magazines throughout the eastern Corn Belt. She began her career with Prairie Farmer just before graduating from the University of Illinois in agricultural communications.

An award-winning writer and photographer, Holly is past president of the American Agricultural Editors Association. In 2015, she became only the 10th U.S. agricultural journalist to earn the Writer of Merit designation and is a five-time winner of the top writing award for editorial opinion in U.S. agriculture. She was named an AAEA Master Writer in 2005. In 2011, Holly was one of 10 recipients worldwide to receive the IFAJ-Alltech Young Leaders in Ag Journalism award. She currently serves on the Illinois Fairgrounds Foundation, the U of I Agricultural Communications Advisory committee, and is an advisory board member for the U of I College of ACES Research Station at Monmouth. Her work in agricultural media has been recognized by the Illinois Soybean Association, Illinois Corn, Illinois Council on Agricultural Education and MidAmerica Croplife Association.

Holly and her husband, John, farm in western Illinois where they raise corn, soybeans and beef cattle on 2,500 acres. Their operation includes 125 head of commercial cows in a cow/calf operation. The family farm includes John’s parents and their three children.

Holly frequently speaks to a variety of groups and organizations, sharing the heart, soul and science of agriculture. She and her husband are active in state and local farm organizations. They serve with their local 4-H and FFA programs, their school district, and are active in their church's youth and music ministries.

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