Farmers should be telling their story. Previously, it was done by folks like me, an ag journalist. We would shine the spotlight on their operations through words and photography. While many farmers still rely on us to craft their narrative through words, the smartphone offers a direct-to-consumer communication tool.

Through social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, farmers are showing what it is like to live and work on farms and ranches. While COVID-19 was limiting in-person meetings with family, friends and even livestock shows, photographs seemed to connect people.

So, this year South Dakota Farmers Union launched the Farmers and Ranchers at Work photo contest as a way to bring farm and ranch families from across South Dakota together during COVID-19.

“These are the families who do the work that is our state’s No. 1 economic driver,” explains Karla Hofhenke, SDFU executive director. “As a grassroots agriculture organization, we are always looking for ways to support farm and ranch families and share their stories — whether that is through policy, education, media or fun contests like this one.”

Life on the farm

The South Dakota Farmers Union recently announced its Farmers and Ranchers at Work photo contest winners. Instead of pouring over them pixel by pixel, the group puts all the photographers’ names in a hat and draws out a winner. This year, Lexi Johnson was selected from more than 100 entries. She receives a $250 gift card for her efforts.

Johnson’s photo, taken at sunset, features her husband, Ray, planting soybeans into cover crops. “Farming is a sunrise-to-sunset, 365-days-all-day-every-day job,” says Johnson, who had just returned from delivering a turkey dinner with all the fixings to the field.

The Johnson family farm is diversified. The family raises cattle, sheep, corn, soybeans, spring wheat and other small grains. Johnson grew up on a farm near Iroquois, S.D. The kindergarten teacher says she didn’t expect to raise her family on a farm. “I told my parents I’m never marrying a farmer,” she says. “And we’ve been married 18 years.”

Reflecting on the life she and Ray and their children — Connor, Breyten and Kiraley — have on their farm, she says she wouldn’t have it any other way. “There is never a dull moment, and it is a good place to learn about hard work.”

Click through the slideshow above to see glimpses into life on family farms and ranches across South Dakota.

The South Dakota Farmers Union contributed information for this article.