(The blog was reposted with permission from a March 7, 2024, article in Lancaster Farmland Trust, which also graciously shared photography.)

What does it take to get involved in farming when you weren’t born into it? What interest do young people have in the future of agriculture in Lancaster County?

Sarah Dukeman is an education major at LBC and also works at a local dairy farm.

A selfie with a calf is just one stop along a busy day as a dairy farmhand for Sarah Dukeman.

We visited a young woman who worked her way into her agricultural community and is dedicated to the legacy of Lancaster County farmland. Sarah Dukeman (’25) is a 21-year-old farmhand working at a Mount Joy, Pa., dairy operation. We visited her (bright and early, of course) on the farm to get a feel for an average day of work for her.

Sarah starts her day around 6 a.m. to care for the calves. While her days vary, working with calves is her specialty on the farm. The day we stopped in, she spent the morning feeding them, washing out bottles and buckets, and performing routine checks. Unlike many young farmers, Sarah did not grow up farming with her family.

“I didn’t grow up in agriculture,” she said, “but was exposed to it through my friend’s family farm and surrounding community. … The work ethic, dedication and lifestyle of farming drew me in. I like working hard, using my hands and seeing the benefits of my work.”

As a high school student, Sarah began working at a local orchard, where she first discovered her love of agricultural work. While there, she connected with the family at Shelmar Acres and began helping them care for their calves. Sarah fell in love with working with and caring for animals, which would evolve into the job she currently works in. While being involved as a farm hand, Sarah is pursuing a degree in elementary education at Lancaster Bible College. Continue reading…