Few Iowans, myself included, would have initially predicted that Zach Lahn would come out on top in Iowa’s Republican gubernatorial primary. Regardless of the factors that shaped the outcome, the race sparked renewed discussion about issues facing rural communities, including the future of family farms, changing patterns of landownership, and the long-term economic health of agricultural America.

The American family farm is more than just a business. It is a way of life, a cornerstone of local communities, and a symbol of independence and self-reliance that built this nation. From the corncob columns of our nation’s Capitol to the beanfields of Iowa and the dairy farms of Wisconsin, family farms have fed America, powered rural economies, and passed down traditions from one generation to the next.