Harvest, Heart, and Home: A Day on the Bowar Farm with Kelsey Steineke
Having open conversations about food and farming with South Dakotans and the farmers who grow it is what we do. In fact, that’s what Hungry for Truth is all about. We had an exciting opportunity to connect Kelsey Steineke, with April Bowar, a corn & soybean farmer from Faulkton, SD. Together, they talked about the balance between farming and family life, the teamwork that fuels a successful harvest, and the deep connection between agriculture and community. Below, Kelsey shares her reflections from a fall day on the Bowar family farm.
It was a three-hour drive to Faulkton on a crisp, windy fall day. Rain drizzled most of the way, but the clouds finally broke and the sun peeked through just as we pulled up to the Bowar farm. April’s mother-in-law greeted me with a warm welcome into her home before taking me out to the field where April and her husband were in full harvest mode.
Meeting April in the Field
When we arrived, April was behind the wheel of the grain cart, unloading corn into a semi. She hopped out of the cab with a big smile and welcomed me up for a ride. As soon as I climbed in, I could see how much pride she takes in her work.
Between loads, she shared more about her life on and off the farm — driving the grain cart, cooking for the harvest crew, working part-time at the local quilt shop, attending bible studies, and serving on the board for the South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council.
Growing up on a farm that raised even more cattle than she and her husband have now, April always knew agriculture would be a part of her life. It felt like fate when she met her husband, James Bowar, at South Dakota State University just two months before his time there was up. After marrying, the couple moved to Faulkton to start their life together. They live near the Bowar family farm, where they grow corn and soybeans and raise cattle.
April explained how their grain cart system works as we rode with her across the field to meet her husband, James, who was combining corn. We picked up another load to deliver to the semi, and she carefully monitored the weight, topping off each truck at about 58,000 pounds. It’s a precise process that takes teamwork and focus, especially during long harvest days. They’re usually in the fields until about 10 p.m., and after a rainy week off, they were just getting started up again.
At only 27 years old, April impressed me with her calm confidence and the way she worked seamlessly alongside her husband in the field. Her mother-in-law shared how proud she is of April, seeing her manage so much responsibility with skill and dedication.
Finding My Connection to the Farm
As someone who teaches Hot Yoga and Pilates, I’m passionate about wellness and balance — not just in movement, but in lifestyle. Being married to a farmer’s son has given me an even deeper appreciation for where our food comes from; we even get our beef directly from my husband’s family farm.
Seeing April and her husband in the field, working long days with such care and precision, gave me a whole new perspective on the effort behind every meal. It reminded me how important it is to support local farms and the people who work tirelessly to put food on our tables.
Spending the day with April reinforced that farming is about far more than crops and cattle. It’s about teamwork and resilience. I left the Bowar farm with a renewed sense of gratitude — for the farmers who feed us, the communities they build, and the values we all share around local food, balanced living, and community involvement.
