Five to Know - Matthew Wilde

Editors note: Behind every meal on your table is a story of dedication, innovation, and hard work. Five to Know is a quick glimpse into the people who make it all possible.

In five questions, I highlight the farmers, creatives, advocates, and industry experts shaping agriculture today. These are the people in the fields before sunrise and working along the supply chain, ensuring food reaches your plate. They may not always be in the spotlight, but their work feeds the world or supports those who do. These are their stories—because knowing where your food comes from starts with knowing the people behind it.

What inspired you to start working in a field that supports farmers, and how did your journey begin?

Wilde: My love and desire to work in agriculture and support farmers started at a young age. I grew up on a small, diversified family farm -- dairy, beef, swine and poultry -- in north central Iowa. I helped raise a variety of livestock and crops to feed them. While the farming operation eventually ended during the 1980's Farm Crisis, my love for agriculture continued. My passion was communication and writing, which I used to serve farmers for several decades. I've held several ag writing positions: ag reporter for the Waterloo Cedar-Falls Courier, senior writer for the Iowa Soybean Association, crops editor for DTN/The Progressive Farmer and currently senior content writer for CHS, the nation's largest ag and energy cooperative.

What is it about working in the ag industry that you find most fulfilling or rewarding?

Wilde: More than 98% of Americans don't farm and most are generations removed from production agriculture. I love telling the stories of American farmers and how they produce the food, fiber and fuel the public depends on. I also enjoy providing information to farmers and helping them be more productive and profitable.

Can you share a specific moment or experience working with farmers that reinforced your passion for what you do?

Wilde: Two things come to mind. I wrote many stories while an ag reporter at the Waterloo Cedar-Falls Courier about modern livestock production, particularly raising pigs. Many contentious situations arose between farmers and neighboring communities about the construction of new hog confinement buildings in northeast Iowa. I wrote stories, providing unbiased information about why hog production has changed to mostly indoor facilities, data showing property values were largely unaffected by lawfully built buildings and information about potential health concerns. I also wrote stories while working for the Iowa Soybean Association about public concerns about row crop farming and water pollution, again providing honest information to the public and examining both sides of the issue. I'm proud to help the vast majority of the public who are not connected to agriculture understand what farmers do and why.

How has your perspective on agriculture and farming changed or deepened since you began working in this field?

Wilde: Farmers love what they do. Yes, they want to earn a comfortable living like everyone, but they passionately care for the soil and animals that allow them to provide for their families. That belief has only intensified through decades of working with and for farmers. I'm not naive to the environmental harm that agriculture can cause. Nitrates in the drinking water due to fertilizer runoff, both organic and inorganic, is a real concern. Many farmers need to do better. However, I believe the vast majority of farmers care for the land, livestock and people they help feed.

What do you think is the most important thing people should understand about the role farmers play in our lives and the broader community?

Wilde: Farming is beyond a business. It's a passion. Who else is willing to pay retail for inputs and receive wholesale prices? Farmers are the biggest gamblers in the world. It's a crapshoot if the weather will cooperate to grow a crop or prices will be profitable. Yet, farmers are willing to roll the dice every year to keep all of us fed. That deserves everyone's gratitude and respect.