This week feels extra special. I’m celebrating two years at FarmRaise and last week I celebrated my 27th birthday with my team on retreat in Yellowstone National Park, which feels like the perfect place to reflect on how far I’ve come and how grateful I am for the people I get to work with.
Technically, I started with FarmRaise as a contractor in late August, and my full-time anniversary is later this week. Either way, this moment feels right to pause and celebrate.
A Birthday Tradition
Last year, I also celebrated my birthday on retreat. Some people asked, “Isabelle, wasn’t it hard to spend your birthday away from your family?” My honest answer? Not at all. FarmRaise gave me one of the best birthdays I’ve ever had.
We worked in the morning, had lunch at a farm-to-table restaurant, toured a farm led by one of our farmer advisors who grows over 20,000 acres of cover crops (I LOVE COVER CROPS), visited a local cidery and vineyard, and wrapped up the day with dinner at a restaurant that served gluten-free and dairy-free comfort food. We finished the night laughing together at a rooftop bar.
And then this year, the team said, “Oh, Isabelle, we have to blow last year out of the water, and you love National Parks, so I guess we have to Yellowstone, the first National Park EVER, on your birthday during retreat.” (That’s actually not what happened at all the dates just happened to line up, but seriously, can you ask for a better day)?
Those days, and so many others, reminded me that I found something rare. When I stumbled across FarmRaise’s website before my interview, I knew this company was different. Two years later, they have proven it again and again.
Gratitude and Growth
Looking back on my 27 years of life and two years at FarmRaise, I feel an incredible mix of joy, gratitude, and reflection. I’ve learned so much, grown in ways I didn’t expect, and felt more aligned with my purpose than ever before.
Since I turned 27 during our retreat in Bozeman, I thought I would share 27 lessons, but I realize that I could really get it down to 10 lessons I’ve learned in these two years.
1. Leadership matters.
The people leading your team make all the difference. I’ve had jobs before where leadership didn’t inspire growth. FarmRaise has been the opposite. Our leadership team, past & present, Jayce, Sami, Liz, Taylor, Barry, Cory, genuinely care about me as a person and push me to grow into my best self. They hold me accountable, challenge me, and cheer me on. That kind of leadership changes everything.
2. Work where your values align.
I first learned about FarmRaise when I saw a partnership with the Missouri Center for Regenerative Agriculture. When I clicked over to the FarmRaise website and saw our values, earn farmer trust, prefer mistakes to inaction, show up authentically, handle hard with ease and playfulness, and focus on outcomes, I thought, “That’s where I want to be.”
In my interview, it was obvious that everyone at FarmRaise lived those values. They didn’t just say them, they meant them. And they meant it when they told me to try new things, even if they didn’t work. That kind of freedom and trust has shaped how I show up every day.
3. Ask for help when you need it.
I’ve always been the “oldest daughter” type, independent and determined to figure things out on my own. But I’ve learned that asking for help isn’t weakness. It’s strength. It takes courage to say, “I can’t do this alone.” And when you’re part of a team that values collaboration, asking for help makes everyone stronger.
4. Lean into your authentic self.
At FarmRaise, we do fantasy football, book clubs, and March Madness brackets. We share our weekend stories, celebrate wins, and even have a “green thumbs” channel for our plant lovers. Showing up as your full self matters. The work I’m most proud of, videos, help articles, and creative projects, came from leaning into what I’m naturally good at and who I am.
5. Create a workspace that inspires you.
Whether you work from home or an office, your space matters. My office has a Smokey the Bear theme, houseplants, vintage Husker merch, my walking pad, and National Park souvenirs. When my space feels calm and personal, my productivity follows. Optimize your space, so that you can have your best work.
6. Take rest seriously.
This one took me a while. I love my job, and when you love your work, it’s tempting to never stop. But taking breaks makes me better. At FarmRaise, we’re required to take at least two weeks off every year, and that’s one of the healthiest things a company can do. Sometimes even taking an hour during the day to do yoga, play fetch with the dogs, or meditating can completely change the trajectory of my day. Rest recharges creativity.
7. Cool merch matters.
Okay, it’s not everything, but it sure helps. I’ve loved designing FarmRaise merch for our team and seeing everyone rep it proudly. When you love where you work, you want to wear it everywhere, and talk about it relentlessly. It has been an amazing bonus these last two years.
8. Do more of what gives you energy.
We all have tasks that drain us and tasks that light us up. I’ve learned to speak up about the difference. The more I’ve leaned into content creation, help articles, videos, and educational resources for farmers, the more fulfilled I’ve felt. I am so grateful to have a team that recognizes my strengths and helped me lean into those while giving me feedback when I need it.
9. Roll with the punches.
Startups are fast-paced and unpredictable. Some days are smooth, others are chaos. The key is staying flexible and keeping a “let’s figure it out” attitude. Don’t shy away from a challenge.
10. Once you find your passion, hold on tight.
It’s been incredible watching how my skills and confidence have grown over the past two years. I’ve learned to communicate with farmers better, sharpened my design and video editing skills, and deepened my understanding of user experience. But more than that, I’ve found work that truly matters, helping farmers and ranchers strengthen their operations, their finances, and their resilience.
Final Thoughts
I can’t believe I’ve gotten to celebrate two birthdays (well, technically three, but two in person) and two years with this incredible team. Every day, I’m grateful to play a part in our mission to empower farmers with financial tools, data, and education that make their businesses stronger.
If you’re looking for your next step, whether it’s a new job, a career pivot, or a leadership opportunity, find a team whose values match yours and whose vision inspires you. Once you find that, hold on tight.
Thanks for reading. Here’s to growing, learning, and celebrating every step of the journey.
104 Collective 