Overlooking some of the beautiful mountains in Grangeville, Idaho, Ken and Jill Breugeman farm on a 123-year-old operation that Ken’s great-great-grandfather started. The Idaho Farm Bureau introduces us to this week’s American Farm Family.
“Whether that’s a family folktale or what—but supposedly, he came over with basically nothing from Ireland, and within a period of five or six years, he was able to purchase the original part of the ranch,” Ken explains. “We’ll be fifth generation.”
Today, the Breugmans grow wheat, canola, and hay and raise cattle.
“Agriculture is important, you know?“ Ken continues. “There’s such a bad perception. I want the community to know that we’re here to raise cattle and crops in a healthy way. This ground’s been in our family for over 100 years, so we want to take care of it and be stewards of it. We’re not going to do things that will damage it and harm it, and you know, make it so we can’t pass it down to the next generation. We want the legacy to continue and not end with us. We’re just out here doing what we love every day -- that is always the bottom line to people.”
The Idaho Farm Bureau has over 10,000 member families involved in farming or ranching, just like Ken and Jill.
Rep. Erin Houchin of Indiana discusses how the Affordable Homes Act will benefit rural communities, and her broader efforts to improve access to affordable housing.
January 15, 2026 03:04 PM
·
Congressman Dusty Johnson of South Dakota joined us to discuss key ag policy developments and his outlook for agriculture in 2026.
January 15, 2026 12:51 PM
·
Tight beef cow supplies and steady demand point to continued record-level cull cow prices in 2026.
January 15, 2026 11:23 AM
·
Expanded school access to whole milk provides modest but reliable demand support for U.S. dairy producers.
January 15, 2026 10:14 AM
·
NASDA declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer. President Amanda Beal joins us to share NASDA’s new hub, which highlights the impact of women in agriculture worldwide.
January 14, 2026 01:34 PM
·
The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2026 agenda centers on labor stability, biosecurity, and economic resilience for family farms. Expanded DMC coverage improves risk protection for dairy operations facing tighter margins.
January 14, 2026 11:19 AM
·
Alex Templeton works alongside her dad, sharing her life through social media and her blog Ag Talk with Alex.
January 14, 2026 09:40 AM
·
A high-stakes legal case in a South Dakota federal court concerning misleading country-of-origin labeling (MCOOL), such as “Product of the USA,” on food products, will significantly impact U.S. agricultural policy for years to come.
January 14, 2026 09:00 AM
·
Secretary Rollins also met with specialty crop producers at a local strawberry farm to discuss workforce needs and the Trump Administration’s recent wins related to significantly cutting the cost of H-2A labor for California farmers.
January 13, 2026 03:25 PM
·
