Taran's background in agriculture is rich and diverse. Her family's swine operation was at the forefront of artificial insemination (AI) technology in hogs, participating in trials and gathering vital backfat data through ultrasound studies. Alongside her pain-staking efforts in livestock management, Taran was an active participant in 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA). Her dedication to agricultural education showed early on as she began raising her own beef cattle herd. What started with one Angus x Holstein calf grew into a small herd of registered Red Limousin and Black Angus cross cows, complemented by a flock of registered Hampshire ewes and a small herd of registered Hampshire and Yorkshire sows.

Throughout her childhood, livestock was not just a passion; it was a lifeline. When her parents divorced, Taran found clever ways to support her projects financially by selling market animals and breeding stock, alongside earnings from showing livestock and teaching master showmanship techniques. Despite the challenges she faced, including the heart-wrenching loss of her father at age 16—her mentor and guide in livestock and genetics—Taran persevered. She learned resilience and adaptability, essential traits for any farmer.

As a young adult, Taran continued her education, attending junior college and university where she served as the swine herdsperson for both institutions. Her career path led her to northeastern Iowa, where she managed a farrowing house for a seedstock and commercial hog operation. After marrying, she began building her own farm, taking with her a portion of her livestock from California while her sister managed the rest. Taran ventured into raising contract hogs and cattle, learning valuable skills like hay production and effective farming strategies, along with raising meat for farmers markets and local meat sales.

Throughout her journey, Taran developed a keen understanding of the challenges of managing a farm while juggling family life, particularly during her marriage which ultimately concluded. Moving back to northern California with her young daughter, she reintegrated into her family’s newly started small meat business, reinforcing the familial ties to agriculture. There, she added chickens to her family's ranch, successfully selling at local farmers' markets, and gained first-hand experience navigating the complexities of generational integration in agriculture.

Today, Taran proudly manages and operates her family’s small ranch in northern California, producing high-quality meats for local farmers' markets, achieving impressive six-figure earnings. As one of the last members of her family actively involved in farming in California, Taran is dedicated to sharing the knowledge and wisdom she has garnered over the years. She firmly believes that success in agriculture comes from making the farm work for you, embracing your unique management style while questioning traditions that no longer serve the industry.

Taran's philosophy is simple yet profound: "Be inside the box with rules and regulations but think outside the box to be unique. Only the unique will truly succeed in living their dream life." And with this Taran has been able to "make the impossible possible".

Join Taran on her journey as she shares insights, tips, and stories from the field, celebrating the rich tapestry of agriculture and inspiring future generations to embrace their farming dreams.

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