After a week of Thanksgiving celebrations with friends and family, many of you joined us on Tuesday and Wednesday for the Southeast Kansas Soil Health Conference at Green Cover in Iola, Kansas. As we enter the heart of conference season and the festive time of giving thanks and celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, it’s the perfect moment to reflect on our many blessings. In this spirit, our marketing team sat down with Green Cover co-founder, Brian Berns, to share and celebrate the gratitude this season inspires.
The Value of Hard Times
Brian recalls that he and his wife began farming full-time in 1988, a year marked by one of the worst droughts he had ever experienced. The following year brought another setback when a severe hailstorm destroyed their crops. “Starting your farming career like that is quite humbling. Somehow, we managed to get through it,” he shares. Despite the challenges, Brian expresses gratitude for those difficult times, as they have deepened his appreciation for the good ones. “If it weren’t for the bad times, you’re not near as grateful for the good times.” he reflects.
Stewarding God’s Creation for Future Generations
Many of the farmers who spoke on panels this week come from multi-generational family farms, and the Berns family farm is no exception. Brian and Keith are the third generation to cultivate their family land in southcentral Nebraska, and their grandchildren represent the fifth generation to grow up surrounded by and learning from nature there. Brian shares, “In the grand scheme of things, you’re really just a placeholder.” He continues, “You’re deeply grateful for what your father and grandfather have built before you, and you hope to pass that legacy on to the next generation.”
Working In Harmony With Nature
Brian brought up the concept of reciprocity, an idea he’s come to appreciate more deeply through his regenerative farming journey. He recently read Braiding Sweetgrass, a book that beautifully illustrates this idea. “Reciprocity with nature is a give-and-take relationship,” he explains. “You can’t just take—you have to give back too. And when you do, nature tends to do the same thing.” As a farmer, Brian experiences this relationship firsthand, working daily to cultivate a partnership with nature and learn to grow more resilient crops in harmony with natural cycles.
Sharing Wisdom, Growing Together
A defining feature of the regenerative agriculture community is its strong sense of collaboration and the open exchange of knowledge among farmers. At this week’s Southeast Kansas Soil Health Conference, more than ten farmers took the stage to share their successes and setbacks as they experimented with innovative practices to improve soil health, including bold moves like planting corn into green cereal rye grass—a decision that made them the talk of the town.
Brian shares that he has learned more from his mistakes than his successes and credits mentors for accelerating his growth. Over the years, many pioneers have generously shared their insights, whether at conferences, webinars, or one-on-one phone conversations with those seeking guidance. Farmers committed to improving soil health are oftentimes eager to help newcomers, understanding firsthand the challenges and uncertainties that come with starting out.
Cultivating Connection
As we reflect on the insights shared at the Southeast Kansas Soil Health Conference, we are reminded of the resilience, collaboration, and stewardship that define the regenerative agriculture community. This journey is about more than farming—it’s about nurturing the land, supporting one another, and fostering hope for future generations. The spirit of gratitude, generosity, and shared purpose that unites this community resonates deeply during this season of thanksgiving and celebration.
Continue Your Learning Journey
You can participate in this community at Green Cover’s Regenerative Nexus events. These invitation only events are designed to facilitate high caliber networking and knowledge sharing for regenerative-minded producers. Contact shelby@greencover.com if you think you would be a good candidate to attend one of these upcoming events in January and February.
From all of us at Green Cover, we wish you a joyful and peaceful holiday season filled with gratitude and connection!
