A little more than a decade ago, Katie Schengbier, 40, followed her dream to open Leaning Oaks Farm. Now with 40 head of cattle, she’s driven to keep her community healthy by supplying raw milk to families in Union, Missouri, and surrounding areas -- all while maintaining her home and caring for two daughters. “No matter what you’re doing, no matter how sick you are, you have to milk dairy cows,” Katie said.

In 2024, the farm became self-sufficient, but it still doesn’t pay for her mortgage or health insurance. Instead, her family of four relies on her husband of 18 years, Joe, a traveling lineman. For the last several months, he hasn’t had work. “This year’s been incredibly slow for storms. Which is good for the country, for business owners…” Joe said before trailing off. For now, he maintains the farm’s heavy equipment and buildings, sometimes handling favors for neighbors, but he never milks the cows.

This week Katie and Joe decided he would go to California at the end of the week to be on standing call for the winter season. With less than a week of the remaining year left together, she and Joe prepare the farm for his absence. “We’re used to him leaving for a month or so at a time,” she said. “But when you rely on Mother Nature, your pager is always on.”