Every road that goes through Winnebago, a village of about 2,000 people on the reservation of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, passes miles of corn, soybeans, and alfalfa before reaching the next town. Non-Natives own much of the farmland within the reservation, which is located primarily in northeast Nebraska. And, until about a decade ago, non-Native farmers leased most of the tribe-owned cropland.
Today, tribe members farm their own land, thanks in large part to Aaron LaPointe, who grew up hunting, fishing, skateboarding, and playing basketball in Winnebago. Despite so much farmland surrounding his hometown, LaPointe says, “I had never even stepped foot on a farm until I was in college.”
Today, at age 32, LaPointe is senior director of business operations for Winnebago-owned Ho-Chunk, Inc., where he leads several subsidiary companies, including Ho-Chunk Farms. (Ho-Chunk is a shortened form of Hochungra, meaning “people of the big voice,” as the Winnebagos refer to themselves.)
This year, the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development awarded LaPointe its Native American 40 Under 40 Award, which recognizes Native citizens for outstanding leadership and community contributions.
Finding His Purpose
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Esta historia es de la edición May - June 2024 de Successful Farming.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
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KRISTOPHER KLOKKENGA
The Illinois native farmed in Ghana and lived in Denmark before coming home to take over his family's operation.
DON'T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN WHEN USING A SKID STEER
These mini workhorses are fun to operate and make chores go quickly. But injuries can occur if safety isn’t top of mind.
MEET NCBA PRESIDENT MARK EISELE
This Wyoming rancher brings a lifetime of cattle experience.
TOP SHOPS
THREE DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO TURN A SHOP INTO YOUR FARM'S HEADQUARTERS.
GRAZING MANAGEMENT TRANSFORMS GRASSLANDS
Developing the land's natural resources benefits the ranch operator and the wildlife.
KNOW YOUR NOZZLE
Small factors can help optimize herbicide applications.
MOUNTAINS OF MACHINERY
COMMODITY PRICES ARE LOW AND INTEREST RATES ARE HIGH. BUT AN OVERSUPPLY OF USED EQUIPMENT OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES.
DAIRY BARN FLOORING
It starts at the ground level.
SHOP HACKS
Great storage improvisations using PVC pipe.
HOW TO KILL A FARM
Problem: Out-of-state, non-farming heirs want their farming brother to do all the work but share decisions and profit.