There are many ways to describe farmers. Dedicated. Resilient. Innovative.
Or maybe stubborn, gruff and fiercely independent.
However you may describe the farmer in your life, many of these traits stem from something that is at the heart of all they do: the simple act of caring.
Look at your school board or volunteers at your local food pantry, and chances are you’ll find a farmer there. Caring for land, animals and neighbors is second nature for those in the agricultural community.
Someone who exemplifies care in all aspects is Sydni Mell.
Sydni works at her family’s registered Holstein farm, Mell-Wood. She is a proud University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate with a degree in dairy science, an alumna of the Association of Women in Agriculture and a showmanship champion.
She is also a farm accident survivor. During Sydni’s freshman year of college, a fall into an empty silage bunker caused a spinal cord and traumatic brain injury.
Whether she’s caring for herself, working on her family’s farm or serving her community, Sydni embodies what it means to be a farmer.
Caring for Yourself
Like many farm families, the Mell family is used to putting the needs of the farm first. But in recent years, Sydni has been learning to balance the demands of life with her own needs.
“I have to remind myself, you have to take care of yourself,” Sydni said. “It’s been really hard for me, but I’m getting better at it.”
For Sydni, that means allowing herself to slow down and recognize what her body needs in the moment.
“I take time out of the day for a break. I can’t push my body that hard,” Sydni said. “I do physical therapy at home because I need to care for my body. I need to keep my muscle tone and bone density so that’s always a reminder to myself that I need to slow down.”
Along with listening to her physical needs, Sydni also takes time for her mental well-being. She meets with friends each week, reads avidly and finds joy in spending time with animals.
The Mell family has been home to a variety of animals: horses, goats, rabbits, pigeons, parakeets and even chinchillas. But dogs and calves have always held a special place in Sydni’s heart, especially as she has navigated life since the accident.
“I like that dogs don’t look at you any differently. Maybe the cows do,” she said with a chuckle. “But the calves don’t.”
Being able to return to caring for her dogs and calves has aided Sydni’s recovery. The routines and connections they provide are a reminder that taking time for the things that matter most can also be a powerful way of caring for yourself.
Caring for the Farm
Growing up on a farm, every day looks different and when the nearest help may be miles away, creativity and problem-solving become essential skills.
For Sydni, those lessons shaped how she approached both life and agriculture. As she began thinking about her future, it was hard to imagine a path that didn’t include the farm.
“Growing up on the farm, I thought ‘Is this something that I want to do?’” she said. “And I think once you do it every day, you just get a love for it, and I never really fell out of love for it.”
That passion eventually led her to UW-Madison, where she studied dairy science. The knowledge she gained in the classroom, combined with the skills she developed on the farm, helped shape the way Sydni approaches challenges at Mell-Wood today.
After the accident, that mindset became even more important. Years of learning to adapt and think through problems helped Sydni and her family navigate unexpected challenges and find new ways to keep the farm running.
Together, the Mell family set out to make their calf room more accessible so Sydni could continue caring for the animals she loves. The changes, including ramps, garage doors that keep the space warmer in the winter, ergonomic bucket handles and a spacious layout, have made daily chores easier for everyone on the farm.
For Sydni, caring for the farm has always meant finding ways to keep moving forward, no matter what challenges arise.
Caring for Your Community
Showing up for her community has always been important to Sydni. While it might look different today than it once did, she continues to find meaningful ways to be there for the people in her life.
“If I can’t do the same things I used to do physically for people, I’m finding other ways,” Sydni said. “I’m a big acts of service person.”
One of the ways she has embraced that mindset recently is through baking. Sydni has discovered a love for making bread and cookies and sharing with friends and family.
“I’m finding new ways to show up for them or bring them joy in other ways,” she said. “That’s been really nice for my brain.”
Caring for others isn’t about doing things exactly the way they’ve always been done.
“The mindset of the people around me has helped. They tell me, ‘We’re going to try to find a different way around this,’” Sydni said.
This is a message that Sydni has taken to heart as she continues to honor the values she learned growing up on the farm. Sydni reflects what it truly means to be a farmer: someone who keeps showing up to care for what matters most.
Story by Kylie Ver Kuilen | Photos by Raegan Statler and Kylie Ver Kuilen. This article originally appeared in the 2026 April | May Rural Route issue.
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