At Home With The Farmer's Daughters // Whitney Bird

Thank you all for tuning into our new series At Home With The Farmer’s Daughters. Here we interview people we admire. We want to find out what they are doing during this quarantine. All our guests have a strong connection to agriculture. Like Haylee and myself, we are a 3rd generation farming family, hence the name of our cafe…The Farmer’s Daughters Cafe. Growing up in rural Montana shaped the course of our life in so many ways. It taught was a lot about hard work and determination. Now onto the show…

At Home with Whitney Bird

Tell us a little about growing up as a Ranchers Daughters and now being a Farmer’s Wife

My life has been very shaped by agriculture even though I was fairly unaware of just how much when I was younger.  Growing up in Montana, so many people are involved in ag, and that it is such a normal part of life here that you really don’t think about how truly special it is.  My dad is a 5th generation cattle rancher outside of Three Forks so I grew up with calves spending the night in our garage or swimming in the irrigation ditch during the summer.  However, I was not the girl who dreamed of a life on a farm, in fact it was more the opposite, but I met my husband (Kevin the son of a rancher.  His family’s ranch is outside Volborg, MT) while attending Montana State and sometimes life has a funny way of working out and you are given what you need more so than what you think you want.  I have a photography business (Whitney Bird Photography) that is based out of Miles City, Montana which is where we reside, and my husband spent over 10 years with a career in the oil field.  It actually wasn’t until recently that we acquired a hay farm just 10 miles outside of town.  We have three sons and I think seeing their passion for farming at such a young age is by far the best part about our new endeavor.  Being in a tractor with one of my kids, or helping irrigate with my husband, or even running lunches to the field during the busy summer months is how I spend my free time now, and it has honestly been so rewarding.  A business that you can operate with your family, to us anyways, is a dream come true and even though it can be hard work and long days, we feel really fortunate to be in the agriculture industry.

What are you reading?

I just finished “Little Fires Everywhere” By Celeste Ng. I am dying to binge the show with Reese Witherspoon and Keri Washington.  Our library is closed so I am going to have to bite the bullet and buy a new book now!  

What are you cooking?

I am cooking all the things…most of the day I feel like I run a diner.  Feeding three little boys and my husband is no joke, and we go through a lot of beef.  Luckily the Bird Ranch hooks us up so it has been a lot of burgers, tacos, and spaghetti.  I have been doing some baking lately and have started to make bread and cinnamon rolls which is something I never feel like there is time for, but now my middle son Ryder requests daily so it might not have been a good thing to start.

What are you wearing?

It depends on the day, but I am mostly in jeans and something layered up top since the weather is constantly changing this time of year.  I try not to stay in sweats on the days we are all home, and also make it a point to change out of workout clothes just so I feel a bit more human. 

Favorite spot in the house?

I would probably say my kitchen since that really is the hub of the house.  It has been taken over with school stuff for the boys and always feels a bit small for our family, but it is where we all gather.  I also really like our back patio when the weather is nice.  Sitting outside watching the kids play with a glass of wine is probably my favorite way to relax.

What is your morning ritual?

I am not a morning person at all.  I really wish that I was, but for the past 7 years I’ve had a baby waking me up in the night and usually early. We are just about out of that baby stage but my kids are morning people so if I am up, one of them is usually up too.  For now, my quiet time happens at night.  Kids are always so happy and sweet in the morning so while we’ve been home, we let our mornings linger a bit.  If they are playing nice, I don’t rush them to breakfast or to get dressed.  Realistically if I am able to enjoy a cup of coffee while they play legos, then that is a morning well spent.   

How has this experience changed you?

I feel like I have held on tight to my little family and tried to protect the boys from the scariness of it all as best I can.  I have always been grateful to be from Montana, but even more so through all of this.  Having so much wide open space is such a luxury that I know I take for granted.  Also living in a small community can have its challenges, but during a crisis, living in rural Montana is quite possibly the best place to live.  I know I will also appreciate my time with family and friends so much more and hope to carry this grateful heart with me when all this is over. 

If you could FaceTime with anyone right now, who would it be?

My sister or parents!  I also think we need to set up a little zoom call with you during Nick’s next cocktail hour!  You just let me know what booze I need!