Hi-Line Living: Harvesting a farmer's wisdom

Farmer and businessman Bob Quinn said that in 1978, when he returned home from California to the family farm in Big Sandy with his with his wife and children, he simply intended to make a living on his family's farm. What he did though, was become a leader in organic farming in North America, start an international grain business with an ancient grain he brought back to prominence from one jar of seed stock and become a leading advocate in the movement to change standard practices in business, agriculture and the food industry.

Quinn, along with co-author Liz Carlisle, wrote about his experiences and lessons learned - from a lifetime of farming, researching and running businesses - in the book Grain by Grain," which, as the book's subtitle says, is about Quinn's "quest to revive ancient wheat, rural jobs, and healthy food."

In an interview prior to the books March release, Quinn said that he had started thinking almost 20 years ago about writing a book to share his thoughts on organic farming, his Kamut wheat business and the profound ways these things had altered the course of his life, helping shape his way of thinking and approaching the world.

"I've learned a series of vivid lessons about the far-reaching consequences of economics as usual and the potential of rekindling a more honest, direct relationship with our everyday necessities," he says in his book, adding, "It's forced me to rethink the way I raise plants, the way I do business, and what it means to be successful."

Both Quinn, who is perhaps best known in north-central Montana for developing his trademarked Kamut khorasan wheat, and Carlisle have the chops to write a powerhouse book suited for advanced classes in leading universities.

Quinn has a doctorate in plant science from University of California Davis and helped write U.S. government policy on organic food labeling and organic agricultural production guidelines. Carlisle previously authored the book "Lentil Underground" and is a researcher on an educational farm at Stanford University, teaching courses on food and agriculture, sustainability and environmental communication.

What they wrote, though, is a reader-friendly book in a style reminiscent of Quinn's personable and direct speaking voice, which doesn't shrink away from the hard truths and the ugly facts about U.S. economy, agriculture and food production. He speaks with equal frankness about the mistakes, sometimes painful lessons and successes that led to his developing better practices and innovative solutions.

The book also contain an annotated bibliography for anyone interested in the authors' research and an index to help readers navigate the book.

The only problem with the book is nailing down just how to describe it.

Part biography, part expose of the agricultural- and food-production industries, part business model, part organic farming and sustainability tutorial and part life lesson in how to be a better person who contributes in meaningful and realistic ways to one's community and the world, "Grain by Grain" can be read in a reasonable number of hours, but is worth rereading, possibly taking notes or highlighting key sections, and probably reading again.

The book should be mandatory reading for all food-consuming Americans.

That might seem a bit ambitious of a recommendation, but it covers all the bases.

For the majority of people who are not working in agricultural, it provides an insight into the agricultural production and food processing industries.

In a related topic, Quinn also provides insight into what forces influences government agricultural policy, as well as the intricate complexity that makes development of these regulations so times consuming and difficult, even in the best of circumstances.

For business-minded people, the books is a tutorial on how to develop and expand businesses and products, and it could provide inspiration to assess and alter one's current business model.

People who have food issues can read research and gain insight about what might be the root of their problems. The book also empowers food consumers to understand the impact of their dollar in the marketplace and how and why they can make their money go farther while buying quality rathern than cheap quantity.

Whether someone wants to revitalize their rural community or ditch the hick town they grew up in or they think they have to leave their small town to make a decent living, the book offers advice on and examples of how and why to stay.

He also gives a shout out to the much-maligned millennials, crediting many for their change of mindset to value healthier food and holistic economies, as well as valuing a sense of community support which is often reflected in their innovative community-centric business models.

Even people who don't see a need for organic farming practices, the book provides a tutorial of sorts on how to test farming practices and ways to assess the expenses and gains within their own business.

Carlisle said in an interview that "this collaboration has been such a rewarding series of conversations, and I think for me it just really emphasizes the importance of farmers and researchers to speak with one another and policy makers, as well. ... I'm also an educator now, and it's just amazing traveling with Bob and watching him interact with students and that's something I'm really excited about for the (Montana State University)-Northern visit because this is the next generation of leaders who are taking on the stewardship of rural lands and the next generation of rural communities."

Quinn and Carlisle will be at Nothern's Vande Bogart Library Wednesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. to speak with students and the public about "Grain by Grain."