Happy National Pumpkin Day! Today, we’re celebrating one of our members, Fran Barten of Barten’s Pumpkins in New Prague, MN! We’re grateful for her faith, dedication to agriculture, and the joy she brings to families each fall. 🌾 What’s your favorite way to enjoy pumpkins?

Did you know it takes as much as 40 gallons of maple sap to produce a single galon of maple syrup? The Cermak family have owned and operated Sugarbush Creek Maple farm in northeastern Ohio for over 30 years. They have embraced the patience and commitment required by the very slow process of farming and producing maple syrup. Learn more about their story on The Cottagers' Podcast, hosted by Mathew and Carissa Winters, here: youtube.com/watch?v=anl3LFCX…

Jonathan Marohl shares his moving testimony on The Catholic Cowboy Way, a podcast hosted by Fr. Bryce Lungren. His story is a reminder that God can meet us in our struggles and lead us toward healing, hope, and a deeper relationship with Him. Watch the full episode and hear Jonathan’s testimony: youtube.com/watch?v=PvIOnKzp…

We’re hiring a Director of Development! Passionate about the Catholic faith and rural communities? Join our close-knit team and help strengthen Catholic life in rural America. Lead fundraising initiatives, build donor relationships, and help advance our mission through a capital campaign. Know someone who’d be a great fit? Repost to help spread the word! catholicrurallife.org/job-po…

The fall issue of our magazine is here! This issue celebrates the 10th anniversary of Vocation of the Agricultural Leader, featuring reflections from farmers and creation-care advocates. Become a member to receive our quarterly magazine: catholicrurallife.org/member… A fun fact: The quilt pictured dates back to Pope St. John Paul II’s visit to Living History Farms in Iowa!

Happy National Farmers’ Day! From dairy and soybeans to meat and apples, farmers nourish our families and communities through their hard work and sacrifice. Today, we thank God for the vocation of farming and pray for all farmers and their families. May He bless their work and guide their stewardship of His creation! #NationalFarmersDay

From Catholicism to evangelicalism...and back home to the Catholic Church. Dan Venteicher, the "Iowa Dairy Farmer" shares his powerful story of re-conversion to the Catholic faith. Today, he reaches millions through his work as a dairy farmer and social media creator. Watch his testimony: youtube.com/watch?v=7SHNsHuI… Dan will also be a featured speaker at our Rural Life Summit on April 16, 2027, in St. Paul, MN! #Catholic #RuralLife #Agriculture

We mourn the passing of Bishop Emeritus Frank Joseph Dewane, former bishop of the Diocese of Venice and former member of our Board of Directors. We are grateful for his years of faithful service to the Church and his support of our mission to strengthen Catholic life in rural America. Please join us in praying for the repose of his soul. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace. Amen. #Catholic #CatholicRuralLife

Happy Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of Ecology! Discover the inspiring story of our member Fr. Targonski, OFM, and how the beauty of creation became a place of healing and encounter with God’s grace: catholicrurallife.org/post/a… In this Year of St. Francis, may we follow his example by receiving creation as God’s gift and faithfully stewarding it for His glory. #StFrancis #CatholicRuralLife #CareForCreation

What a blessing to be in St. Louis for the Beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen! We were honored to witness this historic moment alongside tens of thousands of Catholics and especially grateful to meet so many of you who stopped by our booth. Thank you for celebrating with us! #FultonSheen #Catholic #CatholicRuralLife

We are here at Archbishop Fulton Sheen's Beatification in St. Louis, and we are ready to meet you! Stop by Booth 125, say hello to our team, and check out what we have to offer! #fultonsheen #beatification #catholic #stlouismo #archbishopfultonsheen

What does it mean to find your way back to the Catholic Church? Catholic farmer and social media creator Dan Venteicher (@iowadairyfarmer) shares his journey from the Catholic faith he was raised in, through Evangelical Protestantism and the Home Church movement, and ultimately back to the fullness of the Catholic faith. Watch his full story on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/watch?v=7SHNsHuI… We are also thrilled to announce that Dan will be a featured speaker in our Rural Life Summit, on April 16, 2027! We hope to see you there! #CatholicRuralLife #Catholic #FaithAndFarming

We’re excited to be in St. Louis for the Beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen! Find us at Booth 125 on September 24! Stop by to say hello, meet our team, and learn more about our mission to promote Catholic life in rural America. We’d love to see you there! #CatholicRuralLife #FultonSheen #Catholic

Strengthening Catholic life in rural communities takes partnership. This past weekend, Catholic Rural Life was blessed to join the Diocese of Saginaw for its Rural Life Mass at the White Barn in Clare, Michigan! Gatherings like this provide an opportunity to celebrate the Eucharist, give thanks for the gifts of rural life, and bring together the clergy, farmers, families, and lay leaders who are investing in the future of their communities. We’re especially grateful to Bishop Robert Gruss, Chair of our Board, for welcoming us to the celebration and giving us the opportunity to share our mission of promoting Catholic life in rural America. We’re grateful for the Diocese of Saginaw and for all those working to strengthen faith, community, and connection across rural America. Together, we can help rural Catholic communities thrive. #CatholicRuralLife #RuralMinistry #RuralCatholic #CatholicLeadership #FaithAndFarming #RuralCommunities #Agriculture

Happy Labor Day! Work is a way we participate in God’s care for creation and serve the common good. Today, we give thanks especially for farmers, farm families, and rural workers whose labor nourishes our communities. May God bless all who labor. #LaborDay #DignityOfWork #CatholicRuralLife #FaithAndFarming

Happy National Food Bank Day! Food insecurity isn’t just an urban issue. Rural communities face unique challenges, including long distances and limited access to food shelves and other resources. Today, let’s support our local food banks, food shelves, and pantries—and help make sure every neighbor has access to the food they need. #NationalFoodBankDay #RuralAmerica #FoodInsecurity #CatholicRuralLife

Introducing our fourth podcast partner: The Cottager's Podcast! Join Mathew and Carissa Winters on the Cottager’s Podcast, for conversations and interviews about rural living, homesteading, small-scale farming. Matthew and Carissa's approach to farming is regenerative, rooted in faith, and focused on family. They share the many lessons they’ve learned in the last four years and draw on the experience of farmers and homesteaders from across the country. Subscribe here: youtube.com/@TheCottagersPod…

We’re grateful to have helped sponsor a clergy formation day for the priests and deacons of the Diocese of St. Cloud on Aug. 21! The day focused on mental wellness, equipping clergy with practical, faith-filled tools to care for themselves and the people entrusted to their ministry. Catherine DiNuzzo led sessions on anxiety, grief, healthy boundaries, and self-care, with time for discussion and reflection. Please join us in praying for all priests and deacons who faithfully serve our communities. #CatholicRuralLife #CatholicPriests #CatholicDeacons #RuralMinistry #CatholicLeadership

What a weekend for Catholic rural life in Kansas last Sunday! From a Catholic college ministry to multigenerational farms and local businesses, we saw faith, family, and community thriving across rural Kansas. At Kansas State University, we met with student leaders at the St. Isidore Catholic Student Center and were inspired by young Catholics preparing to bring their faith into agriculture and rural communities. At Salina Rural Life Day in Beloit, we celebrated generations of local leadership and honored: Kuhn Family & Lager Family Farms — Century Farm Awards Winkel Manufacturing Company — Half-Century Business Award We were also encouraged to see the growth of St. Isidore Catholic Student Center, where seven priests offer the sacraments to college students each day. From the classroom to the farm and from one generation to the next, the Catholic faith continues to take root in rural communities. We’re grateful to everyone who welcomed us and continues building a strong future for Catholic rural life. What rural Catholic tradition or community celebration are you grateful for? #CatholicRuralLife #RuralLife #FaithAndFarming #CatholicFaith #RuralCommunities