Committed to the bank/farm

KERKHOVEN, Minn. — Growing up on a dairy farm, Ali (Clark) Bouta played an active role on the farm. Even though she holds a full-time job in town today, she continues to play a key role on her family’s farm.

Growing up on the farm and milking cows with my dad, uncle and grandpa are special memories that will last forever, Bouta said, and the quality moments with Dad are the best I have had.

Bouta is an ag banking officer at Bravera Bank in Kerhoven. She also works on her family’s 130-cow robotic dairy near Murdock alongside her brother, Ben, their father, Kyle, and their uncle, Kim. Bouta also volunteers with local organizations to improve her community.

Two robotic milking units were installed in 2013, after a storm knocked down a silo and destroyed the top of their tiestall barn. Bouta was planning to attend college at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls to study dairy production, the summer when the incident happened.

“I talk to my brother and dad twice a day, now and when I was away at college, I was constantly checking in to see what was going on at the farm,” Bouta said. “I appreciated them keeping me informed and sending me pictures of what they were up to.”

Ben has since taken over the farm manager position, Bouta is in charge of the reproduction, breeding program, and financials while Kyle and Kim continue to help where needed. Bouta also helps in the spring, summer and fall with rock picking, harvesting and tractor driving as needed.

“It was important for me to take over the A.I. and reproduction program to make sure that it was as good as it could be,” Bouta said. “So that has become part of our protocol; it was something that I could contribute.”

Bouta balances her family, farm and career each day. She begins her day by dropping her three children off at school, going to work, then stopping by the farm on the way home and when needed.

“The Lely app is great at telling me if I have any heats that day,” Bouta said. “I breed cows after work or even on my lunch break or in the morning if I need to. The bank is extremely accommodating with me. I also take off to help with chopping silage, haylage, and even rock picking in the spring. I like to get in the tractor when I can.”

Bouta said she relies on the HPR number from the ABS mating report to determine which cows will get sexed, conventional or beef semen. The Clark farm has pregnancy checks every two weeks.

In high school, Bouta and Kyle worked with their farm business management instructor on the record keeping of the farm, often combining the task with visits for bank transactions. It is the same bank where Bouta is employed today, the one the Clark family has been using for the past five generations.

Prior to Bouta’s job at Bravera Bank, she worked as a service technician with ABS Global.

“So those two things (bookwork and reproduction) have become my two specialties and have led me here today,” Bouta said. “I can relate so much to a lot of our customers because of my background and current position with my family’s dairy.”

When selecting sires and making breeding decisions, Bouta relies on milk components data from the robots, health records and pedigree. She said she enjoys discussions centered around genetic advancements.

“I get to help contribute to our herd by improving our components from the genetics side,” she said.

She said it is also important for her to bring her kids to the farm to broaden their skillsets.

“I have a unique lifestyle where our kids will have the choice to see a lot of different options as far as what they want to be when they grow up,” Bouta said. “They are getting the farm experience and get to see me at the bank. Maybe they will want to do their own thing too, and that’s just fine.”

For now, Bouta is thankful for the moments spent with family on the farm.

“It is crucial for me to still help out with chopping, because to me, those are the best moments with family,” she said. “My kids, my brother, my dad, my uncle and I are all working together simultaneously to get the job done. I recognize what a unique opportunity that is, to work with family like that. I enjoy having those teachable moments with my kids on the farm.”

Bouta said she learned about hard work and dedication in her childhood. Her dad encouraged her to join 4-H, and now, Kyle is talking about signing Bouta’s children up for 4-H.

“Growing up on a farm, especially dairy, you get up and you get it done,” Bouta said. “Sometimes it gets to be a lot, but you know you have to get it done. I have great people behind me and I am very grateful for all of them.”

Bouta’s work ethic and dedication go beyond her professional career as she advocates for each industry she feels strongly about. She is involved with the Swift County Farm Bureau, Mini Sota Agricultural Children’s Museum board and Independent Community Bankers of America.

“It’s all about taking advantage of opportunities for being that advocate for agriculture,” Bouta said. “I believe when I am asked to be on these boards, it is for a reason. I’m proud of what I have accomplished and am still able to farm.”