Some people were put on this earth to act as a bridge. To share information and pass along stories. To greet, introduce, gather, and send off for the better. To lead, to follow, to observe, to help, and to spark ideas. Some people are here to simply engage and they’re driven by the boost of energy that comes with witnessing a connection.
Noreen Thomas is one of those people. Noreen Thomas has spent decades forging her path in agriculture. As a leader in local farming, she has redefined what it means to be not only a woman in agriculture, but an innovative, sustainable, and community-engaged person in agriculture, embracing challenges and turning them into opportunities for growth while still keeping her heart and passions close. From working with niche crops to heading educational initiatives for new farmers and other women, Noreen’s passion lies beyond the fields and the tractors and comes to life with every connection she makes and every bit of knowledge she passes on.
From the Mountains to the Valley
Noreen grew up in Polson, MT, near Flathead Lake, surrounded by land and orchards. She remembers spending time outside with family and friends foraging for native plants and picking huckleberries from secret patches. She also lived in western North Dakota for a time, surrounded by open prairie landscapes and rural living.
These two environments, while maybe unknowingly at the time, cemented Noreen’s intrigue and appreciation for the natural world, and would give her the foundation for her later passion for sustainable farming, nutrition, and the importance of food systems in rural communities.
While she didn’t exactly grow up on a farm, she was familiar with it enough. At least that’s what she thought until she married her husband, who came from a long-established farming family near Moorhead. The move to the fertile valley to join that operation brought entirely new challenges and opportunities for Noreen. The large-scale row crops and farming practices were quite different from her childhood experiences with orchards and foraging, but she was not deterred.
“I think at first it was just a little overwhelming. I probably couldn’t tell the difference between wheat and barley in the field,” Noreen said. “[I was] learning, listening, asking a lot of questions, and being more involved, because we needed the help.”
At this time, Noreen really adopted the idea that the more curious you are, the more you find out, which in turn, the more she benefited the farm.
Despite her steep learning curve, Noreen embraced the transition with her trusty curiosity. In time, trial and error, and more trial and error, she learned to not only adapt to the rhythms of farm life but to develop and innovate her own rhythms. She helped with crop management, learned about machinery, and eventually found her passion in marketing and exploring sustainable, niche crops.
The farm, now in its sixth generation, has since become a diverse and cooperative operation. Noreen realized early on that, while she couldn’t see the whole world, she could bring the world to her farm. This outlook helped her transform the farm into a space for community engagement, innovation, and collaboration.
Growing Curiosity
Noreen’s driver—curiosity—was key in shaping her interest in agriculture. Her academic background (which consisted of schooling at the University of North Dakota and Valley City State University before graduating from North Dakota State University with a bachelor of science in food and nutrition) fueled her fascination with the relationship between what people eat and how it affects their health. Early on, she was particularly intrigued by how indigenous communities had a natural understanding of the nutritional value of food and how generations of knowledge were passed down—or rather, how that knowledge has been lost in time. This interest was piqued particularly during her time growing up near Flathead Reservation in Montana and has followed her as her appreciation and knowledge of the land and its history grew.
Her scientific training sharpened her analytical thinking and problem-solving skills, which helped as she adapted to farm life post-college. Noreen’s ability to look at agriculture through the lens of biology and chemistry helped her identify opportunities for innovation on the farm, while her deeper-than-surface-level understanding of the natural world and open-mindedness to its many perspectives and history allow her to add humanity and history to her projects.
She was particularly interested in how plants, soil health, and food production intersected, which led her to collaborate on research projects and experiment with crops and land.
One of the standout USDA projects on Noreen’s farm focuses on growing perennial sunflowers. This initiative works to boost biodiversity and improve soil health and at the same time, showcases the environmental and economic benefits of perennial crops. Blending research, conservation, and hands-on farming is a prime example of Noreen’s skills and passion meeting with local science and agriculture-driven projects. This project in particular, has created a thriving habitat for pollinators like monarch butterflies.
Her broader work with the USDA focuses on helping beginning farmers onboard into USDA programs, especially those who are not from traditional farming backgrounds. Through this role, Noreen guides new farmers—many of whom are women or from diverse backgrounds—by helping them understand and navigate the often complex world of agricultural grants, insurance, and other USDA resources.
“I write a lot of grants because I like to be the fairy godmother,” Noreen joked.
Noreen’s passion is driven by several larger themes
1. Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship
Noreen is deeply invested in sustainable farming practices that enhance soil health and biodiversity. She believes that the future of agriculture lies in reducing environmental impact through innovative solutions and by working on climate-friendly alternatives.
2. Food Security and Local Food Systems
Noreen is a strong advocate for local food systems and the importance of community-supported agriculture. She believes that food security starts with local production and that regions should celebrate and cultivate crops that are unique to their geography and climate. Her work often emphasizes the terroir of the Fargo-Moorhead region, advocating for the value of locally grown grains, produce, and other crops.
3. Empowering Women and Diverse Farmers
Through her collaborations with the USDA and other projects, Noreen is committed to empowering groups of minorities traditionally underrepresented in agriculture. Noreen supports these people and women through mentorship, resource-sharing, and encouragement, helping them develop the skills and confidence to thrive in agriculture.
“A lot of women farmers are coming in droves back to the land. There are a lot of them dropping out of corporate. I probably am working with six of them right now, and they keep asking me questions. So I formed, not a co-op, but a collaboration [that] helps them with markets, helps them with questions. We can share some machinery. We can share some of the seeds. We can share the market. I’ve never seen that before.”
4. Innovation in Agriculture
Noreen’s curiosity extends to cutting-edge agricultural research and technology. She is excited by developments in bio-based products, sustainable fuels, and niche crops that have broader environmental and market potential. Her ability to bridge traditional farming practices with modern innovations drives much of her passion and long-term vision for the future of farming.
Impact on Local Ag
Noreen has made significant contributions to local agriculture through her countless collaborations. Her farm has become a hub for innovation and outreach, where she works closely with other farmers, engages with the public, and mentors new generations of agriculturists.
Doubting Thomas Farms operates as part of a broader cooperative network, where Noreen collaborates with neighboring farmers and specialists. For example, her farmland hosts a beekeeper, an herbologist, and a herdsman who grazes cattle along the borders of her fields. Working together, they share land and resources to create a layered agricultural system that benefits everyone involved. This co-op is a win-win, maximizing productivity and creating a sense of community. Additionally, Noreen has helped form a collaborative network for beginning farmers, allowing them to share machinery, seeds, markets, and knowledge, which is especially valuable for those who might not have grown up in farming families.
Noreen’s collaboration with local Chef Candace Stock is a great example of how she blends culture and agriculture. The two have worked together to create Indigenous-inspired meals from farm-grown and foraged ingredients, offering guests an authentic taste of locally sourced foods while educating them on the history and benefits of Indigenous food and agriculture.
Noreen’s philosophy of “bringing the world to her farm” has inspired her to have an open invitation to the farm to engage with the community. She regularly hosts educational and cultural events, giving people—many times, those who are far removed from agriculture—an opportunity to experience farm life firsthand.
These events range from farm-to-table dinners, where locally grown produce is celebrated, to Indigenous foraging workshops. Through these events, Noreen reintroduces people to the farm as a place of connection, learning, and celebration—which she believes is extremely important in an era where fewer families have direct ties to farming, but in a time when food supply and an understanding of our environments and land is more important than ever.
Noreen has a proactive role in mentorship, especially for women and those who didn’t grow up on farms. Her work with the organization Renewing the Countryside allows her to help new and beginning farmers understand essential agricultural practices, marketing strategies, and how to navigate complex government programs.
“In Minnesota, [the number of] beginning farmers has increased. Other states are losing [new farmers]. We have these beginning farmers that are very different—they have smaller acres, and they may not have come from the farm,” Noreen said. “I am hired through Renewing the Countryside to help onboard farmers with the USDA because if you’re not born into a family that uses [those programs], you don’t even know what that is.”
Renewing the Countryside
Renewing the Countryside is a nonprofit organization focused on revitalizing rural communities through sustainable agriculture, rural entrepreneurship, and local food systems. The organization supports beginning farmers, women, and minority farmers by helping them access USDA programs, adopt sustainable farming practices, and connect with local markets.
Renewing the Countryside’s main focus is sustainable agriculture and rural community revitalization, as well as:
- Supporting beginning, women, and minority farmers with resources and USDA programs
- Promoting local food systems and farm-to-table initiatives.
- Advocating for rural entrepreneurship and economic development.
- Engaging in policy advocacy to support family farms and rural communities.
Learn more about this program at renewingthecountryside.org
Balancing Tradition and Technology
While innovation is another driver for Noreen’s work, she understands the balance necessary for not only a thriving agricultural future but a sustainable one. And when in doubt, she believes in the power of ground truth.
“Some of the landowners and some of the farms actually are quite big… But then it’s like, if a technology doesn’t work that day—you’ve got to be there. So, I think it’s a combination of technology and tradition. [With] any technology, you have to ground truth. We use this one app for rain. We’re in the field and it’s not raining, but the app says it’s raining. So, there’s a balance, but I don’t know what that is really.”
Sustainability is a key principle that is integrated into Noreen’s farming practices. That can be seen through crop rotation in crops like soybeans, wheat, millet, and rye to prevent soil depletion, minimize the need for chemical fertilizers, and naturally help control pests.
She also is passionate about cultivation of heirloom Native American plants, which she grows in partnership with the White Earth community. Noreen’s commitment to growing these varieties, which are often rare or difficult to grow, is driven by the desire to preserve biodiversity while keeping alive traditional agricultural practices that have been lost.
Join Noreen and others for the Women in Conservation gathering on November 7 at 6 p.m. at Nygaard Nursery in Dilworth, MN! This evening, as part of a larger series, will focus on fruit trees of the north and spring planting plans.
This free event offers women a chance to connect, share knowledge, and engage in inspiring discussions about conservation efforts. All are welcome!
A Woman in Agriculture
It’s not a radical thought to acknowledge that farming has been a traditionally maledominated world, but that’s nothing new for the women in the last few decades. It hasn’t always been easy to gain acceptance or be taken seriously as a woman in the field. Early in her farming career, Noreen had moments when she felt like an outsider in a world where women were underrepresented, particularly in leadership roles.
“I think it was more of a society thing—for example, I was the odd duck [out] when we were in this rural church. I didn’t know the rules, that this is how the coffee is made. So, I just jumped in and did what I thought was good… But it’s like, you know, if you gotta get the coffee done, get the coffee done. I don’t care how it gets done, but get it on there and go, you know? We weren’t as rule-driven when I grew up,” Noreen said.
When asked how and when she has decided to push back or fall in line with these “rules” or societal expectations, her answer was simple.
“I never really fell in line with it. I never can. I’m coloring outside the lines all the time because I get rewards from that,” she explained. “If my husband was trying to market something, I’d get the better price, just because they weren’t used to working with women picking up the phone. You know, credit to him too. He just saw that as my strong [skill] and just left it. That would be very hard for some other men, so I don’t think I ever am—but I am very creative.”
And that creativity, leadership, and curiosity became the primary force of her success.
Her creativity allowed her to find new solutions and opportunities, particularly in niche markets and innovative farming practices. For example, she carved out her role on her family farm by focusing on marketing and finding value-added products, which enabled her to develop new revenue streams for the farm and offer something unique to the market.
As a leader, Noreen splits down barriers by collaborating and supporting new and diverse farmers and advocating for women in agriculture.
From experimenting with USDA research projects to exploring agricultural technology, Noreen’s curiosity has consistently pushed the boundaries of what’s possible on her farm and beyond, keeping her ahead of trends and allowing her to make impactful changes that benefit both her farm and the community.
A Vision for the Future
Noreen’s focus is her desire to ensure the long-term viability of farms while reducing environmental impact and education on the history of the land.
Her vision for the future is one where local farming communities thrive by embracing innovation while staying true to their roots. Noreen believes that a strong connection between farmers and consumers is essential, which is why she advocates for local food systems, farm-to-table initiatives, and the preservation of unique regional crops. She also sees the future of agriculture as more inclusive, and through mentorship and collaboration, she is making that future seem closer and closer than ever.
“[I am excited for] the new combinations, especially of food. As diverse individuals have moved to our areas, we had our standard things, but I really am excited about the terroir of Fargo-Moorhead,” Noreen said. “Community, culture, things that we grow here and eat here that are different. Our bread made with our flour tastes different than someone’s in Kansas. We don’t celebrate that.”
As the sun is rising behind the west-facing barn and the mourning doves sing, Noreen tosses chunks of home-baked bread that didn’t quite turn out to the chickens pecking around the yard. The glass-like Buffalo River runs through the trees, the bees are waking up from their rest under the sunflower petals, and if you close your eyes and listen really hard—you can just barely hear the sounds of trucks on the highway a few fields over. The expansive land that surrounds Thomas Doubting Farms is thrilling with life while at the same time providing a peaceful sanctuary— that is until eager groups of firsttime farmers, children, or whoever is participating in Noreen’s newest project arrive ready to learn. But for, now, it’s Noreen, the chickens, the mourning doves, the bees, and, of course, her dog Mac.
Learn more about Doubting Thomas Farms at doubtingthomasfarms.com
