Deanne’s blog is more than just a collection of family recipes. Her work has brought together a community of local and online families who come together to offer support and share practical, healthy meal ideas. Yes, many of her quick, easy-to-carry meals are influenced by the “field meals” she prepares for her family. However, her cooking tips and tricks also appeal to people outside the agricultural community and reside in the arsenals of busy families of all kinds who appreciate her convenient and nutritious meals.
Self-publishing her second cookbook (Her first, Table To Tailgate, is available now!) and planning for her upcoming event, “Hats Off to Harvest,” are just a few projects she’s working on right now (or, as she says, “probably biting off more than she can chew!”) to help other FarmHERs and RanchHERs navigate the chaos of farming life by finding some peace in the kitchen. In all that downtime, she says, she’s also planning a “pre-harvest boot camp” to equip families with freezer meals and easy cooking strategies to make things a little easier “when the endorphins wear off.”
When Life Gives You A Farmer
Growing up in a small farming community surrounded by cornfields, a path into agriculture would likely happen naturally. However, that’s not the case for our featured FarmHER, Deanne Frieders, the woman behind the beloved food blog This Farm Girl Cooks!
“I wasn’t in FFA. I didn’t do 4-H. We lived near a cornfield, but it just wasn’t relevant to me at the time,” Deanne admits, almost embarrassed. College took her away from the farm. She hopped from the local community college to Louisiana and finally landed at the University of Illinois at Springfield after a volleyball injury.
After college, she married a farmer and had two kids, but the marriage didn’t work out. This was a challenging time, but she persevered and eventually found love again. Living 30 minutes from her hometown with her kids, she tried online dating at the suggestion of both her siblings, who also found their partners this way.
“I met this guy, Ryan Frieders, from the town next door to where I grew up,” she says. Her parents knew him well — they even installed his windows, and her mom served communion to his grandmother at the local assisted living facility. Despite initial doubts (another farmer?!), they hit it off and soon married. Their family grew with the birth of two more children.
Mastering the Art of Field Meals
With her corporate job demanding a two-hour commute and childcare proving challenging in a rural area, they decided she would stay home and help on the farm after the birth of their daughter, Eleanor. This shift required a bit of a learning curve.
“There was definitely a disconnect between me going to my corporate thing, him doing the farm thing all day, and me not having any idea what transpired while I was gone,” she explains. Curious to contribute more, Deanne asked Ryan how she could help.
“Well, you can help by making field meals,” he suggested.
What is a “Field Meal?”
Not knowing what a field meal was, she started experimenting. She said some early attempts were tragic. “People were trying to balance on knees,” she laughs. But determined to get it right, her meals quickly improved.
“A field meal is something I would say you can eat without special utensils–I say, ‘no knife required.’” Deanne explains. “It’s gotta be something that you can serve up right away, or it can sit for a bit because we know that it doesn’t always work according to schedule — whether you’re dropping off and waiting for somebody to finish a round or a piece of equipment breaks down and you need to let it sit for a couple of hours. It’s really gotta be something flexible — no fuss. And for me, I like to have it where it has at least some nutritional components, so it can fuel their bodies for long days.”
Some of her family’s favorites? Any type of slider — and stir fry! Yes, STIR FRY!
“[Stir fry] sounds so weird for a field meal,” she laughed. “There’s so much you can do with it because you’ve got your protein, your starch, and your vegetable. So, that was something I started early on. My father-in-law was like, ‘Oh, stir fry?’ You know, because he wouldn’t have grown up having stir fry in the middle of a cornfield, But they’re easy to make, and you can use frozen vegetables. So it doesn’t you don’t have to run to the grocery store.”
She turned to Facebook to share her successes, and friends took notice, asking her for specific measurements and cooking tips. Eventually, Deanne created her own professional profile. Soon after that, her blog, This Farm Girl Cooks, was born in 2016.
This Farm Girl Cooks
As a lifelong cook, Deanne embraced her love for food and her mom and grandma’s influence — quickly becoming an extraordinary Farm Mama and field meal expert in her own right. Writing recipes came naturally: “I’ve always been a foodie. My mom had me with her in the kitchen. My grandma had me in the kitchen with her.” The real challenge was documenting her creations, but she enjoyed sharing her culinary adventures. Over the years, Deanne has fostered a supportive and interactive online community around her blog.
She often initiates roll calls, asking, ‘Where are you from? What do you farm?’ The connections formed in the comments below are typically heartwarming and often local, making her audience feel connected and part of a larger, supportive community.
Looking back, she wishes she’d followed her heart more: “There were so many times where I did what I thought was expected or what would make me ‘successful.'” Her advice? Trust yourself and embrace your unique style.
Her proudest achievements so far include self-publishing her cookbook (and is working on another right now!) and overcoming her fear of public speaking.
“I had a terrible fear of public speaking. My voice shook the whole time, but I did it,” Deanne recalls. She advises other women hoping to follow a similar path, “You really have to believe in yourself and trust in yourself. People want to follow me because of who I am and how I say things. I just have to be myself, and there’s value in that.”
Lifting Up Women in Agriculture
When it comes to defining the role of a FarmHER, it’s hard to pin down.
“I don’t think that there is one definition of FarmHER that can find everyone, ” she says. “To me, I think being a FarmHER means being a female involved in agriculture who accepts and embraces this way of life but also realizes its ups and downs and challenges and does what they can to make it a better place.”
Deanne sees a need for more recognition of women in agriculture and the spectrum of important roles they fulfill to support their families and operations.
“Well, I think the first thing is just the generalization when you say Farm-ER and not Farm-HER, but just farmer: People always picture a man,” she said. “There are so many women who are either running their own operations or running one alongside their spouse that don’t get the credit I think they necessarily deserve.
“I think, too, about the stereotype of what my grandma was — you know, my grandmother drove the tractor and did all those things, but people probably thought she sat inside and just did housework and cooked — because she did that, too,” she says. “Many people work off the farm, and I get that, too. And they might not help in that way, but they might take a meal out, or they might be raising kids. I mean, there’s so much. It’s not just a job; it’s a way of life. When you’re farming and ranching, it’s a completely different thing.”
Not to mention, that definition can change monthly, daily, or even hourly.
“To me, being a FarmHER in October is different than being a FarmHER in January. It’s shifting all the time — what we need,” she says. “In October, it’s filling the gaps. I’m helping feed the cows. I’m driving the grain cart. It’s not, truthfully, exactly where I wanna be. I would rather be in the kitchen doing my work, but I know that we need the help up there.”
The Pros and Cons of the “Can-Do Attitude”
Part of Deanne’s mission with This Farm Girl Cooks is to create community online and through local events like her upcoming Hats Off to Harvest.
“I am building out [this event] as a community gathering to just pull all these people from the farming community and the rural community to gather before the chaos of harvest starts,” she said. “I really want to get those connections, that can-do attitude, and that support network out there, as well as mental health resources. things that they can turn to when, you know, the endorphins wear off after the first few weeks of harvest.”
She’s also working on what she calls a “pre-harvest boot camp.”
“So, it’s just a course where people could get freezer meals and techniques and really be able to have a sense of empowerment while they’re in the chaos,” she explains. “You know, we only have so much control over what we do and what else goes on. So, it’s kind of trying to just have us in the best space possible in our minds and in our kitchens.”
In the heat of harvest, running yourself dry is pretty easy. There’s no reason to do it over dinner! The ag industry’s ” can-do attitude ” is part of what makes the community so strong. But when things get tough, it can also break us down.
“I think the idea, the ‘can-do attitude,’ has been prevalent in farming and ranching forever, you know, like, ‘just dig in your heels, suck it up, tough it out.'” she said. “I think we’re realizing the consequences of some of that. Really, I think, for females, there is a need to take care of ourselves, too, and being able to set some boundaries and limit or delegate things outside of the household, whether it’s bringing in a housekeeper or asking a neighbor for help, you know, with when you’re just feeling overwhelmed. I think we just need to get a little more real about what it is that we need and be okay with asking for what it takes to accomplish that. You know, there’s nothing selfish about taking care of yourself. And I feel, you know, I look at my grandma — and my grandma, she never did anything for herself. It was always whatever everybody else needed, but I do think that it’s taken a toll we see so much anxiety and depression, and there are so many little things that you can do along the way to try to balance it out. We’re always gonna have some of those issues. And there’s always gonna be stressors, right? Like farming and ranching, it is not like an even-keel job, but I’m glad to see there are a lot more resources in place and that people are starting to talk about it.”
20 Questions with Deanne Freiders a.k.a. This Farm Girl Cooks
1. What is your favorite fruit or vegetable? (Or favorite food, in general.)
I actually love vegetables more than fruit! Some of my favorites are butternut squash, beets, and roasted broccoli.
2. What is your favorite recipe?
Easy Pork Stir Fry is my go-to. It uses frozen veggies and a pork tenderloin, both of which I have in my freezer. The sauce is super easy to whip up, and everyone loves it!
3. Coffee, Tea, or Something else? (And, how do you fix the perfect cup?)
Coffee in the morning – the first cup is black; the second cup has half a scoop of vanilla protein powder I mix with a frother. It feels decadent!
4. You are making chili. Beans or NO beans?
Gotta be beans. Meal stretcher plus fiber, baby!
5. What is your guilty pleasure? (It can be anything!)
A vanilla sundae with hot fudge, whipped cream, and two cherries on top. My kids always steal my cherries, so I have to eat them first or share. 🙂
6. What is your favorite holiday? Do you associate any family traditions with that special day?
I love Thanksgiving. Growing up, my mom was 1 of 9 kids. The dinner was in a church hall for years, then eventually moved to our garage, which my parents outfitted with banquet tables, carpeting, and heaters for the dinner. It was quite the feat every year, and they ran it like a fine-tuned machine.
7. What’s your go-to item or clothing right now (or) your wardrobe staple? [Product recs appreciated but not required!]
I love the Duluth gardening overalls. I wear them to do chores, drive the tractor or mow the lawn (grass doesn’t stick to them). I have them in 3 colors. I’ve been known to wear them to baseball games, too. They’re just that comfy!
8. What’s your favorite book (or) movie (or) record (or) podcast?
I love reading historical fiction and cookbooks. The Nightengale is a book I still think about even though I read it years ago. I’m all over the board with podcasts – I like them, but they vary depending on my mood.
9. What are three items/products you can’t live without?
- My massive, 64-ounce water bottle – I take it on road trips, and it keeps me hydrated. Plus, half the time, the kids drink it, too.
- My phone, of course, because I use it for everything.
- Tinted sunscreen — it’s always with me. I like this one and Elta, which was recommended by my dermatologist.
10. Who is a person you admire from history, living or dead?
Eleanor Roosevelt – coincidently, our daughter is named Eleanor after her and a great aunt. I love that she said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
11. Who is a person you admire in your personal life?
My mom, for sure – I admire the things she taught us and the business skills she instilled in me. I don’t know where she gets all of her energy. She’s always willing to lend a helping hand, and she still helps me when I need it. She’s very involved with volunteering – making food, knitting and crocheting for good causes, and more. She’s actually making cookies since our homestead is hosting a tractor drive fundraiser (for ag in the classroom) later this month.
12. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
I actually have two – one was on a card my parents gave me for graduation that said, “You are a gift FROM God, and what you become is your gift TO God.” I still have it sitting on my dresser mirror. The other is from one of my first bosses, who told me, “Everyone is replaceable.” It was some tough love advice when I was starting out my career.
13. What is your best quality or hidden talent?
I love bringing people together and building community. Five years ago, I wouldn’t have deemed it a talent, but I’ve learned not everyone thinks like I do. My mind is a very busy but exciting place to be 🙂
14. What would you choose if a genie granted you one wish/superpower?
Housecleaning – it’s a full-time job just keeping things kept up and put away. Don’t get me started about when people put clean laundry in the bin – that sets me off!
15. What’s something at the top of your Bucket List?
I’d love a cooking show, even if it’s just as a sidekick. I love connecting with the audience in that format and have a lot to share. That, or a foodie trip through Europe.
16. What’s the first thing you do when you get out of bed in the morning?
I drink a glass of water and then pour a cup of coffee. If it’s nice, I sit on our front porch and listen to the birds. I even have a bird-identifying app I use – yep, I’m becoming THAT person!
17. What’s an interesting fact you think everyone should know?
I’m left-handed, putting me in the 10% of the population. You know they say left-handed people are the only ones in their right mind!
19. What is something new you are currently learning (or) want to learn more about?
I’d love to learn Spanish. I only remember bits and pieces from high school. I’m also intrigued about nutrition, so I’ve been exploring some courses on that subject.
20. Where is the most amazing place you’ve ever traveled?
The Great Barrier Reef was amazing! I got to scuba dive there even though I’m scared of the water and a little claustrophobic, I was able to pull it off!
21. Who is the first person you call when something good happens?
My husband. He doesn’t get excited until things are a done deal, but I get excited about the prospective of things. He tolerates my enthusiasm, ha! And then I call my mom 🙂
23. If you won the lottery, what is the very first thing you’d buy with the winnings?
I’d buy a property to host retreats and community events near me. It would also have a little store with dry goods and local produce. We need something like this in our area.
Everybody Eats
At the heart of every meal is a story—a tale of dedication, nurture, and the enduring spirit of those who tend the land. Everybody Eats is the place where the narratives of food and agriculture converge. In partnership with FarmHer, we meet courageous women who embody not just the power of nurturing but also the strength of leading in transforming our food systems. They are the unsung heroes, educators, and compassionate souls who have relentless commitment and extraordinary care embedded in cultivating our food. Feed your curiosity, nourish your understanding, and grow your appreciation for the stewards who make sure that Everybody Eats.
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