For Cassie Hribek, farming was never a career she had to choose. It is who she is. 

A fourth-generation farmer from Bay County, Michigan, Cassie grew up immersed in the rhythms of her family’s farm, working alongside her dad from an early age.  

“I started working with my dad as a toddler,” said Cassie. “Farming just always felt natural to me. It’s what I grew up around, and what I love to do now.” 

Many of her peers experienced the common cases of existential uncertainty as they transitioned from high school to the real world, struggling to choose which path to take. Cassie never hesitated. 

“Farming was never really something I had to decide on,” she said. “I just knew that’s what I was going to do.” 

 

Honoring Family Tradition While Building Something New 

 

Cassie’s family farm has been in operation for four generations, and she grew up right where it all started. Today, she still lives close to home — so close, in fact, when she looks out the window of her living room, she can see the farm where she was raised. 

Honoring her family’s legacy has always been important to her, but Cassie was also determined to carve out her own unique place within it. 

Cassie began farming immediately after graduating from high school. She gradually acquired land and began building her own operation. Early on, getting access to enough land to support a profitable farm was difficult — even for a fourth-generation farmer with family support and a strong knowledge of the industry. 

“You think you’ll never get enough (land) to make a go of it,” said Cassie. “But it does happen. You just pick up a little more here and there.” 

Credibility through Experience 

Cassie is part of a growing generation of women in agriculture. While she’s quick to acknowledge there are many women farmers today, she recognizes running her own independent operation still sets her apart. 

“Sometimes people don’t take women quite as serious as they take men,” she said. “But once people get to know you and your operation, the respect is there.” 

For Cassie, credibility has come from experience, consistency, and results — not from trying to prove a point. Over time, her relationships have grown stronger, and her operation speaks for itself. 

“Cassie embodies the very spirit of a woman in agriculture. While she works alongside her dad, and is also married to a full-time farmer. What truly stands out is the strength and pride she brings to running an operation entirely her own,” said Mike Schwab, VP of lending at GreenStone’s Bay City branch. “Cassie’s natural leadership is unmistakable. I look forward to supporting her as she becomes the next generation of her family’s farming legacy.” 

The Desk is as Important as the Tractor 

Like many producers today, Cassie knows modern farming requires just as much business acumen as it does time in the field. Rising land values, high equipment costs, and fluctuating commodity prices make every decision count. 

“Everything costs a lot,” she said. “If you want to be successful, you definitely need to spend some time at the desk.” 

Strategic decisions — such as purchasing late-model used equipment instead of buying brand new — have helped Cassie and her family’s operations continue to grow while managing costs.  

Despite the stress and uncertainty that can come with farming, Cassie finds deep fulfillment in her work.  

“It can be pretty stressful at times,” she said. “But it’s also very rewarding.” 

Partnering with GreenStone 

When Cassie took her first steps toward running her own operation, having the right financial partner made all the difference. When the time came to purchase farmland, she turned to GreenStone — leaning on her family’s long standing relationship with the cooperative. “GreenStone is a great fit for beginning and young farmers,” said Cassie. “They just get it.” 

Cassie’s experience reflects the mission of GreenStone’s CultivateGrowth program — to support young, beginning, and small farmers as they establish and grow their operations. From land financing to crop insurance and Patronage dividends, GreenStone has been a steady partner throughout her journey. 

“They make it easy… Everything is there, and you don’t have to explain farming to them,” said Cassie. “The Patronage program has been very beneficial — it’s nice to get something back that supports the financial health of your operation.” 

Farming for the Next Generation 

 

Looking ahead, Cassie’s goals extend beyond her own success. She and her husband, Jason, who runs his own farm operation, have two young sons, Dean, 5, and Eli, 4. Her hope is to grow her operation and make it viable for years to come — should her children choose to enter the family business and take over where she left off. 

“Farming is just a way of life,” she said. “It’s something that’s born into us. One day, it’d be nice to help them farm and let them be the boss.” 

For Cassie Hribek, farming is about patience, persistence, and pride — honoring the generations that came before her while building something sustainable for the next. Rooted in tradition and driven by determination, she’s proving that with the right support and a clear vision, young farmers can still grow their dreams.

 

To view the article in the online 2026 Spring Partners Magazine, click here.