Although Sean Ogren grew up in the Twin Cities, he got his first taste of farm life when his dad asked if he’d like to spend summers working on the family farm. “That’s how I got started—and I just kind of fell in love with it,” he recalls.
In 2021, Sean and his cousin Dan officially took over the operation from Dan’s dad and their uncle, becoming the fifth generation to run the farm since it was homesteaded in the 1880s.
Sean manages the crop side of the business, which includes corn, soybeans, and some oats. They also grow cover crops for grazing and raise their own hay. “It’s really important to us to put up as much feed as we can every year,” Sean explains. “We aim to have nearly a year’s worth of hay on hand in case of drought.”
That mindset stems from lessons learned by the previous generation. “In their first or second year, they had to send cattle to Nebraska to be fed,” Sean says. “Nothing even greened up that year.” The cost of feed and trucking was so high, they decided they’d rather sell cattle than repeat that experience.
And selling cattle would be no small matter. Sean and Dan have built a registered herd of 150 Angus cattle, using home-raised heifers known for their calm temperament. They sell bred heifers to repeat customers who appreciate the quality of the calves.
Dry Conditions Show PRF's Value
Risk management plays a critical role in both their crop and livestock operations. Sean was introduced to Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (PRF) insurance after switching to Farm Credit in his second year of farming. “Our previous agent never really brought it up—maybe he didn’t fully understand how to use it,” Sean says.
That changed when they started working with Insurance Officer Matthew Haas. “He immediately talked about how valuable PRF could be for ranches,” Sean recalls. “So we took his word for it. I don’t know if we’ve just had good luck, but we have been getting some supplemental income from it.”
He points to last September and October—months they selected for coverage—as a prime example. “It was probably a record-setting dry stretch. I don’t think it rained once.”
Sean has become a strong advocate for PRF. “I’ve recommended it to a lot of people in our industry. A few years ago, hardly anyone knew about it. Now it’s really catching on, especially among Farm Credit customers.”
How PRF Coverage Works
He credits Farm Credit’s analytical tools and knowledgeable team for making a difference. Their technology helps producers select the right months for coverage. PRF pays out when rainfall in a geographic grid falls below average during the selected months. Producers choose the months, coverage level, productivity level, and number of acres to insure. Indemnities are paid automatically—no production records required. Applications and acreage reporting are completed together before December 1 for the following year.
“When you put it all together, it just seemed like a no-brainer,” Sean says.
“It gives you peace of mind heading into a dry year when hay is short. A PRF payout becomes your hay fund.”
Without that safety net, he says, the decisions get tough. “Like my uncle and his cousin faced—do you buy feed, send cattle out to be fed, or sell the herd and start over in spring? PRF helps you sleep better at night.”
