Country
Friday, January 18, 2019 • Edition 1
cres A
Focusing on Today’s Rural Environment
Crops, camera, action
PHOTOS BY JENNIFER COYNE
Zach Johnson records a video segment before removing snow from his driveway Jan. 4 near Lowry. Johnson often carries a camera with him to tape daily tasks on his farm before creating a video under his YouTube channel, MN Millennial Farmer.
Johnson emerges as social media sensation By JENNIFER COYNE Staff Writer LOWRY – A typical day for Zach Johnson is like that of other west central Minnesota crop farmers, except he has more than 200,000 spectators watching. As Johnson works on equipment, tends to the land and manages the farm, he does so in front of a camera as the MN Millennial Farmer – a growing YouTube icon. “I don’t have the time to dedicate to lobbying or representing agriculture at the capitol, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have the passion. I’m just representing ag in a different way,” said Johnson of his platform. Johnson farms alongside his father, Nathan, where they run
2,500 acres of corn and soybeans near Lowry. As the MN Millennial Farmer, Johnson showcases the daily responsibilities he has being a good steward of the land and sustainably producing food in an entertaining, yet informative, manner. Each video varies in content – from spring fieldwork to fall harvest and hot-button issues like GMOs – to provide viewers with an honest outlook on farming. “I started this because I was seeing online, specifically from family members and former classmates, pragmatic and genuine concerns about agriculture,” Johnson said. “Being a voice for agriculture has really become a thing in the industry, and I felt this was a way I could address those concerns and show what
This month in the
we do.” During the day, Johnson carries a small camera with him, recording several hours’ worth of content as he talks through the tasks at hand. While Johnson is the host of his channel, he often has his father and family – wife Becky, children Onyx, Rhiannon and Isla, and niece Aurora – make guest appearances. “The most important thing is that we’re getting our work done and we’re being safe,” said Johnson about creating his videos while also farming. “I have a magnetic swivel mount that allows me to get the job done without the camera being in the way.” When the day is done, Johnson works with Becky to edit the video for publishing. “My purpose is to advocate for agriculture, and I have to be
COUNTRY
Zach Johnson holds up his plaque from YouTube Jan. 4 at his home near Lowry. The plaque commemorates Johnson reaching 100,000 channel subscribers.
careful the line isn’t too blurred between advocacy and entertainment,” Johnson said. “The videos are entertaining in a way that is positive for the agriculture community. Viewers are getting to know me and my way of life.” They often trim the videos to 8 to 12 minutes’ worth of valuable content for viewers. “In the winter, I post a video a week, but when it’s harvest,
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I’m putting out about five videos a week,” Johnson said. “We have a really good system. As Becky is editing video, I’m already working on a new one. I try to have a 12- to 18-hour turnaround.” One of Johnson’s favorite clips is, “MAJOR combine damage – Nov. 6th Harvest Vlog.”
JOHNSON continued on page 2
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