For Jed Fiskness, agriculture isn’t just a business; it’s a family’s legacy in the making. From selling farm-fresh eggs and produce to becoming a Latham® Hi-Tech Seeds dealer, he’s helped build Fiskness Family Farm and Fiskness Feed & Seed into a diversified operation grounded in hard work, family values and a passion for local agriculture.
Jed grew up on a dairy and row crop farm, but after spending nearly 15 years running a sporting goods business, he found his way back to his agricultural roots.
“I always wanted to farm,” Jed says. “When I graduated high school in 2000, it was tough to get started. But I knew someday I’d come back.”
That dream took shape 17 years ago, when the family started out with just six chickens. Today, Fiskness Feed and Seed includes 1,200 chickens, feed and seed sales, poultry production and a thriving farmers’ market business.
Their stand features everything from fresh produce and meats to pickles, jams and jellies, with as many as 28 varieties available at the height of the season.
The whole family plays a role in keeping the business running. Jed’s oldest daughter, Mackenzie, a crop and weed science graduate from North Dakota State University, manages agronomy and seed operations. His son, Zach, handles farm equipment, deliveries and day-to-day logistics while studying agribusiness. His youngest daughter, Abby, runs “Abby’s Farmhouse Flavor,” a cottage bakery known for soft pretzels, cookies and pies.
“We do a little bit of everything,” Jed says. “But the goal has always been to build something my kids can come home to — something we can all be proud of.”
The family’s connection to Latham Seeds has strengthened that foundation.
“When I was looking for a seed company to work with, Latham stood out because it’s family-owned,” Jed says. “You can talk to the owners, and everyone genuinely cares about the dealers, employees and customers. It’s a company that fits our values perfectly.”
On their own acres, the Fiskness family plants Latham products, a choice Jed says is rooted in firsthand experience.
“I don’t sell anything I wouldn’t use myself,” Jed says. “We’ve had great success with Latham seed, and I’m proud to stand behind it.”
Beyond the fields, Jed finds joy in connecting with people at farmers’ markets and in the community.
“I love helping consumers understand where their food comes from,” Jed says. “Whether it’s seed customers or someone buying a dozen eggs, those conversations matter.”
Looking ahead, the Fiskness family hopes to continue expanding their seed, feed and vegetable operations while keeping their focus on what matters most: family and community.
“We’ve had our share of challenges, but we’re building something lasting,” Jed says. “At the end of the day, it’s about creating opportunities for the next generation, and doing it together.”
Great Grandma’s Rice Hotdish
Equipment
- 1 Bowl
- 1 Oven Safe Baking Dish
Ingredients
- 10.5 oz can of Cream of Chicken Soup
- 10.5 oz can of Chicken & Rice Condensed Soup
- 4 Tbsp of Low Sodium Soy Sauce
- 1 cup White Rice
- 1 pound of browned ground hamburger
- 1 cup celery sliced in 1/4″ pieces
- 1 cup carrot cut into thin rounds
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
- Pour into an oven safe baking dish and cover with tinfoil.
- Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 1 hour.
- Stir the hotdish and put back into oven uncovered for an additional 20-30 minutes or until carrots and rice are tender and all water is absorbed by rice.