While farming operations everywhere face difficulties, the Wulf’s have had to face their own set of unique challenges while living in rural Blackhawk County – a dynamic area with both urban populations and land primarily reserved for row crops.  So, as all farmers do, the Wulf’s have adapted.  Because pastures, and even fences, are hard to come by, they transform their cropland into cornstalks that the cattle graze on through the fall, winter and spring months.  In the summer, the herd goes out to pasture a few miles down the road, and Derek and Dresden utilize their resources to make hay.  While they have been able to pick up a few alfalfa fields around the area, the abundant cropland gives them lots of opportunity to use waterways as a source of grass hay.  They also work with housing developments in the Cedar Falls area as another way to increase their hay crop before the houses are built.

In addition to being strategic with their production style, the Wulf’s also take environmental and sustainability measures very seriously. She feels confident that raising beef is a great way to compliment the environment. “Our goal, as farmers and as parents, is to leave this ground better than we found it for future generations,” states Dresden.

As if maintaining their farming operation doesn’t keep her busy enough, Dresden works full time as an animal science instructor at Hawkeye Community College (HCC). She also runs the Meat Lab at HCC, the only community college with a meat lab in the state of Iowa. During an average semester Dresden will teach between 18-21 credits that cover anything from the basics of the animal industry, to anatomy and physiology, foods of animal origins and many more. “As a teacher, being able to bring my real-life experiences into the classroom and using those to work through the questions that my students have has a real impact. We are able to talk about more than what a textbook offers, and learn beyond the classroom."

Whether it is working with her students through tough questions, serving on local and state boards to help make a difference, or educating youth and consumers at events such as the National Cattle Congress, Dresden is continuously working to be an effective advocate for the beef industry.