Betsy Freese
Betsy Freese is an American editor, blogger, and radio personality who focuses on small and large-scale agriculture journalism as executive editor for Successful Farming and Living the Country Life. She was the host of both the Living the Country Life radio series and TV show. She produces the exclusive annual Pork Powerhouses ranking of the largest 25 pork producers in the U.S. and Canada. Early life Betsy Freese was raised in Maryland, one of three children. She was exposed to agriculture from a young age through her father, Phil Johnson, who raised pigs and grew corn. In 1975 her father purchased a turkey farm from his father, Warren Johnson. The farm was originally used to grow turkeys, and provided one of the first turkeys for the White House Thanksgiving under president Harry S. Truman. Betsy’s father converted the farm to raise confinement hogs and grow strawberries. Education Betsy attended Iowa State University, majoring in agricultural journalism. There she met her future husband, Robert Freese, who was a major in animal science. She served as Issue Editor for the Iowa State University Yearbook, writing stories on agriculture and politics. She graduated in 1984 with a degree in agricultural journalism. Career Betsy