By Brent Nelson, 4th Generation Egg Farmer. Nelson Poultry Farms, Manhattan, KS.

As a parent, an American and a fourth-generation egg farmer, there’s nothing quite like the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. Last April, my wife and I were delighted to take our three children from the Little Apple (Manhattan, Kansas) to the annual event on the South Lawn of the White House. While this marked the first time we were honored to attend this monumental experience, our family ties to the egg industry run deep.

Nearly a century ago, my great grandmother began selling and trading eggs to help put food on the table for her family. It was a humble beginning with chicks hatched in the garage behind the family home in Morganville, Kansas. What started as a personal passion has evolved into both a professional passion as well. Today our family keeps this spirit alive running Nelson Poultry Farms.

It’s a non-stop, challenging and rewarding job. There were times when, like at age 8, helping my dad around the farm, I wasn’t always sure I wanted to be an egg farmer. But coming back to the farm after exploring other unfulfilling industries post-college is a decision I’ve never regretted. And the thought that, one day, my kids could choose to be the fifth generation and continue our family heritage makes me even more excited for the future of agriculture.

We are thrilled to return to the White House Easter Egg Roll, which is a fun, exciting event, especially for my children. But it’s more than that; it’s a celebration of our way of life as egg farmers. And it gives me an immense amount of pride to be included in this beloved annual gathering on the most famous lawn in the country.

We can’t wait to go back, and bring the best of Kansas to Washington, D.C., Just as we do, on Easter and every other day of the year, as dedicated American egg farmers!