Background
Travis Bressner is the founder, owner, and operator of Arete Ag. He was born and raised on a small dairy farm in central Illinois, where he learned much about animal care and dry hay production. After high school, Travis joined the Air Force National Guard as an Automotive Technician, eventually transitioning into Electrical Power Production. He has continued to serve his country for the last 18 years as a tech sergeant, training and supporting new troops. Through his experience in the military, he has learned invaluable lessons about teamwork, self-reliance, and adapting under pressure.
Once Travis completed his initial military training, he pursued and graduated with his bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness from Illinois State University. He learned from various excellent instructors in different areas of agriculture, which became a key stepping stone from his farming “roots” into farming entrepreneurship.
Upon graduation, Travis entered a regional agricultural cooperative workforce and has been a valuable team member ever since. He has gained extensive insight into the value of customer service, ag product knowledge, and the makings of running a customer-first profitable business.
In 2013, Travis broke into farming with just a few heads of pedigree Holsteins. However, he quickly realized his true passion was hay and forage production. In 2017, he transitioned out of Holsteins, created Arete Ag and moved into hay production, beginning a beef herd as well.
Home Farm
The home farm is located outside Fairbury, Illinois. It is a certified centennial farm and has been active for several generations. Travis’s grandfather, Glenn, started with merely a house, a small barn, and a corn crib. Over three generations, the home farm has grown, comprising a 10-acre pond, various buildings, and 80 acres of tillable ground. Glenn became a poultry master during his life and enjoyed farming until he was 90 years old. Although he passed on before Travis was old enough to learn much about farming from him, he inherited many of Glenn’s core values.
Glenn passed the reins on to Travis’s father, Dennis, who ran a dairy farm with purebred Holsteins for many years. Dennis eventually transitioned out of milking and continues to breed Holsteins to this day.
Realizing his passions differed from the previous generations, Travis began his own hay operation in 2017, growing it exponentially over the last seven years and quickly becoming one of the largest hay producers in the state of Illinois. Aiming to establish a lasting and honorable farming legacy for future generations, Travis is driven by his desire to restore the farm to its former glory and his passion for providing superior-quality hay nationwide.
Family
After achieving his degree from ISU, Travis met Alyse, who he calls “the most amazing, intelligent, funny, and beautiful woman I have ever encountered.” Alyse is his biggest fan and support system and the one who pushed him to take the risk of pursuing his passions and starting his own farming business.
In 2014, Travis and Alyse married, beginning their life journey together. A year later, the Lord blessed them with a healthy little boy. Two years later, they were again blessed with a beautiful little girl.
Before having kids, Alyse taught third-grade teacher at a local elementary school. However, after their son was born, she knew she was called to stay home and raise her children. She now homeschools their two kids. She is a contributing author in the best-selling book So God Made a Mother and a blogger at She Write Flowers. She also works as a freelance copywriter and social media marketer for various small businesses.
Travis and Alyse’s core values are faith, family, and hard work. They center their lives around Jesus and trust Him to lead them in every aspect of life. They involve their children in as much of the farming operation as possible, truly making it a family business and setting an authentic example of discipline and diligence.
