Kristin Harms

Finding Connection in the Wide Open Spaces

Kristin Harms, known as @thebasicranchmom, has built a following of 80,000 and counting on Instagram by offering a laid-back, unfiltered look into her life as a mother and wife on a South Dakota ranch. Her content is a mix of humor, honesty, and heart, resonating with women who understand the unique challenges of raising a family in the middle of nowhere.

But “nowhere” isn’t just a feeling—it’s reality for millions. Roughly 20% of Americans live in rural areas, where towns are small, neighbors are far apart, and “running to the store” might mean a 45-minute drive each way. In cities, social interactions happen naturally—in coffee shops, offices, playgrounds—but in rural America, building community takes effort. The wide-open spaces that make ranch life beautiful can also make it isolating, especially for mothers who have moved away from their built-in support systems.

A third-generation rancher, Kristin grew up on Bieber Red Angus Ranch, a registered Red Angus ranch in North Central South Dakota that her grandfather started in the 1960s. The ranch, which raises 1,000 female cows and sells about 300 bulls each March, was a constant part of her childhood. But like many who grew up in rural America, she never planned to stay.

She moved to Sioux Falls for college at Augustana University, met her husband, and built a life in the city. For a while, it felt right—the convenience, the energy, the opportunities. But as people grow, so do their needs and aspirations. When Kristin and her husband started thinking about the future, those needs changed. Eventually, they made the decision to move back to the ranch.

While her husband focused on the day-to-day cattle operations, Kristin took on marketing, branding, and administrative duties, using her background in marketing and advertising to modernize the ranch’s outreach. But despite the fulfilling work, something was missing.

Shortly after moving back, she welcomed her first child—and the isolation hit differently. There weren’t many people nearby who shared her experiences, and the struggles of motherhood in rural America—the lack of community, the difficulty of maintaining friendships, the mental toll of distance—weren’t always talked about.

So, two and a half years ago, she started an Instagram page. At first, it was just a creative outlet, a way to document daily life—from cattle chores to parenting moments. But something unexpected happened. People responded. They related to her experiences, laughed at her humor, and saw pieces of their own lives in hers. Six months in, Kristin had more than just a following—she had built a brand and a community. Women from all walks of life—ranch wives, moms, even city dwellers curious about rural living—engaged with her content. She leaned into her marketing skills, learning the algorithm, monetization strategies, and content trends.

By her first year, with her audience growing rapidly, Kristin realized her real impact: creating a space where women in rural areas felt seen.

With success came new challenges. Running a ranch, raising kids, and managing an online presence required a new level of discipline. Kristin started time-blocking, prioritizing tasks, and—most importantly—learning to give herself grace. She also had to develop thicker skin. The internet isn’t always kind, and she quickly learned to separate business from personal, balancing authenticity with privacy. She often says that work-life balance is a moving target—some days, it works, and other days, it doesn’t. But if there’s one thing she’s learned, it’s that rural motherhood doesn’t have to mean isolation.

As Kristin’s platform continues to grow, so do her ambitions. While social media has allowed her to connect with thousands of women across the country, she’s now looking for ways to bring that community together in person. She’s considering meet-and-greet events where supporters can share their experiences and form real-life friendships—turning virtual connections into tangible ones.

She’s also stepping into public speaking, using her knowledge of digital marketing to help others navigate the online space. On April 29th, she’ll be speaking at a free workshop hosted by the Startup and Innovation Center at the KO Lee Library. Titled Create, Post, Connect: Digital Content for Startup Marketing, the session will focus on how businesses can use social media to build an engaged audience—something Kristin knows firsthand. For Kristin, the next step isn’t just about growing her brand—it’s about empowering others to share their own stories, build their own communities, and find connections in their own way.

Kristin took a challenge—returning to a place she once thought she’d outgrown—and turned it into an opportunity. Through her content, she has not only built a thriving business but also created a digital home for women who understand the joys and struggles of rural life. Because even in the most remote places, connection is possible. Sometimes, it just takes a little creativity—and maybe a few Instagram reels—to find it.