This film (USA, 2018) is the result of the determination, vision, and hard work of Bonnie Hawthorne, who believed this was a story worth telling. A crew of one, she performed all tasks apart from music, graphics, and final audio mix. It was truly a labor of love.
In February 2025, Bonnie donated the film to the Grain Place Foundation to keep the Vetter’s story alive for future generations.
We at the Grain Place Foundation are glad to make Dreaming of a Vetter World available to stream for free. We hope you will watch it and share it far and wide.
The Grain Place Foundation was started as a way to continue the farm for the sake of our common future. Since 2016, the Vetter family has literally given away their ownership of the farm to the Foundation. The Foundation will not only continue to farm for the sake of the soil on those 280 acres in central Nebraska, but to spread their dream of a way of farming that is quickly disappearing. We need these methods for the health of our soil and our communities.
We encourage you to learn more and support the Foundation: www.grainplacefoundation.org.
“Dreaming of a Vetter World” Donated to The Grain Place Foundation
[Marquette, Nebraska] — The acclaimed documentary Dreaming of a Vetter World has been generously donated to the Grain Place Foundation to support its mission of nurturing the soil and the interconnected lives it sustains. The film is now available to stream for free online.
Directed, shot, and narrated by first-time filmmaker Bonnie Hawthorne, Dreaming of a Vetter World tells the story of the Vetter family, pioneers of organic farming on their 280-acre Grain Place Farm in Nebraska. More than a farm story, the film is a moving portrait of hope, perseverance, and a deep-rooted commitment to ecological stewardship.
Since its 2018 release, the documentary has reached audiences across the U.S. through festivals and community screenings. It is now a key part of the Foundation’s educational outreach, helping to raise awareness about regenerative farming.
Hawthorne’s journey to make the film mirrors the Vetters’ own bold path. Leaving behind her career in television, she lived out of a tiny trailer for two years while filming on location. “David dared to do something that seemed crazy but mattered. His story inspired me to do the same,” said Hawthorne.
Beautifully filmed on the Great Plains, the documentary highlights the Vetters’ philosophy of farming with nature. It features interviews with organic leaders and environmentalists and follows David Vetter’s journey from farmer’s son to scientist to farmer again—practicing what he calls a “ministry to the soil.”
The Grain Place Foundation, established in 2016, now owns and stewards the family farm as a model for sustainable agriculture. Each year, the Foundation hosts a Field Day offering farm tours, access to Grain Place Foods, and presentations by leaders in organic and regenerative agriculture. This year’s event on July 12 features keynote speaker Dr. Ray Archuleta (“Ray the Soil Guy”).
The Foundation invites individuals, schools, and community groups to watch the film together and explore how they, too, can help cultivate a better future. View the film and educational resources at www.grainplacefoundation.org. To host a group screening or invite a speaker, contact the Foundation directly.