From Pageants to Pastures

Before the sunrise chores, before the bread dough is shaped or the pigs are fed, Hannah Neeleman has already worn many crowns—literally. She was crowned Mrs. Utah in 2021 and Mrs. American in 2023, earning applause on pageant stages across the country. But it's on the land at Ballerina Farm where she feels most powerful. Surrounded by seven children, a herd of livestock, and rows of ripening vegetables, Hannah moves with purpose that goes far beyond pageantry. She and Daniel built Ballerina Farm as a place where family, faith, and food intertwine. Her roles—farmer, entrepreneur, mother, ballerina, and beauty queen—don’t compete; they collaborate. Each identity feeds the other, creating a vibrant life that thrives in the quiet rhythms of early mornings, muddy boots, and freshly baked bread.

What began as a dream of wide-open skies and homemade bread has grown into a thriving enterprise with a national following. From their 328-acre homestead in Kamas, Utah, the Neelemans raise pasture-raised pork, beef, and lamb using regenerative practices that prioritize animal welfare and soil health. Hannah’s signature sourdough kits, beeswax candles, and curated kitchen tools now ship to homes across the country, each product carefully chosen to reflect the values of craftsmanship and simplicity that Ballerina Farm represents. The farm’s Instagram presence—stunning yet unfiltered—has drawn millions, offering a behind-the-scenes look at a life that is as aspirational as it is grounded.

Despite the spotlight, the work remains deeply personal. Hannah still wakes before dawn to start her dough, often with a baby strapped to her back, and ends her days tending livestock or writing handwritten thank-you notes to customers. Her social media content is not outsourced or staged—it’s real life, unfolding in real time. And that authenticity is what resonates most. At a time when convenience often overshadows connection, Hannah and Ballerina Farm offer a return to roots: to the kitchen, the earth, and the family table.