Clasemann Dairy preparing to host June 12 breakfast
By Carol Stender
cstender@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 06/03/2010 9:22 AM
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LONG PRAIRIE, Minn. —It's a special year for Clasemann Dairy: The Long Prairie farm will host Todd County's Breakfast on the Farm event June 12 and be officially recognized as a Century Farm at the Minnesota State Fair.
Tony Clasemann and his son, Marc, are partners in the 125-cow dairy operation. During Breakfast on the Farm, they will give guided tours that include an expansion project that was conducted in stages over the past decade.
Marc is the fifth generation to farm. The farm was started by his great-great grandfather, Joe, in 1910. Each generation has made changes to the operation to become more efficient.
A mix of livestock and 160 acres of crops were the basis for Joe's farm.
Anton, Joe's son, eventually took over the operation and added another 60 acres. He sold it to a brother, but took it back when the brother discovered farming wasn't for him.
Anton's son, Francis and his wife, Lorraine, purchased it and added more cows. They milked 45 to 50 cows in a stanchion barn, Tony said.
"I remember when I was small that we had chickens and pigs, but the main income was the cows," he said. "We had cream cans that we put in the stock tank to cool."
By the 1970s the Clasemann's installed a bulk tank, stepsaver and eventually a pipeline.
Tony and his wife, Debi, took over the farm in 1988, purchasing 50 cows and young stock.
In 2006, a manure storage system was constructed. There are two storage systems, Tony said. One handles the wastewater and the other holds manure. The system was designed by the NRCS with cost share from NRCS and the Long Prairie Rivershed.
By fall 2007, a hip-roof barn was demolished and a swing 12 parabone parlor built. An older facility serves as a holding area for the parlor, he said.
Tony hopes the public will notice the cow comfort that's been paramount in the expansion project design. Sand bedding is used in the free-stalls, he said.
Marc became a partner in the farming operation last year. Marc graduated from Browerville High School. He worked two years off the farm before joining the operation, he said.
"I just knew I wanted to farm," he said.
Tony and Marc milk together, handle calves and dry cows and do the fieldwork. Marc's wife, Kate, milks during spring planting.
They grow row crops and alfalfa on their irrigated acres. The soybeans are roasted in Sauk Centre and are included in the dairy ration.
Besides the guided tours, the Clasemanns' Breakfast on the Farm will offer a petting zoo and educational exhibits.
A pancake and sausage breakfast will be served from 8 to 11 a.m. Cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under.
The Todd County Livestock Advisory Council is helping organize the event.
Due to limited space and safety concerns on the nearby highway, no parking will be available on the farmsite, Tony said. Shuttle buses will transport people to the farm and back. The free bus rides will start at the Long Prairie High School parking lot.