U of M recognizes 2012 Farm Families of the Year
By from news reports
Date Modified: 08/13/2012 10:42 AM
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MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL — Seventy-six families from around the state, one from each participating county, have been named a "2012 Farm Family of the Year" by the University of Minnesota.
The families will be officially recognized in a ceremony Aug. 9 at the annual Farmfest near Redwood Falls. Profiles of the 2012 honorees and information on the recognition event can be found on the University's farm family website at http://mnfarmfamilies.cfans.umn.edu.
"Farm families and agriculture are a major driver of Minnesota's economy and the vitality of Minnesota's rural communities," said Bev Durgan, dean of University of Minnesota Extension. "The University of Minnesota is proud to recognize these outstanding families for their contributions to agriculture and their communities."
Families were selected by their local county Extension committees for having demonstrated a commitment to enhancing and supporting agriculture.
Farmfest runs Aug. 7-9 at the Gilfillan Estate, near Redwood Falls, Minn. Event hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 7 and 8, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 9. Admission is $10 per person, and those 18 and under are admitted free. More information on Farmfest is available at www.ideaggroup.com/farmfest.
The diversity of Minnesota family farms can be seen by looking at a sample of the 2012 honorees:
Greg Booth and Vickie Kettlewell of Cass County
Sunup Ranch began near Osseo, Minn. in 1950. In 1993, Greg and Vickie Booth began managing the ranch. Today, they have beef cattle, a mare herd, and sell registered Quarter Horses. The family takes the horses to homes all over the world, from the U.S. to Canada to Mexico to Germany to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Great Britain and Panama.
Oberton Honey Farm of Morrison County
Oberton Honey Farm operates 2,500 colonies of honeybees, producing honey and beeswax in central Minnesota. The bees are placed at 85 locations in Morrison, Todd, Stearns and Cass counties. During the winter months, the bees are used to pollinate almond trees in California.
Dave and D.J. Roeser of Ramsey County
Garden Fresh Farms of Maplewood has proven that urban agriculture is sustainable in a warehouse environment. Dave and D.J. Roeser focus on family urban farm growing and selling produce to the community, and manufacturing agriculture equipment for growing produce in warehouses. They also contribute fresh produce to the local food shelf weekly.
Joe and Pat DeGrood Bros. of Rice County
The DeGrood Bros. third-generation farm was established in 1931. Today the DeGrood brothers raise dairy replacement heifers and finish out approximately 2,400 hogs a year. They also manage 1,500 acres growing corn, soybeans, small grains, and alfalfa.
Lunemann Family's Twin Eagle Dairy of Todd County
In 1983, Patrick and Jody Lunemann took over the farm started by Patrick's grandparents. Called Twin Eagle Dairy, the operation now consists of 635 dairy cows and 750 young stock. The cows are milked in a 24 stall parallel parlor and baby calves are raised in a new computerized feeder facility.
Gary and Lori Swanson Family of Washington County
The Swanson family farm in Afton, Minn. has been in operation at the present location since 1942. The farm was originally a dairy, but was converted to a feeder cattle and hog operation when Gary took over in 1976.Today Gary is operating a corn and soybean farm along with feeder cattle. The Swansons use GPS yield monitoring and mapping, grid soil sampling for fertilizing, and lime applications.
Here is a complete listing of the 2012 University of Minnesota Farm Family of the Year honorees, by county:
County: Family/Farm
Aitkin: 4R Charolais and Angus Ranch
Anoka: Daniel Johnson, Curtis Johnson, Dave Johnson, Drew Johnson, Aaron Johnson, Lee Johnson
Becker: Jay & Anna Brown Family
Benton: Jeremy & Barb Larson Family
Big Stone: Gerald & Peggy Heck Family
Blue Earth: Bradley & Linda Leiding
Brown: Greg & Kari Scholtz Family
Carlton: Newman Dairy
Carver: Heuer Dairy Inc.
Cass: Greg Booth& Vickie Kettlewell
Chippewa: Tony & Stacie Schuler Family
Chisago: Roger & Linda Blazek
Clay: Donald Schenck
Clearwater: Dale & Lois Miller
Cottonwood: Tom & Marilyn Fast Family
Dakota: Bremer Farms: Roy & Karen Bremer and John & Janet Bremer
Dodge: The Alberts Family
Douglas: Max & Lyla Radil
Faribault: Mark & Sharon Obermeyer Family
Fillmore: LeRoy & Darleen Johnson's Rolling Acres
Freeborn: Andrew & Jody Bakken
Goodhue: Rostad Farms
Grant: Reuss Grain Farms: Randy & Connie Reuss
Hennepin: Marvin D. Johnson
Houston: Viking Valley Farm: Gerald, Duron & Darin Bratland
Isanti: David & Donna Whitney – Dew Fresh Produce and Jacob Whitney – Jake's Apple Shack
Jackson: Christopher Family
Kanabec: Anderson Standing Rock Ranch
Kandiyohi: Carlson Dairy, LLP
Kittson: Justin & Donna Dagen
Lac qui Parle: Duane & Suzi Haugen
Lake of the Woods: Lyle & Millie Wiskow
Le Sueur: Curt & Joyce Bohlen Family
Lincoln: Dwight & Peggy Buller Family
Lyon: Bruce & Juanita Bot Family
Mahnomen: The Geray Farm
Martin: Gary & Dorothy Janssen and Family
McLeod: Duane & Mary Nelson
Meeker: Dave & Katie Hendrickson Family
Mille Lacs: Eller Family Farm
Morrison: Oberton Honey Farm
Mower: Gene Anderson Dairy Farm
Murray: Bill & Merri Post Family and Ben & Connie Post Family
Nicollet: Jeff & Natalie Leonard and Doug & Nancy Wenner
Nobles: Perkins
Norman: Bryan & Theresa Hest Family
Olmsted: Kroening Farms
Pine: Martin's Greenhouses
Pipestone: Marlin & Donna Berg and Philip & Laurel Berg & Family
Polk: Chuck & Barbara Schulstad
Pope: Arne E. Stoen Family
Ramsey: Dave and D.J. Roeser
Red Lake: Roger & Janel Walter Family
Redwood: Breitkreutz Family Farm
Renville: Agre Farms
Rice: Joe & Pat DeGrood Bros.
Rock: The Christians Family Farm
Roseau: Eugene & Eunice Millner
St. Louis: Byrns Erickson Families
Scott: Casey Acres, Inc.
Sherburne: Edling Farms Inc.
Sibley: Neyers
Stearns: Dan & Jolene Schlangen
Steele: Rodney & Michelle Krell Family
Stevens: Lampert Farms
Swift: Kevin Voorhees Family
Todd: Lunemann Family's Twin Eagle Dairy
Traverse: Bruce & Joann Conroy Family
Wabasha: Hyde Park Holsteins: Kevin & Kay Siewert Family and Kerwin & Sandy Siewert
Wadena: Mertens Family Dairy Farm
Waseca: Paul & Marijo Beckstrand
Washington: Gary & Lori Swanson Family
Watonwan: Anderson Farm
Winona: David & Kristi Tveten Family
Wright : Valley View Dairy: Dan & Erica Elsenpeter and Luke & Elizabeth Elsenpeter
Yellow Medicine: Paul & Jamie Kvistad Family