The Farming Families of Lyon Co. Feb 2020 by AGE Media and Promotion

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RANSCHAU Family Grandsons Ashton and Mason; Becky and Dave. Story on page 6.

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LYON COUNTY Meet the

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February 2020 | www.agemedia.pub | The Farming Families Magazine

LYON COUNTY FEATURED FAMILY

‘MIRACLES HAPPEN EVERY DAY’ by Bob Fitch

Standing in back: Craig Winquist’s son, Conley; Ranschau grandsons Mason and Ashton. Far left: Becky Ranschau. Front: FFA member Talin Knobloch; Dave Ranschau; FFA members Kaylee Kroger and Molly Roemen; and CFE intern Lane Te Slaa. The group had just finished putting up the West Lyon FFA test plot signs on the Ranschau farm in summer 2018. Photo by Craig Winquist, West Lyon Community Schools.

Tragedies occur every day. But so do miracles, according to Lyon County farmer Dave Ranschau.

The Farming Families Magazine | www.agemedia.pub | February 2020

Tragedy made Dave a beginning farmer when he was 62 years old. On March 23, 2012, his brother Norman was killed while driving his 4-wheeler across the highway adjacent to West Lyon Community School. Their dad, Walter, was in his 80s and still actively farming. After his brother’s death, Dave returned to the farm he grew up on to help his dad. Dave was a long-haul trucker for more than 40 years and he had occasionally helped his dad and brother with field work. Becky, his wife of almost 45 years, said, “He knew how to farm (crops) but he didn’t know how to take care of the cow herd. The cattle kind of beat the tar out of us at first. But the neighbors just gathered around and helped Dave out. Right away – good neighbors, good farm community.” Dave said, “I took care of the calving for five years and those first couple of years were tough.

But the last three years, we had zero mortality. I’d come at 4:00 in the morning, walked in, and hand-fed the cattle to help them get used to me. It got so I could pet about a third of the cattle. (Grandson) Ashton was awesome helping me with the chores, especially for being a young city kid knowing nothing about cattle.” Before his dad died, Dave and Walter made a plan to sell off the herd so Dave could continue running the farm. “That cow-calf deal, that’s a young man’s game,” he said. They sold the last of the herd in March 2017 not long after Walter died at age 90. At his dad’s funeral, a West Lyon sophomore named Frank Schemmel “told me he’d help out if I needed it. There was a miracle right there at my dad’s funeral. Miracles happen every day. You’ve just got to be aware of them.

“Frank has been a great help over the last couple of years. I was just able to turn him loose. He’s an awesome kid,” Dave said. Becky and Dave continue to live in Ellsworth, Minn., and she works at the Minnesota Veteran’s Home in Luverne. Her husband’s career change from trucking to farming was a shock to their system. “It was a major change of life. He’d always been gone Sunday through Friday. Then, bam, he was home every night and I had to cook – and do a lot of cooking for Walter and the guys here. I help out as much as I can.” Their daughter Renae said. “For Dad, it’s been more than a farm though. He has a whole community of friends here that helped him out. He helps others like they helped him. This is a good farm community.” In fact, Dave convinced Walter that the Ranschau family could help local youth by providing

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Becky and Dave Ranschau.

nine acres for a test plot for the West Lyon FFA chapter. Their previous test plot was many miles away. According to Craig Winquist, ag education instructor at West Lyon High School, “Our FFA program has been working with Dave Ranschau now for three or four years on our test plot. His farm is right across the road from the West Lyon school. We have thoroughly enjoyed working with him. He is a heck of a farmer. Dave is not afraid to try new things to improve what God gave us. He is great with the kids, patient, and sets high expectations.” Dave said, “In the end, my dad was so proud of that. He felt honored that they were doing the test plot on our land. For myself, I’ve learned as much as those kids.”

even than most of today’s West Lyon FFA members. After he graduated from the eighth grade, Walter started working as a hired man for Oscar Miller, a local farmer. After entering military service during World War II, Walter began sending his service pay home to buy a farm. He served from 1944-46, helping with the clean-up operation in the Pacific Islands. Shortly after he returned home, Walter met his sister’s Luther League pen pal from Washington state. It was love at first sight – he and Mary got engaged after she’d been visiting in Iowa for only seven days. They got married in 1949. Together, they farmed and raised 10 children. “Her parents accepted him because he met the criteria: He was a farmer, he was Lutheran, he didn’t smoke and he didn’t drink,” said Dave.

Walter started farming younger

The Farming Families Magazine | www.agemedia.pub | February 2020

“There were 10 kids in our family and we didn’t have running water until 1964. I was a sophomore in high school when this house got built. Before that, we had a cistern where we could haul water from. We did have a toilet in the old house, but we had to haul 5-gallon buckets of water into the house in the winter time or use the outhouse.” Dave graduated from high school in 1967. Ceremonies were held in the gymnasium of today’s West Lyon school building – even though he and his classmates had never actually gone to class there. “On our graduation day, there was still gravel in the hallways when we walked to the gym.” When he was young, the high school was in Inwood and the grade school was in Larchwood. “My brother Paul and I were doing chores right up until the

Dave Ranschau at the wheel of a 1954 McCormick Farmall Super MTA which was restored by students at West Lyon High School (pictured in background). Dave’s dad, Walter, bought it new in 1955.

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bus came to our corner. We had to run to catch the bus. I caught a bus going one way and Paul got on the bus going the other way.” Between those school bus rides and decades of trucking, Dave has put on a lot of miles to come full circle back to the Ranschau farm. “I enjoy being on the farm. For years, I delivered to grocery stores and a lot of them just treated truckers like dirt. I just love getting to work with the great people around here. And Becky and I enjoy helping people when we can.” Even though the last couple of years have been challenging for area farmers, Dave’s attitude remains positive. “My beans were off the mark just like everybody else. We didn’t have a bumper crop of corn, but we had a very good crop of corn. And I am very blessed with that. In the end, we can worry and fret, but, you look back, that’s what the Good Lord wants us to do. We’ve just got to weave our way. He allows us to think and work our way out of it. In the end, it all turns out ok. “The Bible says there were miracles – turning the water into wine, calming the sea. Some think those miracles don’t happen anymore. But miracles happen every day – you’ve just got to recognize them. I mean that.” The late Walter Ranschau, who purchased the family farm with the military service pay he sent home during World War II.

Dave and Becky’s grandsons Mason and Ashton. 10

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KEEPING LOCAL HISTORY ALIVE

Rock Rapids Main Street. Photo courtesy Grinnell College Libraries Collection.

THE EARLY DAYS OF ROCK RAPIDS:

DROUGHT, GRASSHOPPERS, SCHOOLS, RACE HORSES AND CHURCHES The following text is excerpted from the book “History Reminiscence and Biography of Lyon County, Iowa.” Published under the auspices of the Pioneer Association of Lyon County by Geo. A. Ogle & Co. in 1905 In the month of June, 1869, D.C. Whitehead, of Webster County, an enterprising man, who became foremost in all that looked toward the future development of the county, proceeded to make explorations. On his route he was joined by Matthias Sweesy and Delos Towsley. On the 22d of June this party reached the rapids at the junction of the Rock and Kanaranzi rivers, and here stood enchanted by the sound of the waterfall, which for long ages had wasted its power and

lavished its beauty upon the wilderness. At once filled with enthusiasm and high hopes of the future of the place, Mr. Whitehead here gave it the name of “Rock Rapids.” The party soon selected homesteads, Mr. Whitehead nearly adjoining the present town plat, and Messrs. Sweesy and Towsley a short distance above, and then left to secure their families. Thus was commenced the thriving city of Rock Rapids

The Farming Families Magazine | www.agemedia.pub | February 2020

and the settlement of Rock township. In July, S. G. Martin and Justice Martin and family, settled a short distance above Rock Rapids, Mrs. Justice Martin being the first white woman to settle in Rock township and they were the only family residing in the township during the winter of 1869-70. During 1870, many came to Lyon County, including H.T. Helgerson, in February, who

took a homestead at Beloit; C. H. Moon, one adjoining the present plat of Rock Rapids and D.C. Whitehead moved there with his family, enduring great hardship and suffering from a terrible storm which came on at the time. Early in the spring came James H. and William Wagner, James I. Taylor and Robert Parks, who settled on Burr Oak creek; J. S. Smith, Christian Larson, Isaac Kester, John Monlux, Abraham J. Hamlin and William Hamlin, near Rock Rapids. Drought struck Lyon, as well as all other counties in Iowa, in the summer of 1870, and farmers were greatly handicapped and not a little discouraged. The following winter was unusually open and mild and with the spring opening of 1871, northwestern Iowa, including Lyon county, received the largest immigration in all its history. This was induced by better railway facilities. Settlers crowded in and took all vacant government land left. With the spring of 1872, commenced a new and brighter era for Lyon county and the great northwestern country. Railroads were here and more planned; the newspaper had been established at Rock Rapids — the Journal — schools were in operation; a large amount of land had been broken the year before and was ready to seed; the harvest had been bountiful and many noble men and women had been added to the community. Thus did a band of hardy brave-hearted pioneers, enduring the perils and privations of frontier life, lay the foundations of one of Iowa's goodly counties. The settlement in Lyon county was practically at a dead stand-still from 1873 to 1883 —during the grasshopper years … The first appearance of grasshoppers in the county was June 27, 1873. Pioneer and promoter, D.C. Whitehead in the Review of August, 1874, remarked: “We have had double the grasshoppers this year that we did last and longer with us, too, yet we will scarcely feel their effects, for the reason that we have twenty acres of grain this season where we had one last. Of course croakers will damn this country, and men that have failed for lack of pluck, will say the country is a failure, on account of these infernal pests; but I don't think so, and my faith in Lyon county is so strong ill the merits of this, as an agricultural section, that I will cultivate five hundred acres next year, and if the grasshoppers want fifty acres of my crop I can better afford to give it than I call to ditch lowland in Illinois, or shake with the auge in Kansas. I am still a believer in Lyon county.” The first school house (in Lyon County) was the one erected at Rock Rapids in 1871. The first school was taught by Mrs. D. C. Whitehead, at Rock Rapids, in the winter of 1870-71. Many stories are told of the manner of conducting the school affairs prior to and at this time. School house material had to be hauled by wagon either from Cherokee or Sioux City hence the enormous cost of building. Yet people wanted school houses for two reasons. First they wanted school. Second the public money was needed by the people, and if they sometimes borrowed the children from another district or another county in order to show a compliance with the requirements of the law, our criticisms should be

Stacking hay in the early days of Lyon County.

sparingly offered, and due credit given for the ultimate object. Besides many farmers were without granaries and the school house was built sufficiently large to accommodate the school and the farmer at the same time. Prior to getting schoolhouses some who were the proud possessors of a two-roomed house rented one room, at a good price to the district to be used during the day as a school room, and as a sleeping room for the night.

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Some peculiar methods (some call them crooked) were in vogue during these earlier years. Instances are well substantiated where school houses were built and paid for and then the house was hauled to another district and paid for again. And some houses were ordered moved and an order issued for its being moved and yet the next year the house was still unmoved. This made the records look bad so there was another order to move it back. Of course this was paid for, too. Many are the stories we hear of the management of school affairs in the 70's and 80’s.

The second iteration of the Lyon County Courthouse in Rock Rapids.,

The Lyon County Agricultural Society was formed and held a very successful county fair in the autumn of 1873 and continued to hold annual fairs several years; finally grounds were secured near the town of Rock Rapids and much interest was manifest, but soon there came a change — the sporting mind of younger men turned to the all absorbing topic of fast horses — the faster the better! And through this and other causes, the Agricultural Society went down and the horse shows and annual races have taken the place of a general farm exhibit. In 1873, one Rev. Caleb M. Allen, a Presbyterian minister, came to Rock Rapids and regular preaching service was held in the Howell school-house. In the fall of the same year, 1873, the Dakota Mission Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, which included northwest Iowa, made Rock Rapids a preaching appointment on Sheldon Circuit. J.B. Starkey was sent as pastor, whom made his home at Rock Rapids. The town then had perhaps 300 people and the congregation would number from twelve to twenty five.

Rock Rapids Central High School. Photo courtesy Grinnell College Libraries Collection.

The first church building in Lyon county was erected at Rock Rapids by this (Methodist Episcopal) society. On June 5, 1881, the new church was dedicated by Rev. John Hogarth Lozier, Presiding Elder of the Sioux City District. In 1895, this property was sold to the German Lutherans and in July, 1896, the Methodists dedicated a new church building, constructed of Sioux Falls granite, at a cost of $13,000. In the year 1887, the Catholic church organized in Rock Rapids, under the direction of Rev. Riley. A church building costing $3000 was erected in 1889. And in 1902 a parsonage was built at a cost of $6000. The Congregational church organized in Rock Rapids June 13, 1878 at a meeting held in the home of T. C. Thompson. Rev. Palmer was the first pastor. The church building was erected in 1884 at a cost of $6000 and in 1890 a parsonage was purchased for $1500. (In 1905) Rock Rapids contains eight church buildings as follows: Congregational, Methodist Episcopal, Church of Christ, Catholic, Norwegian Lutheran, People's church and two German Lutheran.

Rock Rapids Methodist Episcopal Church.

The Farming Families Magazine | www.agemedia.pub | February 2020

RURAL ENTREPRENEUR

•

Luke Greving of Homestead Woodworking in rural Alton

CUSTOM-MADE FURNITURE WITH A STORY BEHIND IT by Bob Fitch

Craftsman Luke Greving meets the needs of people who like to have furniture with a story behind it. Through his business, Homestead Woodworking, this entrepreneur in rural Alton has custom-built 140 dining room tables over the last seven years, plus has fabricated bed frames, entertainment centers, and reception desks for local businesses. “I grew up around woodworking. My dad used to have a cabinet shop in Alton, but I’m staying out of cabinetry work. There are already a number of great companies doing that work around here,” Greving said.

After high school, he left Alton to attend South Dakota State University where he didn’t have woodworking in mind. He pursued a degree in industrial management. “After graduating from SDSU in 2008, my wife and I moved down to Omaha. She went to grad school at UNO and I worked at Scheels for about two years. I wasn’t used to being in a city and it just wasn’t my thing. I started doing woodworking on the side as a hobby. I started by making benches and hall trees from salvaged house doors. I put the first ones on sale on Craigslist and they sold quick. I had other people interested and I started making more and taking orders

from there. I probably made 80 or so in the couple of years we were down there. I pretty much came up here every weekend and made them in the shop,” he said. “Before we moved back here, there was a gentleman named Clayton Chapman who started a restaurant called The Great Plume in Omaha. It’s kind of a higher end restaurant. He contacted me to make some furniture for the restaurant they were opening. That was some pretty good exposure. Those were some of my first projects made out of barnwood. “The Great Plume was named the

February 2020 | www.agemedia.pub | The Farming Families Magazine

‘greenest’ restaurant in America – everything’s all natural and locally sourced. He liked the reclaimed wood approach I was taking at the time. The Omaha World Herald did a small article on the woodworking I was doing there so that was good boost.”

The altar area at American Reformed Church in Orange City.

He and his wife Maggie returned to the Alton area in 2011, purchasing the acreage where his mom Ruth had lived alone since Luke’s dad Mark died in 2006. Ruth moved into Alton. When Luke and Maggie first returned, he went to work for Van Beek Scientific in Orange City, but continued to do some woodworking on the side. “I had more time to do the woodworking in the mornings and in the evenings since my shop was right here.” His shop is a former combine shed that his dad had relocated closer to the house after moving to the acreage in 2000. “When we moved back here, I started taking orders for furniture. I did that for a yearand-a-half part-time while working full-time at Van Beek. But I just got too busy with the woodworking. So then I went part-time at Van Beek for about six months and did more woodworking. It got to the point I still couldn’t keep up so that was when I took the jump and went into it full-time about seven years ago. That was pretty scary, but it’s worked out,” he said. His degree in industrial management included a lot of engineering and business-related classes. “That has helped me work through some of the common problems with business, processes and efficiencies.”

The reception desk at Pizza Ranch headquarters in Orange City is made of reclaimed oak barn wood paneling.

The Farming Families Magazine | www.agemedia.pub | February 2020

For many years, most of his projects were made from reclaimed lumber, especially barnwood. “I knew a couple of people who had barns where I could go tear the wood off. Back then, I had more time than money so I was able to get it cheap or free, other than my labor. I’ve also purchased a lot of reclaimed oak barnwood from Wisconsin.

It’s a big business there. Out there it’s mostly oak or other hardwoods versus here where it’s mostly pine or fir. For most pieces of furniture, pine or fir is too soft.” In the last couple of years, he’s transitioned into using more new wood because of the labor required to salvage barnwood. “I still like using reclaimed wood, and salvaging and recycling. But, business-wise, it just doesn’t make as much sense anymore. “I have been getting into more of the slab wood which a lot of people still consider salvage or reclaimed wood if it’s been cut down for natural purposes versus harvesting it for the wood. I buy a fair amount of logs or trees from tree services. Last fall I had the opportunity to buy a bunch of walnut logs out of a grove by Marcus which was being demolished. Most people consider that salvaging it yet – reusing things that would have gone to waste anyways,” Greving said.

Dining room table and chairs made by Luke Greving.

“When people are having furniture custom-made, the biggest thing I’ve seen over the years is they like something that’s unique and something that has a story behind it. Something you buy in a furniture store isn’t going to have the personal feel or the story behind it. If they’re looking for something that’s unique and they realize that comes with a little bit higher price, that’s the work I’m interested in doing. “I like it when people come to me with a custom project and they give me a lot of free rein. I feel privileged when people give me that freedom.” Greving said, “I’m usually booked out 10-12 weeks. The last couple months have been crazy busy. Some mornings I get up at 4 and work out here until 6:30 and then go in and have breakfast with my kids and get them out the door. Then I work all day and can have supper with them and come back out to work after they go to bed if I need to. It’s nice to have the flexibility.” His wife Maggie works as a counselor at Seasons Center in Sioux Center. They have three children: Emmalyn (6), Elliot (4), and Elyse (nearly 2).

Bed frame and night stands made by Luke Greving.

Approximately three-quarters of his orders are obtained via publicity on Facebook, where he has 5,400 followers. “It’s been awesome exposure. I probably wouldn’t have got to doing it full-time if it weren’t for a Facebook page. That’s my biggest marketing avenue.” Word of mouth about the quality of his work also leads to business. “Once you get into one group of friends and they see your work, the jobs trickle in that way as well.” Sioux Falls and Sioux Center have been big markets for him. He delivers about 95 percent of his finished projects. “So I like to work within a couple hour drive. I have done some work for people in Omaha, Des Moines and Ames, but, really, I have enough work locally,” Greving said. “For all the messages I get on Facebook, there are a lot of people who are just price-checking or they think they’re going to get something for a lot cheaper than what they actually can. There’s a lot of people who see the higher quality and understand it deserves a higher price, but there are others who just don’t see it that way and that’s ok. I’m trying to hit on the unique nature that some people want.” Table behind sofa built by Luke Greving of Homestead Woodworking. February 2020 | www.agemedia.pub | The Farming Families Magazine

The Farming Families Magazine | www.agemedia.pub | February 2020

FROSTED IN TIME PHOTO BY BRETT DAVELAAR BD PHOTOGRAPHY

February 2020 | www.agemedia.pub | The Farming Families Magazine

SIOUX COUNTY FEATURED FAMILY

IF YOU’VE RUN OUT OF WORK, YOU’VE QUIT LOOKING by Bob Fitch

Steve, Jeff, Orville, Kevin, George and Trent Rehder; and farm business partner Tim Schmidt.

The Farming Families Magazine | www.agemedia.pub | February 2020

Jordan, Leah, Jenna, Kelly and Jeff Rehder.

In 1902, the first year Orville Rehder’s grandfather Julius farmed in western Sioux County, he paid cash rent of $2.50 per acre for the corn and alfalfa land. While farm economics have changed a lot since then, the need for hard work never changes. Julius Rehder returned to Tama County that winter, but came back here in the spring of 1903 and purchased the family’s original 240-acre farm. The fourth and fifth generations continue the family’s farming tradition. Orville’s son Steve said, “When my great-grandfather decided to move west, his mom said ‘Don’t move to South Dakota, I hear it’s dry there.’ He went about as far west as he could without moving to South Dakota – we’re three miles away.” Nearly 120 years later, the chance Julius took by moving west has paid nice dividends. Brothers Steve, Jeff and Kevin Rehder, and Steve’s son, Trent, now run the operation along with their business partner Tim Schmidt. While Orville and his brother

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George retired a number of years ago, their example is still a guiding star. Jeff said, “A lot of people don’t have a father and we were lucky enough to have two with George being around all the time. We got to see the example of how Dad and George got along. Even when there were conflicts, they’d always get through it. You hear stories about other families not getting along and splitting up. That’s just sad.” Steve concurred: “The example was set by our two dads – when you get yourselves into a situation where you’re a little upset, we need to try to remember that we’re a family and we work together. That’s always been an inspiration to me.” Jeff said, “To me, communication is vital. It’s been huge when you’ve got this many things going on.” In addition to the example set by their dad and uncle, the Rehders also engage practical measures to ensure good communication. “One of the keys is all five of us carry two-way radios. Cell phones are nice, but you can only talk to one person at a time. But, with two-ways, you can talk to everybody. That helps with harvest and logistics. We don’t always have cell phone service where we farm.” Steve said, “If something breaks down, you can call on the twoway. One of us is likely to be on the yard and can round up what’s needed and bring it down.” Because time is always tight, the conversations over the two-way radios sometimes substitute for a team meeting. Jeff said, “We try to work hard to communicate so everybody knows what the others are thinking. And we’re not afraid to have a little fun when we’re working … just make sure the work gets done. It doesn’t matter who’s doing it, you just know it has to get done.”

Jeff and Jessi Rehder with daughters Spencer and Blake. 22

The Farming Families Magazine | www.agemedia.pub | February 2020

About 60 percent of their corn and soybean land, plus their farrow-to-finish hog operation, is in Rehder Farms Inc. The rest of the land is in 3R Feedlot Inc.

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February 2020 | www.agemedia.pub | The Farming Families Magazine

The Steve and Shari Rehder family: Front row: Lennox, Iona, Steve, Lauren, Shari, Collins. Back row: Trent, Greer, Marissa, Tom, Elvera, Kaitlin, Lorna, Cari, Jackson, Adam.

Jeff said they formed the two corporations around 2009 on the advice of their banker and lawyer. “The thought was it makes it easier to get someone new involved and maybe easier to back one of us out when it comes to retirement.” Decisions like these were made not just for business sake, but also to help assure their commitments to family. “Time is very valuable to our operation,” Jeff said. “When we’re making decisions about equipment or about land, things that help us save time so we can spend more time with our family, that’s pretty important.” Steve and Jeff had farmed with George’s son-in-law Dean Blom for a number of years. Dean left farming to become a building inspector about 20 years ago. “When Dean quit, Steve and I had the discussion ‘Are we going to

try to do everything on our own or try to find someone else? If we do everything ourselves, we’re going to have to quit volunteering on different things.’ We decided it was best for us and our family to get someone else involved. That’s when we gave Tim Schmidt the opportunity to join the operation, not as a hired man, but to work his way into a full partnership,” Jeff said. Steve said, “If we hadn’t found Tim, I don’t think we could have kept the hogs going. That’s the only reason the hog operation survived. That farrowing is not an easy job.” Jeff said, “It’s good to have someone in the farrowing building whose passion is animal husbandry. Having a partnership is different than a hired man. With a hired man, you tell them what to do. But when you’re a partner, everybody knows what needs to

The Farming Families Magazine | www.agemedia.pub | February 2020

be done and you try to pitch in and get it done.” In addition to farrowing, Tim helps out with field work. Steve is in charge of the cattle feedlot and crop spraying. Jeff is in charge of planting and harvesting decisions, the grain inventory, grinding most of the hog feed and caring for the finishing pigs. Kevin runs the hog gestation building, does most of the grain trucking, runs the chopper and fills in wherever he’s needed. Trent works the cattle with Steve plus does most of the combining, round-baling and tillage work. Steve said, “Jeff and I try to keep it running on the back side. It’s challenging at times, but it works. We’re walking a fine line right now getting it all done and not adding manpower.” Jeff said, “There’s always something going on. If you’ve run

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out of work, you’ve quit looking.” While work is ever-present, volunteering is also a priority. Past or present, family members and Tim and Mary Schmidt have served on many boards including: German Farmers Mutual Insurance, First State Bank of Hawarden (now called River’s Edge Bank), Sioux County Farm Bureau, Sioux County Pork Producers, Sioux County Extension, Sioux County Zoning, Hawarden Hospital, Iowa Beef Industry Council, Northwest REC, and Siouxland Energy Cooperative. The Garfield Township clerkship has been staffed by the Rehder family for 100 years, passing from second generation Albert to George to Dean to Jeff. Besides rich soil and strong civic organizations, why do they think agriculture in Sioux County is so successful? Jeff said, “A lot of it is due to taking a day of rest on Sundays where other counties don’t. I think it’s huge. That makes it a little easier to retain the next generation of farmers because you get at least one day with your families.” Steve agreed: “You work so hard, you’ve got to have a little rest too.” There’s a lot more than farming going on in the Rehder families. Steve is married to Shari who

works for her parents at Borchers Supply. Their oldest daughter Cari works at Wells Fargo and is married to Adam Gregg, Iowa’s lieutenant governor. They have two children, Jackson and Lauren. Steve and Shari’s son Trent is married to Marissa who is a teacher for West Sioux Schools. They have three daughters: Collins, Lennox and Greer. Finally, Steve and Shari’s daughter Kaitlin is a physical therapist at Hawarden Regional Healthcare. She’s married to Tom Davies who is grad school to become a nurse practitioner. They live in Canton and have three children: Iona and twins Elvera and Lorna.

Orville still lives in the house his grandfather built in 1909. He was born at home (the doctor from Hudson did home deliveries in those days) and has lived there his entire life except for two years in the army. His wife Carol died about nine years ago. Their daughter Vicki Lanier is a pharmacist in Sioux Falls. Their other daughter Amy Harris died from lung cancer at age 46 this past November. She had an MBA and a PhD in economics, worked at the Congressional Budget Office in Washington, D.C., and most recently was deputy director at the Iowa Department of Revenue.

Jeff is married to Kelly who was a registered nurse in Sioux Falls for about a dozen years. Their daughter Jenna is at SDSU getting a master’s in athletic training. Daughter Leah is at Mitchell Technical Institute studying animal science. Son Jordan is a freshman at West Sioux High School.

Orville said the family and the farm have succeeded because of “the Lord’s blessings. I’ve only had two bad things happen in my life – my wife dying nine years ago and my daughter dying. I got to work together with my brother George for 35-40 years – that worked out really well.”

Kevin is married to Jessi who is a part-time LPN at Avera in Sioux Falls. They just completed the adoption of two girls, Spencer and Blake. They live in George’s former home a mile north and a mile west of Orville. George moved into Hawarden after retiring.

Steve said, “We farm together and pray together and worship together. The whole operation goes to Peace Lutheran Church. God’s first and he’ll take care of us. He gives us everything we have.”

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The Farming Families Magazine | www.agemedia.pub | February 2020

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February 2020 | www.agemedia.pub | The Farming Families Magazine

PLYMOUTH COUNTY FEATURED FAMILY

‘A RICH LIFE’ ON THE HARVEY FAMILY FARM by Bob Fitch

Chris and Brad Harvey.

The Farming Families Magazine | www.agemedia.pub | February 2020

Decades as a couple hasn’t diminished the joy Brad and Chris Harvey find living and farming in Plymouth County. Brad and Chris started dating in the eighth grade, graduated from Akron-Westfield High School together, graduated from Iowa State University together, and then got married almost 33 years ago. Chris was raised in Akron by her parents, Tom and Sally Miller, and Brad grew up on a dairy farm about a mile west of where they live now. “A farm community is so nice. You know, you have those times when your cattle might get out and you wonder how you’re going to round them all up. And then – boom! – all your neighbors show up with their 4-wheelers and know just what to do to help,” Brad said. The Harvey cattle are a HolsteinBlack Angus cross. “My dad and I milked cows until 2000, but then got out of that. We always had Holstein calves around here we were feeding. We built some hoop barns to raise those small calves.” Brad had worked with his parents, Jim and Penny, to update the dairy operation after he graduated from ISU in 1987. “When we were milking cows, we were feeding them with a scoop shovel. When we came home from college, we built a parlor with computer chips embedded in the cows’ neck so they’d get the right amount of feed. We built a herring-bone where before we just had stanchions. The college grad was showing the expert what to do,” he joked. But, Chris said, her father-in-law adapted well to the changes. However, by 2000, they found that milking 80 head wasn’t enough income for two families. “If you expand, you have to get more help. Our girls were busy with school and activities. Milking is tough. You’re out there every day at the same time, and Christmas morning. You miss the kids’ activities,” Brad said.

After exiting the dairy business, they began to expand their crop land base. Half of their land is across the border in South Dakota near Beresford, Alcester and Spink. With the road over the Sioux River washed out most of 2019, it was chore to get there, but otherwise the parcels are close together. From 1987 to 1993, they also operated a farrow-to-finish hog operation. “We had outside facilities with old chicken houses and barns. It was a lot of work. In 1993, we built the first pig confinement. All those pigs we had outside, we stuck inside. It was like – ‘oh, this is easy.’ The hog’s welfare is so much better in there. The temperature is maintained, the feed’s there, their quality of life is so much better.” Beginning in 1993, they started bringing in isowean pigs to finish. In 1998, they switched to custom feeding the pigs. While Brad was busy farming with his dad, Chris succeeded in putting her elementary education degree to use by landing a teaching position at Akron-Westfield right after college. The two lived in a trailer house in Akron the first year they were married, but then were able to purchase the acreage where they continue to live several miles southeast of Akron.

Most importantly, Brad and Chris started raising a family. Their first daughter, Kelsie, was born in 1989. “When we were expecting our first baby, I was like most men and thought I wanted a boy. But after Kelsie was born and I fell in love with her, I said ‘can we have all girls?’ And we did.” Over the next nine years, three more daughters followed: Marissa, Monica and Natalie. All four daughters followed in their dad’s footsteps by actively showing hogs and dairy in 4-H and FFA; plus learning leadership and speaking skills. In addition to showing livestock, Brad also had been a state FFA officer when he was in high school. Volunteering in the community

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The Harvey family decked out an Iowa State University football game: Mick and Monica Sitzmann; Marissa, Jeremiah and Will Fuller; Kelsie and Tony Reuter; Natalie; Chris holding Sloane; and Brad.

and for agricultural organizations is important. “We have so many friends we’ve made through different organizations. A lot of them we stay in touch with,” Chris said. They’ve been involved with the Plymouth County Farm Bureau, the Farm Bureau state

Young Farmer Committee, the Plymouth County Pork Producers, the Plymouth County Fair board and more. “Brad’s in charge of all the Village entertainment at the Plymouth County Fair. It’s one of those year-round jobs that people

think just happens the week of the fair,” she said. Brad said, “We get 100,000 people over five days. The spouses are just as involved as the one who’s on the board. When one gets elected, the

Our publications are based on families and their stories. Our goal is to build community and connections within the Ag circles of Sioux, Lyon and Plymouth counties. If you have a fun story or would like to suggest a family to feature, reach out to us at Bob@agemedia.pub.

The Farming Families Magazine | www.agemedia.pub | February 2020

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February 2020 | www.agemedia.pub | The Farming Families Magazine

other one does just as much work.” Chris said, “The Plymouth County Fair is so family-oriented. Everybody is so dedicated.” Brad said, “It takes the whole county to set up and take down. We don’t have any outside food vendors – it’s all the nonprofit organizations who make their money from the fair. We have no beer garden and so the kids can just run. People wonder how we make money at the fair with no beer, but there’s so many more problems when you have it.” The Harvey’s life is in the midst of a number of transitions. “The last few years, Dad says he’s retired, although he still comes out to plant and then run the combine at harvest. But he doesn’t do chores anymore,” Brad said. While they’ve been 50/50 partners with his parents, Brad and Chris will be taking over full ownership of the farm from Jim and Penny in 2020.

Then, at the end of this school year, Chris will be retiring after 33 years as a teacher. She plans to help out more on the farm – but her higher priority is to be able to travel to see her grandchildren more frequently. Daughter Marissa and her husband, Jeremiah Fuller, had a son, Will, on Dec. 1, 2018, in Kansas City.

grandchildren. “I thought: ‘yeah, right.’ But it’s definitely been unbelievable.” Chris said, “I’m excited about spending more time with the grandkids.” Their daughter Monica lives in Le Mars with her husband, Mick Sitzmann. Youngest daughter, Natalie, lives at home and will graduate from Western Iowa Technical College this spring.

At the same time, in Minneapolis, daughter Kelsie and her husband, Tony Reuter, were expecting as well. Brad said, “We were down there for a few days in Kansas City after Will was born. We got home on Sunday night. On Monday morning, Chris went to school.” Chris continued: “But then Kelsie called and said ‘you’d better come – we’re at the hospital.’ So we left again.” Kelsie gave birth to a daughter, Sloane, on Dec. 10, 2018. For years, Brad’s friends had told him how special it was to have

While their three oldest daughters have left the farm, Chris looks forward to the grandchildren visiting the farm to see the baby pigs and give them rides on the skid steer and to experience life on the farm. Brad said, “I get up in the morning and I might not even know what day it is – I just enjoy getting up to do my work. Not every day on the farm is a good day, but we try to make it so. Farming is not necessarily going to make you rich, but it’s a rich life.

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