The Farming Families of Plymouth Co. Sept 2020 by AGE Media and Promotion

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AHLERS Family John, Debra and Daniel Ahlers. Story on page 20.

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of Sioux County PUBLISHERS Garrett and Mindy Gross, AGE Media EDITOR & IOWA MANAGER Bob Fitch, AGE Media Direct advertising inquiries, story submissions and other correspondence to: 712-551-4123 bob@agemedia.pub © The Farming Families, Age Media & Promotion The Farming Families is distributed free exclusively to the farmers, ranchers and producers in rural Sioux, Plymouth and Lyon Counties. All rights reserved. Content in this magazine should not be copied in any way without the written permission of the publisher. The Farming Families assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. Content in articles, editorial and advertisements are not necessarily endorsed by The Farming Families and Age Media & Promotion.

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

SIOUX COUNTY FARMERS

BIG PLANS FOR A LITTLE BERRY

by Bob Fitch

Verlyn, Mark and Steve Sneller, along with family friend Kevin Flammang, are blazing a new trail in Sioux County agriculture. When Verlyn Sneller purchased 20 acres west of Orange City in 2015, he decided against putting the land into conventional farming. Both he and Kevin had long been interested in the health benefits of elderberry. “We have lots of people who swear by the juice. They and their kids take it through cold and flu season and never get sick. The government is now doing studies on the antiviral properties of elderberry,” Verlyn said. Kevin added, “It was a plant that was never recognized. It was considered a weed, but it’s proven to be a ‘weed’ that’s good for you. Elderberry is good for what ails you.” Elderberries contain a high level of antioxidants capable of providing many health benefits. The berries also have anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties. Elderberries are used to treat influenza, sinus pain, hay fever, fatigue and much more. (See sidebar story on page 8 for more information.)

Kevin Flammang, Verlyn Sneller and Mark Sneller in front of a field of elderberry plants. 6

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

Verlyn decided elderberry was the right fit for the acreage. “We stepped into it with both feet,” he said. “We put in 16 acres here, my brother Mark put in 8 acres and Jon Kiel put in 8 acres. We started separately but, last year, Mark, Kevin, my son Steve, and I joined together as one company under the West Branch Elderberries name.” While still operating independently,

Age Media Qtr Page Color 1-8-20.pdf 1 1/8/2020 11:21:34 AM

Elderberry produces beautiful flowers in July.

Jon Kiel retains a close working relationship with West Branch. In the spring of 2016, they propagated and grew 36,000 cuttings in a greenhouse. The cuttings were planted in the field near the end of June. Elderberry is actually a small, deciduous tree that can grow 20-30 feet tall. In cultivated orchards, their natural height is limited to about five feet high to help lateral spread and fruit production.

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“The person we bought cuttings from in Missouri had told us he would buy all the berries we could produce. At the end of 2017 when we had our first crop, we had quite a few thousand pounds of berries, but the guy backed out. So we put the berries in cold storage,” Verlyn said. They turned that setback into an opportunity to vertically integrate. They began direct marketing their berries and are in the midst of developing a line of products under the West Branch Elderberries label. In addition to frozen berries, frozen juice and dried berries, West Branch has developed a tonic and a tea made of elderberry and herbs. They contracted with a jam-maker Kevin met at the Clay County Fair who is retailing the product in 90 different stores. Diabetics like the jam because it’s low in sugar. West Branch has even sold elderberry to a winemaker who has produced both a wine and brandy liqueur from elderberry. Local nutrition expert Courtney Sandbulte helps with recipe development. Mark said, “One of the main advantages we have over

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other purveyors of elderberry juice is we grow them ourselves. We have complete control over the process from start to finish. We wanted to be more vertically integrated to provide a better product for people.”

ELDERBERRY OFFERS HEALTH BENEFITS Numerous medical and health experts recognize elderberry as a fruit which is one of nature’s most versatile solutions for a wide range of ailments. Elderberry has been used for centuries as a medicine and nutritional supplement. The following benefits of the low-calorie elderberry have been identified: • Elderberries have one of the highest antioxidant strengths among edible berries. Elderberries are rich in anthocyanins which are powerful antioxidants that keep the immune system strong and resilient. Elderberries have high concentrations of bioflavonoids which may help deactivate viruses. • Elderberry may prevent or provide relief from minor diseases such as flu, colds, and constipation. Its anti-inflammatory effects may positively impact allergy symptoms. • Some doctors recommend its use for sinus pain, back and leg pain (sciatica), nerve pain (neuralgia), and chronic fatigue syndrome. • Elderberries are an excellent source of vitamins A and C, plus are a good source of B-complex vitamins as well as calcium, potassium, manganese, iron and phosphorus. • Native Americans used it to treat infections, while the ancient Egyptians used it to improve their complexions and heal burns. • In folk medicine, the dried berries or juice are used to treat influenza, infections, sciatica, headaches, dental pain, heart pain and nerve pain, plus are used as a laxative and diuretic. • Elderberries may have positive effects on some markers of heart and blood vessel health. Studies have shown elderberry juice may reduce the level of fat in the blood and decrease cholesterol. • Elderberry can increase insulin secretion and improve blood sugar levels. Sources do caution that there is insufficient research to definitively quantify all of the benefits. Sources www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-434/elderberry www.healthline.com/nutrition/elderberry www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambucus www.simplyhealth.today/14-health-benefits-of-elderberry/ www.nutrition-and-you.com/elderberry.html www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ncnu07/pdfs/charlebois284-292.pdf https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/171727/nutrients

Between the dried berries, buckets of frozen berries and frozen juice, West Branch ships product to nearly every state in the U.S. They intend to expand their sales in retail stores as more of their products come on line and all the necessary USDA requirements are met. Their current product line can be found at www. westbranchelderberries.com. “One thing we’ve learned is growing elderberries is not easy,” Kevin said. “Every time you think you know something about the plants, you discover how little you actually know. It’s not like corn, wheat, beans – it’s a different world.” Verlyn added: “This year’s challenge has been stalk borers. They hollow the plant completely out like the marrow out of a bone.” They’ve also faced problems with grasshoppers and drosophila, but, so far, the birds have left the berries alone. While they’ve gotten advice from growers in Minnesota and Missouri, West Branch has had to experiment to find the production practices which are right for northwest Iowa. “We’ve experimented with several different ways to manage the plant. We’ve cut it low to the ground, we’ve cut it about a foot high, and we’ve just let it grow. The jury is still out on which way is best,” Mark said. “Because we’re organic, weed control is a real challenge. It’s a big part of our year, especially the first month or two. The plant starts flowering in June and the fruit typically sets in July,” he said. “Depending upon how hot and sunny and how much rainfall you get, there might be some fruit ready by the end of July. But last year, it went late into August and September for harvest. Once the fruit is ripe, you’ve got a very narrow window to harvest. You can’t leave it hang. You’ve got two days at most once it gets ripe. If you let it to go too long, the fruit falls off and it’s useless at that point.” During harvest, Mark said, “You have to look at every cluster and judge whether it’s ready of not – because the same plant will have clusters on it that are green and some all the way to overripe. You have look at every cluster before you clip it.” Kevin is in charge of securing harvest labor. He’s

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

had good luck recruiting local church groups. “Having our local church groups come out is really a win/win for everyone. They’re looking for a fundraiser, we’re looking for help. We’ve very blessed to have the strong churches in the area. It’s actually been fun for people and it’s been a great family thing,” he said. During August, they are usually harvesting every couple of days – all by hand labor. “We’ve done some experimenting with machine harvest – but, as far as we know, there is no machine harvester for elderberries anywhere in the U.S. or the world,” said Mark. Verlyn said there is also no commercial machinery for processing the berries either. “You have to modify all the available equipment to work for elderberries. Nobody in the U.S. is dehydrating berries like we are. We’ve had to basically figure out all of this by ourselves.” Once the fruit clusters have been picked, they have to be processed immediately. They’re fed into de-stemmers which separate stems from the berries. The berries then go into a process line which starts with a sanitization bath. The ripe berries will sink, but the unripe berries and

Elderberries are tiny – much smaller than blueberries.

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West Branch Elderberries is developing a series of products using the juice from the berry.

stems will float to the top and be removed. Because elderberries are so small, they’ve had to specially modify the processing line machinery which was originally built for blueberries. After the sanitization bath, the berries are sprayed with clear water and dried under a fan before undergoing a visual inspection.

marketing; Mark is an active producer of conventional crops and is good at investigating production and processing; and Verlyn and Steve are good at handling foliars and fertilization and plant growth. Customers compliment the flavor of West Branch’s product. Verlyn attributes the superior flavor to micro-nutrients – foliar feeding occurs every 5-7 days.

Twenty-five pounds of berries are put into a bucket which is then sealed and dated with a lot number listing the day and the field they came from. Then the bucket gets put into the freezer.

While most consumers aren’t aware of elderberry, its history goes back thousands of years. And the future looks promising – Verlyn said they can’t grow enough to meet all of the demand.

Mark said, “We’re very mindful of that fact that this is a food product. We follow USDA guidelines for food processing. The workers go through a strict indoctrination.”

Mark said, “This product is unique because it has anti-viral properties. It can really help people. We believe in the health qualities of elderberry. The bottom line is it will bring real value in people’s lives.”

Kevin said the West Branch business model is working well because of the partners’ complementary skill sets. His background is in sales and

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LYON COUNTY FAMILY

Children standing in front: Huxley, Zylex, Rainalynn, Miles, Logan, Saylor, Lilly, and Sophia. Middle and back: Chelsea, Justin, Keira, Kelton, Art, Rosie, Brian, Mona, Doug, Paige, Jason, Jovie, Leah, and Kyle.

A DELICIOUS COMBINATION OF TRADITION AND INNOVATION AT STENSLAND DAIRY by Bob Fitch

When the Stensland dairy was revived in 2003, little did anyone know that the family name would become a wellknown commercial brand in northwest Iowa and the Sioux Falls area less than 15 years later.

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

Tobias Stensland homesteaded west of Larchwood in 1905. His son, Arthur, married Rosie in 1952 and began a dairy operation with 12 cows. Their sons grew up milking and working on the farm. Eventually, oldest son Doug joined his father in the operation. Art and Doug retired the dairy operation in 1989. But, in 2003, Art’s 17-year-old grandsons, Justin and Jason, restarted the dairy from scratch as a means to earn money for college.

Chelsea and Justin Stensland with their children, front: Rainalynn and Huxley, back: Keira, Kelton, and Huxley (in Justin’s arms).

Doug and his wife Mona helped the boys acquire the funds needed and, with the knowledge from their father and grandfather, they began putting hours in before and after school, milking twice a day with the help of their younger brother, Kyle. The dairy slowly grew. “The two boys were milking 200 cows 10 hours a day,” Doug said. “They’ve been in trenches. But the time came when they wanted to eliminate labor and add efficiencies. When they brought robots in to do the milking, that reduced their outside labor needs immensely.” The robots are a product of the Netherlands-based van der Lely family corporation, whose U.S. corporate office is in Pella, Iowa. The “Lely Astronaut” robot milker is designed to provide greater flexibility, enhanced efficiency and a better work-life balance while at the same time allowing cows to follow their own rhythm. Cows are enticed into one of the three robot milkers by a sweet molasses pellet. If it’s their time to be milked, they’ll get the molasses treat. Not their time? Then no pellet. A cow is milked one to five times per day, and the average daily yield per cow varies from 40 to 130 pounds of milk. The average time for milking is seven minutes.

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In addition to tracking the production of individual cows, the robot also monitors for butterfat content and any abnormalities in the milk, plus can detect if there are mastitis September 2020 | www.agemedia.pub | The Farming Families Magazine

level possible. We always choose the high-end, quality ingredients. We don’t look at price first – we decide on the best taste and best quality first. “All the recipes have been developed by Mona, Justin and Leah. For example, we use real mint in our mint chocolate chip ice cream. It really makes it special. We use homemade butter brickle in our butter brickle ice cream,” he said. The focus on quality carries through into their cheese and milk products. They also get creative with seasonal flavors of milk products. Their root beer flavored milk tastes like a root beer float. They will soon expand sales of Stensland-branded frozen pizzas. Not only will Stensland cheese be used on the pizza, but so will beef products from their cows. Paige and Jason Stensland with their children: Logan (in Paige’s arms), Miles, Saylor and Jovie.

problems. Data collected from a digital chip in the collar of the cows identifies each cow and relays weight, temperature, activity, and rumination. Once the conversion to the robot milkers was successful, Justin and Jason found themselves with extra time. “But they really like to stay busy and be challenged,” Doug said. “They were faced with the decision of possibly adding more cows. They came to us with the idea of not growing the herd size, but instead becoming more vertically integrated. They just didn’t want to get into the game of getting bigger and bigger and bigger. They talked to both their brother and sister, and Mona and me, and talked us into a committing to the idea of adding an on-farm creamery.” The creamery idea was a seed planted by Doug and Mona’s past dreams of processing their own milk. In earlier days, the family would visit other dairies which 14

included on-farm creameries. But the idea never seemed quite viable as Doug and Mona aged. But the idea took root with Justin and Jason. Doug said, “When they approached Mona and me, we said ‘we’re with you!’” They broke ground on the creamery in 2015 and sales of milk, cheese and ice cream commenced in 2016. In addition to selling Stensland-branded products through a number of independent retailers and area restaurateurs, they’ve opened three stores in Sioux Falls plus provide service at Falls Park and the Midco Aquatic Center. What makes Stensland stand apart and make a dent in the crowded ice cream, cheese and milk market? Doug said, “One thing we do different … other companies always try to make their products as cheaply as possible. Our whole philosophy is we’re going to make the best-tasting product. In our ice cream, we use the highest cream

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

Doug worked breeding dairy cattle for Select Sires for a number of years. Stensland’s dairy operation and creamery now benefits from that expertise. The farm’s focus is not just on the number of pounds of milk produced by each cow, but also on cow health, hardiness, longevity, quality of beef produced, and a milk product high in protein and butterfat. The family crosses Holstein cattle with Fleckvieh and Montbéliarde cattle, two breeds popular in Europe. “We think it’s important to keep our egos in check and have an open mind. There’s something to learn from everyone. Our cows may not quite have the production of a pure Holstein, but they have other advantages that make it all add up,” he said. As the Stensland operation has undergone a rapid transformation in the past several years, the roles of family members have evolved as well. Mona still focuses on innovation in ice cream flavors, but also oversees the commercial kitchen where the new pizza line is being developed. Doug oversees

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breeding with help from youngest son Kyle, while Kyle is in charge of crop operations with assistance from Doug. Daughter Leah is involved in retail operations and marketing. Daughter-in-law Paige processes orders from stores. Both Leah and Paige work on social media outreach. Daughter-in-law Chelsea is in charge of outside ordering, tours and grant-writing.

Doug and Mona’s daughter, Leah Moller, with her daughters, Sophia and Lilly.

The innovating twins continue to transform themselves. “Justin and Jason love to sell. They’ve moved from the dairy to the plant to being out selling. They want to get to the point where they’re spending most of their time selling. They’re good with people,” Doug said. The next generation is already making its mark on the operation – three of Doug and Mona’s 11 grandchildren are involved. Sixteen-year-old Kelton works in the creamery, the dairy, and the retail operation in Sioux Falls. Thirteen-year-olds Jovie and Keira help Mona in the bakery and also spend time in the plant.

Brian (Doug’s brother), Rosie, Art, Mona, Doug and Kyle Stensland.

In addition to the nine family members involved in daily operations, there are an additional 15 employees in the dairy and creamery. A work force of several dozen part-timers staff the retail outlets in Sioux Falls. Doug said one of the core principles in the operation is to treat employees right. “We can’t do anything without good employees,” he said. Like most businesses and farm operations, the year 2020 threw a little hitch in their giddyup. “There was about a week there when Covid came in … it was hard to get anybody here to think positively. We lost 60 percent of our business overnight with restaurants shutting down. It took a few days, but we just decided to keep hammering away. The kids are good at figuring things out,” Doug said.

A close-up of the inner workings of the Lely Astronaut robot milker at the Stensland farm. 16

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

“What we do as a family, we look at things and think outside the box. We don’t get tied into one way of doing things.” He continued, “One really important thing when you’re trying to bring different generations in, sometimes the older generations aren’t willing to let go.” He said his father set an example by stepping aside when it was Doug’s time to lead and Doug believes he’s done the same for his children. “If this whole thing was only about money, I wouldn’t have come in with my kids. I would have been stashing my money away. But we were open-minded enough and the younger generation is really open-minded. You have to have the right mindset. Let them do their thing … they make some mistakes, but they make a lot of good decisions, too. We as a family can make things go and make things work. We’re really fortunate that we all get along well.” Faith is woven into the dramatic story of growth and change of the past 15 years. Doug said, “We all realize who’s in control – and it’s not us. We might not be as vocal as some families are but, no doubt about it, we know God’s in control. Sometimes when I just don’t even know what to do, I just hand it over to Him.”

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A Lely Juno Robot (left) pushes feed back towards the cows every 1.5 hours. By pushing feed regularly, it is always within the cows’ reach. Every cow can eat the roughage it needs for optimal rumen health and growth, plus valuable labor is saved by humans not having to push the feed back. September 2020 | www.agemedia.pub | The Farming Families Magazine

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

ALONE UNDER THE STARS PHOTO BY BRETT DAVELAAR. BD PHOTOGRAPHY

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

PLYMOUTH COUNTY FAMILY

FAMILY COMMUNICATION IS ESSENTIAL by Bob Fitch

Daniel, John and Debra Ahlers with their dog Maggie 20

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

The Ahlers family in fall 2019: Vijay Permeswaran and daughter Jill Permeswaran; Jordan Vittetoe and daughter Rebecca Vittetoe holding Grant; John and Debra; daughter Kristen Fober holding Hallie, Luke Fober; son Daniel and special friend Taylor Peters.

John and Debra Ahlers, along with their son Daniel, believe uncertain times compel a farmer to be conservative, to maintain a positive attitude, and be controlled and smart with big purchases. “Don’t spread yourself so thin that you can’t sleep at night,” said Debra. Daniel added wisdom he learned from his Grandpa Ahlers: “We can’t all be the big operators, but we sure all can be good operators.” Most of all, maintaining open and regular lines of communication is essential, they said. “We sit out here at night and might have a glass of tea or dish of ice cream. We visit about the day. Communication is a big thing to all of this. You have to keep the channels open, you have to talk things over. The three children who are not here, we communicate with them because they’re just as vested as the one who is here to do the work,” said Debra. “John’s mom is still an important part of our operation. She’s kind of a silent partner now, but I still call her at

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John and Debra’s newest grandchildren: Kiaan Permeswaran and Madison Vittetoe.

the end of the day and let her know how the day has gone. John’s brothers also like to stay informed. He’s got cousins where we farm their ground. And I’ll send texts with pictures telling them we were harvesting their fields today. They really appreciate that. Cell phones are awesome. I can communicate with 10 people in short order.”

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Daniel said the family has a long-term plan for the future of the farm south of Le Mars, although they’re always in the midst of discussing it and modifying it as circumstances change. John said, “We don’t have too many regrets on decisions we’ve made. At a given time, you wonder why you didn’t get a piece of ground. But, in the long term, it almost always ended up turning out all right.” Lots of communication amongst family members was something Debra brought to the farm when she and John were married 31 years ago. John said, “My dad wasn’t much of a talker – you said what you had to say and you were done. When we were first married, Debra didn’t go to bed until her sister called, her dad called, and her grandma called. Sometimes it was 10:30 at night and I’d say ‘Will you call your grandma so we can go to bed?’ Cause you knew that call was coming.”

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Debra said, “That was just the way it was in my dad’s family and even in my mom’s. When our twins were born, my dad would call in the morning and ask ‘How was the night? How’d

the babies do?’” Her dad still checks in with her every night. “Communication is key to making things work. To find the good things … to find that sense of love and family connection. We are blessed our kids visit and talk to find out what is going on in each other’s lives. The times when they are all home sitting around the same table again, I relish those moments,” she said. To have a life you consider successful, Debra said, “You’ve got to find the blessings – healthy children, healthy grandchildren, the good life we have out here. You need to appreciate all the good times we have. We enjoy a lot of good sunrises and we appreciate a lot of good sunsets.” John’s great-grandparents bought the farm in 1908 and his grandparents starting farming it in 1916. Daniel is the fourth generation to farm the ground. Ahlers used to raise both cattle and hogs. “We went through the ‘90s with hogs and that got ugly,” John said. “I didn’t want to spend the money to put up a barn, so we bought land instead. We weren’t that big into cattle, so it was hard getting packers to look at us. My dad was getting up in age and couldn’t help anymore and Daniel was too young to help much. We got out on a high and quit while we were ahead. We made way more money on the hay inventory rather than going one more year on the cattle.”

Why sheep? “You can afford to start it as an owneroperator,” Daniel said. “There’s a lot less labor involved … you can do it yourself without a whole lot of help. I’m way too darn independent. I do all the decision-making – good, bad or otherwise.” He said the sheep market is “not real phenomenal. You’re not going to get rich. But you’re faring better than the cattle and hog guys are this year. There’s actually money to be made instead of losing money.” In addition to farming the Ahlers’ acres with his parents and raising his sheep, Daniel has some hay and pasture ground plus works the farm ground of his maternal grandparents, Bill and Janice Renken. Debra said, “2017 was a hard harvest for my dad. There were some long hours and he was just totally exhausted. He couldn’t wait for Daniel to graduate. He graduated in 3½ years and came home to farm.” They feel fortunate that John and Debra’s son-inlaw, Luke Fober, has a good ag background and is able to help farm on nights and weekends when the need arises. Luke is married to their daughter, Kristen, who is an English language learning teacher at Le Mars Community Schools. They have a daughter, Hallie.

Debra said, “For years, everybody heckled John for not putting up a hog building. But, for us, it ended up being the best decision we didn’t make. It was not for us.” Getting out of livestock enabled them to more often see their daughters who were all in college at the time and then got married and now have children. Fewer chores made them more mobile. “When we were first married, I’m the one who often did the hogs with John’s dad,” she said. “If it was spring or fall, Grandma would come watch the kids, John was in the field, and Grandpa and I sorted the hogs. He wouldn’t holler at me like he might do with others,” she joked. “John’s dad always treated me with great respect out there.” John’s father, Robert, passed away in 2016. His mother, Cy, lives in Le Mars, but still owns some of the farmland. Debra grew up on a farm near Brunsville and didn’t have any brothers, so she was her dad’s right-hand person. “So I knew how to work the hogs. Herding hogs is hard. You just have to be patient and don’t make a lot of noise.” While John and Debra exited the livestock arena, Daniel started a sheep operation during his sophomore year of high school. He’s grown that since he graduated 2½ years ago from South Dakota State University where he studied animal science and ag business.

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Their twin daughters, Rebecca and Jill, were born one week before John and Debra moved to the family farm in 1991. Daughter Rebecca is an ISU Extension field agronomist and lives in Washington, Iowa, with her husband, Jordan Vittetoe, their son, Grant, and new daughter, Madison Kay, who was just born on Aug. 2nd. Daughter Jill is a certified pediatric nurse practitioner at Children’s Hospital Colorado, and lives in Broomfield, Colo., with her husband, Vijay Permeswaran, and their son, Kiaan. Debra has worked at Floyd Valley Healthcare as a laboratory scientist for many years, although she considers the 10 years she stayed home with their children the greatest gift she could receive. With the arrival of Madison this month, all three daughters have had babies in the past year. The

Covid restrictions has limited contact with the newborns. “The whole year has been difficult … new grandbabies you can’t see them or hold them. I’ve never been to a baptism on Zoom, but we did it. The minister was great, she went to their home,” said Debra. On top of limited contact with their new grandchildren, John said the lack of a full-fledged Plymouth County Fair this year was “not a lot of fun. It’s hard.” Debra said, “It kind of leaves a void in your heart.” Over the years, the Ahlers have been involved in 4-H, Farm Bureau, Extension Council, and school activities such as music boosters and PTO. But the Plymouth County Fair has always been very close to the top of their priority list. John is the current vice chairperson of the fair board. Their involvement stretches back decades. In fact, in 2017, John and Debra were named to the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame. “John’s claim to fame is he got to become a 4-H’er through his children. He became an honorary 4-H member and he never had to do a recordbook,” she said. Plymouth County 4-H and FFA projects were still judged at the fairgrounds this year, with caution taken to ensure the safety of participants. But all the other important elements of “The 5 Best Days of Summer” were missing.

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“All our food is provided by service organizations. For a lot of them, that’s their whole operating budget for the year,”

John said. “A lot of them give scholarships to kids or sponsor trips for the kids. The money all goes back into community. When that doesn’t happen, boy, it’s not only the fair that suffers but it’s a lot of organizations that won’t generate their funding for the year.” Debra said the biggest loss may be the camaraderie. “The fair is what so many people build their family reunions around. For us, the kids always try to make it home for the fair. It’s just a good, wholesome family time. For some families and friends, you might not see them for a whole year, but you can reconnect that one week and recharge your batteries.” Still, Debra said, “We are very blessed. We all stayed healthy, our parents and kids all stayed healthy. I kept my job and our daughters kept their jobs.” Daniel jokingly added, “Farmers are not guaranteed a paycheck, but we are always guaranteed work. Every day is another day in paradise.” The Ahlers family finds paradise in simple pleasures. Because a lot of their farmland is very spread out, one of their traditions over the years has been to bring supper to the field during harvest. Debra said, “Now, when our girls come home, they ask ‘Can we have supper in the field?’” John said, “You know, during harvest, at the end of the day, if we can say nothing got broke and nobody got hurt, it was a good day.”

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KEEPING LOCAL HISTORY ALIVE

THE EARLY DAYS OF AKRON:

‘THE FINEST LAY OF LAND AND THE MOST FERTILE, EASILY TILLED SOIL IN THE WORLD’

The train arrives on time at the Akron Depot.

By Bob Fitch

Flowery and boastful language was common in history books in the late 1800s and early 1900s. In the book, “History of the Counties of Woodbury and Plymouth, Iowa,” published in 1890 by A. Warner & Co., Akron’s home township was described in glowing terms: "To be a citizen of Portland township and a land owner there, in 1890, is a part of a man's life of which he need never be ashamed. Here one travels over the finest lay of land and the most fertile, easily tilled soil in the world. Here one beholds a rural scene which is

ever a feast to the eye. Here one meets the combined industry and intelligence of both native and foreign-born citizens. Here one sees marks of thrift and true wealth – of comfort and happiness; of moral and religious sentiment, seldom adorning any one subdivision of a county.” The 1890 history book said “The first man to avail himself of the opportunities found in this part of the county was Joshua B. Hughes, who homesteaded the southwest quarter of section thirty-two in 1869.”

The roadside historical plaque in Akron says E.W. Sargent and L.N. Crill constructed a flour mill and dam just north of the town site, where the high bank of the Big Sioux River offered a splendid location for waterpower. On May 22, 1872, Sargent and Crill platted the town of Portlandville, which was the town name for its first 10 years. Sargent also opened a general merchandise store just south of the mill and, in 1876, opened an elevator.

A panoramic photo of downtown Akron in the early 1900s. 26

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

This history book described the town site as “charmingly situated on a level plateau of land, a part of the great valley through which flows the Big Sioux, tending toward the southwest; it furnishes a water-power seldom equaled in all Iowa.” H.D. Barr hauled the lumber for the first buildings, which included a hotel opened by George Reed at the corner of Second and Reed Streets. It was called Reed’s Hotel, although by 1890 it was known as Plymouth House. The hotel housed the men employed in constructing the dam and mill. Barr was a miller by trade and operated the old Sioux Mills. E.W. Sargent said “… there was but little settlement made in the township until after 1880, on account of the railroad difficulty, arising out of disputed title to lands claimed by both the government and by the railroad company, to whom a grant had been given, but the contract, it seems, had not been lived up to by the railroad company, which finally lost the land, and then it was thrown open to actual settlers, who came flocking in very rapidly.” The first bridge across the Big Sioux River was built in 1880. The 1890 history book also listed the following “first happenings” … • The first child born within Portland Township was a son to Mr. and Mrs. George Reed, the second being Grant Barr, in February 1872. • The first death was that of a son of Capt. A.H. Smith, “who was cut down like a tender plant” in the fall of 1872. • The first marriage ceremony was that uniting Mr. Andrew Palm to Miss Emma Johnson, in 1873. • The first to sell lumber at Akron was S. Bevins. • Thomas Sedgwick was the first to deal in livestock. • The pioneer blacksmith was M. W. Toppings. • Henry L. Waterbury was the first harness-maker. • The first to retail meat was J. Booth. • The first hardware store was conducted by William Lowe in 1877. • The first to engage in the drug trade was L.H. Farmer.

The Akron Opera House.

• The earliest agricultural implement dealer was M.L. Disbrow. • The first furniture was sold by August Peterson. In 1882, a petition for incorporation was decided upon by a vote of 41 to 16. The new town was christened Akron, a name selected by Sargent since he felt that the old name was too long. The 1890 history book said “The people in and around Akron are a God-fearing people, as is evinced by the numerous religious societies … Elder Freeman (Baptist) held the first religious services in 1871-72 … the Methodist

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The bridge from Akron to Union County, S.D.

Episcopal church was first formed across the Sioux in Dakota, then changed to the Richland charge, and in 1871 reorganized at (Portlandville) Akron. The first class met at the school-house and private houses, but in 1879 a neat frame edifice was built. It is twentysix by forty feet, and seats about 200 people. The cost was $1,100.” “… The First Baptist Church of Akron was organized with 11 members on the west side of the Big Sioux River, in what is now South Dakota, on March 25, 1871, by Bev. G. W. Freeman, a general missionary. The first meetings were held in a log school-house. After the mill was built at this point and a village started on the Iowa side, regular services were held here in the new school-house.”

The history book said: “The first term of school was taught by Mrs. E.B. Donalson at her own residence, in 1873. A school building was erected on section thirty-one, in 1873 … Much attention has been paid to the education of the rising young in this part of the county. The reports show that in 1889 Portland township was divided into seven sub-districts, with a good frame building in six, and a substantial brick in one of the number. The number of pupils at that date was 300. Fifty shade trees grace the school grounds, and are monuments of beauty, and also bespeak the refinement and taste of the patrons of the various schools.” A Grand Army of the Republic chapter was organized in 1889. The town also supported a Good Templar lodge and a Masonic lodge. Akron businesses in 1890 were: • Attorney: Mat Agnes. • Agricultural goods: Toppings & Haskell, Mellon Bros.

• Bank: Bank of Akron. • Boots and shoes: Henry Waterbury. • Blacksmiths: Tinker & Gardner, M. W. Toppings. • Drugs: Mathwig & Clise. • Doctors: Drs. Clark and Ellis. • Furniture: J. H. Hampton and M. E. Tuttle. • General dealers: Palm & Johnson, W. C. Bryant, C. F. Horton, W. J. Homer & Co., J. F Kennedy. • Grocers: A. L. McGinnis, E. TV. Edgerton, J. C. Wade. • Grain: Hunting & Co., Monihan Bros., Streetor. • Hardware: B. Ferguson, V. G. Farnham. • Harness shop: Benjamin Jeffers. • Hotels: Kendall House, City Hotel, Plymouth. • Jeweler: — B.F. Winterstein. • Livery: J.D. Brown. • Lumber: J.N. Baish, B.B. Harrington. • Meat market: Agnes & Waterbury, C. H. Pinkney. • Millinery: Ladies, Hall & Stearns. • Mils: Akron Boiler Mills. • Newspaper: Western Delta. • Real estate: Smith & Robertson. • Wagon-makers: Peter Muir, Hans Barr.

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SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

INGENUITY BY TNT SALES & SERVICE SOLVES A COVID-19 PROBLEM By Bob Fitch

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines ingenuity as “skill or cleverness in devising or combining” or “cleverness or aptness of design or contrivance.” Merriam-Webster might want to consider putting a photo of Tom Crawford and his crew at TNT Sales & Service LLC next to the definition of ingenuity. For more than 30 years, Tom and Taresa Crawford at TNT in Hinton have been helping the agricultural community and many other industries get their operations cleaned up with industrial products such as pressure washers, sweepers, scrubbers and vacuums. They also sell and service air compressors, generators, heaters, water pumps and water treatment systems. When Covid-19 hit, businesses and public institutions were looking for a machine to help them disinfect large areas. Think of just one church on one Sunday … How many hands touch how many surfaces? How many people breathe how many particles into the air? Can you effectively wipe down every surface? TNT has been helping customers solve tough problems for decades and Tom Crawford’s ingenuity kicked in to try to solve this problem.

Taresa and Tom Crawford of TNT Sales & Service of Hinton.

The custom-made TNT Covid-19 High Pressure Mister system is portable and has been purchased for use by schools, conservation districts, gyms, ambulance services and others. 30

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

“When the whole thing started, I got some calls. So I did some research. What I found wasn’t good,” Tom said. He discovered school districts and other were paying exorbitant amounts of money for equipment that wasn’t working and chemicals which were overpriced. TNT is a long-time dealer for Mi-T-M, a manufacturer of pressure washers and other industrial equipment located in eastern Iowa. “When Mi-T-M decided to try to make a mister, I was excited about that because we’ve been working with them for 35 years. I got their mister in here to see if it would work for our customers.” That’s when the ingenuity of Tom and his crew kicked in. In addition to doing some re-plumbing on the mister unit itself, they created a customized system that fits many situations. “We put the mister on an old Rubbermaid cart we had. We started using it and the 75-foot hose was nice, but it needed a reel. Then we couldn’t find the right reels. We had an old utility reel, we retrofitted it with a swivel. We used that awhile and that was wonderful, but then realized it needed a gun swivel. That was the next step. We were pretty happy with the whole set-up then.”

But he also thought the chemical disinfectants available were overpriced. He tracked down another Mi-T-M dealer in Chicago who has experience with disinfectants. The Chicago connection recommended a disinfectant called QuatSan, which is certified to kill Covid-19. “The nice thing about this mixture is it’s very inexpensive. It’s a good, economical system. The disinfectant mist dries without any residue. It’s as simple as that. People love how easy they are to use,” he said. The disinfectant needs to dwell on the surface for 10 minutes before the area is ready to use again. All the units are custom-made and tested at their Hinton site. Tom’s wife, Taresa, said the new custom-created units are being used by schools; conservation

districts for use in park shelters and cabins and shower houses; gyms and yoga studios; churches; ambulance services; children’s museums; and funeral homes. While some of their other business has dipped since Covid hit, Taresa said TNT is selling the Covid-19 Disinfecting-Mister almost as fast as they build them. “Who knew life was going to change so much? We’ve worked harder through this than we have in many, many years. Now we’re in it and going to be at it for a long time.” She said customers have asked what they should do with the disinfectant-mister once Covid-19 has passed. The units and the disinfectant have uses far beyond this one virus. Quat-San disinfectant is also approved by the EPA as a disinfectant against bacteria and viruses such as E. Coli,

VRE, K. Pneumoniae, Listeriosis, MRSA, Streptococcus, Hepatitis B and C, Herpes Simplex Type 1 and 2, HIV-1, H1N1, Norovirus and more. “We feel that keeping all areas disinfected is a good idea now and going forward. The TNT Disinfecting-Mister is a good defense for your facility with something as simple as the common cold,” Taresa said. A video demonstration of the disinfecting-mister can be seen on the company’s website at www.tntsales.net. For more information on the disinfectingmister and other products from TNT Sales & Service LLC, contact Sales and Marketing Manager Katy Crawford at katy@tntsales.net or 712-635-1418.

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