A love of farming keeps Murphy family farm going for 150 years

early ‘70s, he recalls them having dairy cattle, along with a chicken coop.

One of his fondest memories was going to the farm as a child and bringing his grandpa lunch on his bike. Even if it meant biking through the freshly plowed fields at just 7 or 8 years old, it was bumpy and memorable experience for him. Mentz says it was also always fun to see the animals while he was there.

He says his children too, made many memories on the farm through fun activities like wagon rides.

“There’s a lot of sentimental value in it for me, so I’m hoping my kids continue to hold the property also,” said Mentz.

Keeping a close eye on when the farm reached 100 years of ownership in the family, Mentz was eager to apply for Century Farm recognition. Classifying it as a one was a neat thing to do, said Mentz, who enjoyed receiving recognition at the Steele County Fair.

With the size of the rural community dwindling, Mentz is saddened by the number of abandoned farm houses he sees and hopes to keep his grandparents’ farm for the next generation to enjoy.

A canopy of trees line the perimeter of the McVicker Farm, with a handful towering over the house where George and Bessie once lived together. (Michelle Vlasak/southernminn.com)

“I definitely want to hold on to the land and keep that in the family,” said Mentz.

FARMING IN A DEPRESSION

After the United States entered World War I in 1917 and continuing into the post-war years, 40 million acres of uncultivated land in the U.S. went under the plow, including 30 million acres in the wheat- and corn-producing states of the Midwest.

Minnesota farmers had nearly 18.5 million acres under cultivation by 1929. The demand for land inflated the price of farm real estate, regardless of quality. The average price of Minnesota farm land more than doubled between 1910 and 1920, from $46 to $109 per acre.

An estimated 60 out of every 1,000 farmers in the U.S. either lost their farms or filed for bankruptcy. From 1926 to 1932, 1,442 Minnesota farms totaling 258,587 acres were lost to foreclosure.

In spite of the hardships, Minnesota’s rural population increased during the 1930s. Many who lost farms to foreclosure remained on the property as tenants. Others moved from urban areas to the country.

Source: Minnesota Historical Society

By PAT BECK editor@apgsomn.com

Alove of farming has kept Joe and Jean Murphy continuing the family tradition of farming for five generations and more than 150 years along at Le Sueur Road 11 and State Highway 19 in Henderson. While farmers’ work never ends and they never have a day off, Joe still loves it.

“I just love being on the farm, and it’s all I’ve ever done,” Joe said. “We’re independent. I love having cattle. Maybe some day I’ll get rid of my dairy supply business, and maybe I’ll start running the land again. Right now it’s just too much.” “It’s a good life,” Jean said. “We’re happy that we’re on the farm now. We’re out in the country. It’s a good place to bring up kids. The grandkids were out yesterday, and they just love it.”

Jean, Joe and Marilyn Murphy (Joe’s mother) were recognized for reaching 150 years of farming in the same family on Aug. 22 at the Le Sueur County Fairgrounds. (Photo courtesy of Jean Murphy)

The Murphys, who live at 28074 251st Ave., joined an elite group this summer as one of the Minnesota Farm Bureau’s 26 recipients of the 2021 Sesquicentennial Farm award. Joe and Jean took ownership from Joe’s mom and dad, Marilyn and Pat, in 2015.

A commemorative certificate signed by Gov. Tim Walz, Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen and Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation President Kevin Paap was awarded to qualifying families, along with an outdoor sign signifying Sesquicentennial Farm recognition.

A sesquicentennial farm honors Minnesota families who have owned their farms for at least 150 years, are at least 50 acres in size and are involved in agricultural production.

“We are very proud to have had a Murphy on the farm for over 150 years,” said Joe Murphy, 59, who has worked on the farm his entire life. said. “We continue the farming legacy as we have beef cattle and farm the land.” ◗ Murphy Farm continued on page 12

ACCESSORIES, CLOTHING, PARTS & SERVICE!

The Joe and Jean Murphy family farm at the intersection of Le Sueur County 11 and State Highway 19 in Henderson includes two sheds for 120 Holstein beef cattle, the original barn, hay storage, a machine shed, grain bins, Murphy Family Dairy, 300 acres of corn and soybeans and their home. (Photo courtesy of Jean Murphy)

◗Murphy Farm continued from page 11

Purchased 1857, the land was part of the land grants awarded as a result of the War of 1812.

The 300-acre Murphy farm has 120 Holstein beef cattle, plus corn and soybean crops.

The Murphy Farm has been in the family for five generations, beginning operations in 1856 under John Daniel Murphy, who was born in Ireland.

Although the present home was built in 2017, the original barn remains, with an addition in 1975.

The farm was then passed down to his son, John Dennis Murphy in 1887, followed by his grandson, James Emmett Murphy in 1935, then his great grandson, Patrick Merlyn Murphy, who farmed alongside his wife, Marilyn, from the mid-1960s to 2014. Pat and Marilyn raised six children on their farm and lived off the farm.

“Joe always says they worked a ton of hours seven days a week, but they also had so much fun with their large family and being outdoors. It was a lot of work,” Jean said.

They acknowledge Pat and Marilyn Murphy for setting an example of how to create a positive, hardworking and fun farm family.

Joe and Jean lived in the next house down a half mile away until Pat died and Marilyn moved to town. Then Joe and Jean took over the farm.

“There’s just a sense of pride that we kept it going so long,” Joe Murphy said. Now they rent out the land to a neighbor and are focusing on raising 120 Holstein beef cattle and on their business, Murphy Dairy Supply Inc. They sell dairy supplies to 110 farmers in the seven-county area.

“We rented it out for the first time last year,” Joe said. “I just couldn’t get it all done by myself with the cattle and the business.”

Jean also works as an accountant in her home business.

“We sell anything a fairy farmer needs,” Joe said. “We have 5,000 different items.”

“We have four daughters, and our youngest is probably the biggest help on the farm, but she’s at college right now,” she said. “We’re not sure what will happen after our generation.”

Joe and Jean Murphy raise 120 Holstein beef cattle on their family farm in Henderson. The original barn is in the background. (Photo courtesy of Jean Murphy)

MURPHY FARM LINEAGE

John Daniel and Wineford (O’Brien) Murphy (1856-87)

John Dennis and Margaret (Fogarty) Murphy (1887-35)

James Emmett and Lorraine (Berger) Murphy (1935-66)

Patrick Merlyn and Marilyn (Orr) Murphy (1966-14) Joseph Patrick and Jean (Effertz) Murphy (2015-present)

26, of Henderson; and Lauren, 22, of River Falls, Wisconsin, where she is in her final year of college in business finance.

The Murphys plans to keep farming for the rest of their lives.

Their oldest daughter, Sarah has shown an interest in buying the farm with her husband and possibly renting it out. “And Ellie would love to live here,” Jean said.

“We don’t know what we’ll do after this, but God has always showed us a way,” Jean said. www.fleetsupplymn.com

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