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family farms Southern Minnesota
OCTOBER 2023
Southern Minnesota FAMILY FARMS | October 2023 | 2
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3 | October 2023 | Southern Minnesota FAMILY FARMS
CONTENT
Ahrens family honored as Steele County
Farm Family of the Year.......................................................... 4
Rice County’s Farm Family, the Schultzes made of farmers and educators................................................ 6
Zimmerli family honored for sustainable operation
as Waseca County Farm Family of the Year........................... 8
Pattersons of Kenyon win Goodhue County
Farm Family of the Year........................................................ 10
Braatz family is 2023 Le Sueur County
Farm Family of the Year........................................................ 11
Sjostroms recognized as Nicollet County
Farm Family of the Year........................................................ 13
Johnson Family Farm stakes its ground near Ellendale..... 14 Prieves preserves family farm in Faribault –
‘It’s home to everyone in the family’...................................... 16
Love, support from the past sustain Strangler family farm near Waterville................................................... 18 Cover photo: Ali Prieve SENIOR GENERAL MANAGER: ROSS ULRICH REGIONAL MANAGING EDITOR: PHILIP WEYHE SALES DIRECTOR: TOM KELLING ADVERTISING: DEANNA BOLAND, AMBER CASTERTON, KATHLEEN DAVIES, CRYSTAL HOBART, TIM MART TONI SCHMIDT, VICTORIA RUD DESIGN & LAYOUT: KATE TOWNSEND-NOET
Southern Minnesota FAMILY FARM is distributed to subscribers and readers of the Owatonna People’s Press, Faribault Daily News, Northfield News, Kenyon Leader, Waseca County News, St. Peter Herald, Le Sueur County News. ©2023 This publication is copyrighted by the APG Southern Minnesota and no content can be reproduced without permission.
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Southern Minnesota FAMILY FARMS | October 2023 | 4
Ahrens
W By PRESTON MEIER Guest Writer
ith roots dating back to 1899, the Ahrens’ legacy in farming still lives on and is held with honor. This year, the Ahrens family’s efforts were recognized as they were selected as the Steele County Farm Family of the Year. Every year, the award is put on by the University of Minnesota Extension Committees. Throughout the state, one family per county is recognized for their commitment to the agriculture community. Growing up, Brian Ahrens and his brothers, Brad and Marshall, lived on a farm with their parents and farming immediately became a part of their lives. As soon as they were physically able, they started helping their parents around the farm and the importance of
family honored as Steele County Farm Family of the Year farming was instilled in them at a young age. “My brothers and sisters and I all grew up on a farm,” Brian said. “We had cows, pigs and crops, so we just grew up helping at an early age and it got in your blood. Then Lisa also grew up on a dairy farm.” Lisa and Brian Ahrens currently live on the Ahrens family farm, which has been within the family since 1899. In 1976, Brian and Brad started to take over a majority of the business. As their father was slowing down and looking toward retirement, the brothers agreed on a partnership for a portion of the farm. Once their dad officially retired, it turned into a full-on brother operation, and Brian and Lisa made the full-time move to live on the farm. “My older brother and I were out of school, so we decided to start a partnership so my dad could slow down a bit,” Brian explained. “Then when he retired, my younger brother bought him
The Ahrens family moved into their farm home in 1899 and it has been within the family ever since. The rock is placed at the entrance, welcoming guests to the farm. (Preston Meier/southernminn.com)
out. So, we went from a father and two sons to three brothers.” The brothers were able to carry out what their father had made so successful. After many years of the three brothers running the business together, it was time for the oldest brother, Brad, to retire. Although Brad was moving on, the Ahrens were able to add more family members to the operation. Brian and Lisa’s sons, Nolan and Nate, took over the share of the farm, making for a special family bond and legacy. Additionally, Brian and Lisa’s grandkids also spend lots of time on the farm, helping Lisa care for her goats. The family is able to spend almost every day together, making the job very rewarding. “We are continuing the legacy and our children and grandchildren have an interest in it,” Brian said. “And the reap rewards of producing something, working towards it whether it’s harvesting or seeing an animal grow up. A lot of people don’t get that.” Today, the partnership of the farm consists of Brian and Lisa Ahrens, Marshall and Patty Ahrens as well as Brian and Lisa’s sons, Nolan and his wife Missy, and Nate and his wife Molly. Every family member learns every aspect of the farm so they can all help out on the farm as needed. With all the
helping hands, their teamwork has been noticed in the community, which led to them receiving the Farm Family of the Year honors. For Brian, Lisa and the entire Ahrens crew, the award is gratifying and humbling. “It’s rewarding because you’re recognized by your peers,” Brian said. “And we don’t do this to get an award, we just do it and love it.” Alongside agriculture, the Ahrens have a knack for helping out in the community and giving back to organizations that mean a lot to them. All family members volunteer their time in a plethora of different ways to organizations including 4-H, Steele County Ag Society, Owatonna FFA, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Claremont Chamber of Commerce and many others. Volunteering has always been a value that the Ahrens family holds close to them, and it is a testament to why they were selected for the award. “There’s a lot of different reasons why we find those organizations,” Lisa said. “But, I think you have to volunteer because who else is going to keep things going if you don’t help.” Another way the Ahrens give back to the community is by educating the next generation about farming. Whether they are inspiring kids to become farmers or
The Ahrens farm truck is parked right next to their corn fields. The Ahrens currently produce crops only, which include corn, sweetcorn, peas and soybeans. (Preston Meier/southernminn.com)
5 | October 2023 | Southern Minnesota FAMILY FARMS
PEOPLE CARING FOR PEOPLE
The entire Ahrens family poses together in front of one of their tractors. All family members pitch in around the farm and their efforts have earned the honor of Steele County Farm Family of the Year. (Photo courtesy of Brian and Lisa Ahrens)
just informing them about where their food comes from, the Ahrens hope to give a closer look at what farm life looks like. “We’ve had field trips here, preschool field trips,” Lisa said. “Because there are a lot of kids that don’t know where their food comes from and they may never step foot on a farm. I think it’s important to keep people educated because there are a lot of stereotypes.” Winning this award is a great honor and as the Ahrens look towards the
future, they hope to keep things running the same way. The family tradition and standards are too special for them to change. “At the end of the day, it’s not just farming, it’s family,” Brian said. “That’s rewarding when you’re with your family every day. I wouldn’t change anything.” Preston Meier is a freelance writer living in Owatonna. Reach the editor at OPPeditor@ apgsomn.com
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Southern Minnesota FAMILY FARMS | October 2023 | 6
The Schultz family — from left, Jeff, Kathryn, Madeline, Cal and Hank — is the 2023 Rice County Farm Family of the Year. (Kristine Goodrich/southernminn.com)
Rice County’s Farm Family, the
Schultzes, made of farmers and educators
T
By KRISTINE GOODRICH kristine.goodrich@apgsomn.com
of the Year. A Rice County University of Minnesota Extension committee wo generations of the annually selects a family to honor at Schultz family are the Rice County Fair and at Minnesota educating farmers and Farmfest. Extension offices around the future farmers while state are invited to recognize a family raising cattle on their for “demonstrating commitment to own family farm just enhancing and supporting agriculture outside of Faribault. and agricultural production.” For community contributions that Schultzes have been raising animals range from planning 4-H camps to on land in Walcott Township for a serving pork burgers at the Rice County century. Jeff grew up on his greatFair, Jeff and Kathryn Schultz and their grandparents’ farm and took over his three adult children are being recognized grandparents’ farm just around the bend as this year’s Rice County Farm Family in 1979.
Jeff came back to Rice County after a judging in 4-H, FFA and beyond. Most stint working as an agronomist in Iowa, recently, Cal helped his Oklahoma State where he met Kathryn, a fellow farm University team win a national general kid who now owns her own hair-styling livestock judging championship. business. All three children are following their Jeff’s day job is as a farm business father into education. management instructor at South Central Madeline is an agricultural sciences College, teacher and where he FFA advisor helps farmers at Faribault of all ages High School. with the Since the financial agriculture aspects of program was running a brought back farm. in 2020, she It’s said it has rewarding grown to have “helping 350 students farmers from diverse succeed in backgrounds their goals taking classes and watching Schultz family cattle craze in a pasture just east of ranging Faribault. (Kristine Goodrich/southernminn.com) them from an grow their exploratory operations,” introduction he said. to agriculture to more specialized classes such as meat science. On their own farm Jeff and Kathryn started with chickens and pigs, and Hank was a paraprofessional this past later added goats to their flock before school year and in the fall will become transitioning to all cattle. a special education teacher at Jefferson That transition came after their Elementary School. children, Madeline, Hank and Cal, Once he finishes a master’s degree, decided they wanted to show cattle with Cal wants to coach collegiate livestock 4H. Now they raise and sell cattle for judging teams. beef and for breeding and showing. The Schultz kids are still involved in Jeff Schultz feeds his family’s herd of cattle Monday morning at their farm in The three Schultz children all 4-H. Madeline and Hank have summer Walcott Township. (Kristine Goodrich/southernminn.com) jobs helping organize 4-H camps and earned many blue ribbons showing and
7 | October 2023 | Southern Minnesota FAMILY FARMS
The Schultz family poses with a judge and their prize-winning goat after winning top honors at the Minnesota State Fair in 2013. (Photo courtesy of the Schultz family)
other programs. Cal and Hank are judging contests at county fairs. Jeff will be at the Rice County Fair most days selling fare at the Dakota/ Rice County Corn and Soybean Growers Association’s booth. Jeff is secretary of the association, which supports area growers as well as pork producers and gives college scholarships to study agriculture. While Madeline said she’d never give up teaching, other members of the Schultz family said they’d give up their day jobs if they could grow their cattle
operation. “I just need cows,” Hank joked. But they’re limited by lack of available affordable nearby pasture land. They’d consider a move if “the right opportunity” were to come along, Jeff said. For now they’re concentrating on breeding consistently top-quality cattle. “Until we can expand, quality is our focus,” Madeline said. Reach Associate Editor Kristine Goodrich at 507333-3134 or kristine.goodrich@apgsomn.com.
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Southern Minnesota FAMILY FARMS | October 2023 | 8
The Zimmerli family uses sustainable agriculture practices, like cover crops.
Lara and Dan Zimmerli, along with their toddler, run Cedar Crate Farm outside of Waldorf in Waseca County. (Photo courtesy cedarcratefarm.com)
Zimmerli family honored
for sustainable operation as Waseca County Farm Family of the Year
T
he Dan and Lara Zimmerli family has been named the 2023 Waseca County Farm Family of the Year by the University of Minnesota. The two operate Cedar Crate Farm near Waldorf. From cedarcratefarm.com: “Cedar Crate Farm is a small, family-owned produce farm situated southeast of Mankato and owned by Dan and Lara Zimmerli. We use organic and
sustainable practices to produce over 70 varieties of produce each season.” Dan grew up on his parents’ farm in Redwood County. His grandparents on both sides of the family were farmers. Dan and Lara currently farm on land that was farmed by Dan’s maternal grandfather, Ron Coy. Lara’s mother was raised on a farm near Pepin, Wis. Lara loved visiting her grandparents’ farm and always believed she would end up on one. Dan and Lara operate a small-scale,
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intensive, diversified vegetable farm. The couple grows over 90 varieties of produce on about three acres. Produce is marketed directly to their community through the Mankato Farmers Market and the Zimmerlis’ CSA. Dan and Lara love that they are able to sell their crops directly to others in their community who take their produce home to nourish their families. The couple regularly invites their CSA members to visit their farm to learn how food is grown.
“We love fresh produce and want to share delicious, fresh, local, nutrient dense produce with our community through the Mankato Farmers Market, our Farm Share CSA, and our wholesale partners,” the couple says. Lara and Dan met in 2016 and quickly bonded over farming, food, and the pursuit of a sustainable lifestyle. One of our early ‘dates’ was finishing up a project on our farm. We were married in June of 2018 and our precious daughter Addie joined us in December of 2020.
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9 | October 2023 | Southern Minnesota FAMILY FARMS
Lara Zimmerli, of Cedar Crate Farm, sells her vegetables at a local farmers market. (Photo by Tiffany Tripp)
“We love our farm lifestyle,” the couple says. “We are so grateful that we can grow food for not only ourselves but our surrounding community. We are grateful that Addie has wide open spaces to run around and grow up in.” Dan and Lara, along with their toddler, dream together and plan the farm’s future direction. They are both involved in the day-to-day activities of the farm. Dan is the operation’s head
farmer. He is also a master planner and organizer responsible for developing systems and ways to execute the couple’s farm vision each season. Lara handles social media, where she tells the farm’s story, and she is in charge of training and managing employees. Lara works off the farm as a special education teacher as well. The Zimmerlis are members of
Dan and Lara Zimmerli, owners of Cedar Crate Farm just outside of Waldorf, were honored for winning the Waseca County Farm Family of the Year award at the Farm and City Luncheon. (File photo/southernminn.com)
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Southern Minnesota FAMILY FARMS | October 2023 | 10
The Mike and Rebekah Patterson family were the winners of the 2023 Goodhue County Farm Family of the Year. The family goes to church and school in Kenyon. (Photo courtesy of MN Pork Board)
Pattersons of Kenyon win Goodhue County Farm Family of the Year
T
Mike, Julia and Rebekah Patterson had a fun evening when Julia sang with the State Honor Choir. (Submitted photo)
he Mike and Rebekah Patterson family was recently honored as the 2023 Goodhue County Farm Family of the Year. Mike comes from a long line of farmers; he is the fifth generation in his family to farm. Mike and Rebekah’s children are aiming to be the 6th generation. Both sets of Mike’s grandparents had dairy cows. When his parents, Gary and Julie, started farming, they broke off into raising hogs. Mike was raised on a 250-sow farrow-to-finish operation. In the late 1990s, Mike’s parents were looking to change their operation and helped start a sow co-op, Minnesota Family Farms, which is still operational today. Mike invested in the co-op at age 18 and built his first finishing barn the following year. Mike & Rebekah were married in 1999, and doubled the finishing operation in 2006. In 2008, Mike’s dad retired and Mike’s sister and her husband, Beth and Aaron Helgeson, along with Mike, took over his shares in the co-op.
The Pattersons have 3,000 head of finishing hogs on the farm and they own another 2,000 head 50-50 with Mike’s sister. The Pattersons market about 10,000 head annually. The family also runs a small show pig operation consisting of 30 sows. Country Girls Show Pigs Partnership is owned and operated by the Pattersons’ daughters: Madeline, Isabelle, Julia and Leia. Mike and Rebekah have been involved with the state and local pork producers’ associations over their farming careers. Mike was honored in 2021 as the Minnesota Pork Promoter of the Year by the Minnesota Pork Board. The Patterson family is active in their local FFA and FFA Alumni Association. Every year the family dedicates some land for growing pumpkins or sweet corn that is sold to benefit the local FFA chapter. Mike and Rebekah’s daughter Maddie was a FFA Star Farmer finalist and national runnerup in swine proficiency. Their daughter Belle was state swine proficiency winner in FFA and Julia was a swine proficiency runner-up this
11 | October 2023 | Southern Minnesota FAMILY FARMS year. Mike, Maddie, and Belle have all earned American FFA degrees—Julia and Leia aren’t yet eligible. The family is also very active in 4-H. The Patterson children have all been involved in livestock judging and showing pigs. Mike helped coach the local 4-H livestock judging team for seven years.
Mike has been the local swine superintendent for over a decade. Mike works off the farm at Compeer Financial and Rebekah is a reading specialist for Northfield Schools. The Pattersons are members of Hegre Lutheran church in Kenyon.
The Patterson family was recently recognized at the Minnesota State Fair as the 2023 Goodhue County Farm Family of the Year.
Braatz family
is 2023 Le Sueur County Farm Family of the Year
T
he Dean and Jean Braatz family has been named the 2023 Le Sueur County Farm Family of the Year by the University of Minnesota. The two run a
Braatz Family
community supported agriculture operation outside of Montgomery. They have 40 acres, where, over the past 12 years, they have been growing the farm piece by piece, each year growing more food on healthier soils. “We are committed to growing all our food free Jean Braatz of chemicals in a natural and sustainable way and providing that food to you in its freshest, simplest form,” the family says on its mymnfarmer.com website. “We call it eco-ganic. It is more
than organic because it is produced in a way that is holistic, with each part supporting the others while sustaining our precious resources.” Before they began farming, Dean managed a team of computer programmers and Jean taught first grade. They had a large garden and shared food with family, friends and food shelves in the area. In 2009, they decided to start feeding people through a CSA program, which quickly grew to 350 members in addition to marketing at the Prior Lake and Mankato farmers markets. Their kids helped a lot during those wonderful and busy years. The Braatz family has a large sheep CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
Southern Minnesota FAMILY FARMS | October 2023 | 12
Dean Braatz
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 and cow operation, raises a number of pigs, processes about 500 broilers, and during the winter raises 1,500 laying hens. They have 10 high tunnels and a beautiful greenhouse, and they grow their crops following organic practices.
family, with seven children: Abigail, Samuel, Andrew, Lucas, Joshua, Jonny and Elizabeth. Everyone works together on the farm. “… our children hand feed our animals, pick and eat the produce right in the garden; they play in the dirt between the rows, and it simply is not worth risking the health of our children for the perceived benefits of chemically grown food,” the Braatz note on their website. Some family They use composted manure as fertilizer, members are involved use crop rotation and grow cover crops. in 4-H, They also have 25 acres of alfalfa. participate in Dean is the operations livestock the Shining manager and the “go-to” man for Frontiers everything. Jean manages the Club, and the kids show animals at the greenhouse, produce production, and fair. Their farm is a stop on the 4-H is the lactation consultant during the lambing season. The Braatzes are a large Agronomy on Wheels tour this year.
Jean is on the board of the Mankato Farmers Market. The Braatzes are also part of the Growers Network in Mankato. Dean and Jean Braatz truly enjoy having people visit the farm and invite schools from the cities for field trips. They have even hosted a group of farmers from Africa. Their Fun Farm Days such as ‘Puppy Snuggle Day’ or the annual ‘Baby Animal Day’ usually bring in about 1,000 people. The Braatzes use these opportunities to educate visitors about how farms run, how animals are taken care of, and how different produce is grown.
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Sjostroms recognized as
The Sjostrom family was named the 2023 Nicollet County Farm Family of the Year. (Courtesy of U of M Extension)
Nicollet County Farm Family of the Year
T
he Sjostrom family has been named the 2023 Nicollet County Farm Family of the Year by the University of Minnesota. In 1980, when Steve was just 19 years old, Lowell and Steve formed the “Sjostrom Farms” partnership. Prior to this Lowell and his wife, Adrianne, milked 65 cows. With the new partnership, the herd was increased to 80 milking cows along with expanded facilities, while continuing to farm approximately 500 acres. Then, like now, all young stock was kept and raised. Although Lowell is now semiretired, he still works on the dairy farm about eight hours a day and usually seven days a week. Steve and his wife, Deb, are keeping the farm running, and their son Jacob has joined the operation. The dairy herd is nearly 100 animals currently and the family farms 900 acres of corn, soybeans and alfalfa. In 1998, the barn was again expanded along with the addition of a lagoon manure system. The family continues to raise their own, as well as purchased, dairy steers. With Jacob’s help, they operate a fair share of custom work including round baling, silage harvesting, and trucking. Off-the-farm jobs include Deb as the
postmaster in Winthrop, and Jacob who does additional trucking, while his wife Lindsay is a busy realtor. Adrianne has long retired from daily milking but she and Lowell continue living on her family’s “Sesquicentennial Farm” where she enjoys gardening and baking. In addition to their son, Jacob, Steve and Deb have two older children: Megan and her husband, Karl, and their family who reside in Champlin, and Lucas and his wife, Alise, and their family who live in rural Brooten. In their growing up years, the entire family was active in 4-H and the boys were involved in FFA. Steve and Deb have seven grandchildren, six of which are boys. Steve, Deb, Lucas, and Megan all attended and/or graduated from the University of Minnesota colleges, while Jacob completed his degree at South Central College. Steve, Deb and Jacob enjoy being part of their community, being involved in several organizations. Each has active roles in their church, the Nicollet County American Dairy Association, Nicollet County DHIA, and/or the Lafayette Lions. Steve continues to be an active representative of the Heartland Ethanol Board and Bernadotte Township. The farm would not operate without the help of a number of very reliable
part-time workers who help with fieldwork, or the dairy, and allow the family a bit of time “away” as well. The families were officially recognized in a ceremony Thursday, Aug. 3 at the annual Farmfest near Redwood Falls. Honored families are chosen, one per county, by local University of Minnesota Extension committees based on their demonstrated commitment to their communities and to enhancing and supporting agriculture. “These farm families are a major driver of Minnesota’s economy and
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the vitality of Minnesota’s rural communities,” said Bev Durgan, dean of the University of Minnesota Extension. “The University of Minnesota is proud to recognize these farm families for their contributions to agriculture and their communities.” Along with Farmfest, University units sponsoring the recognition event include the University of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, and the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Southern Minnesota FAMILY FARMS | October 2023 | 14
An antique plow is today a lawn decoration on the Johnson family’s century farm in rural Ellendale. Curt Johnson believes his great-great uncle purchased the plow for use decades ago. (Jane Moore/southernminn.com)
The Pontoppidan Lutheran Church has been the religious home for the Johnson family, and many other Norwegian Lutheran settlers, for over 100 years. (Jane Moore/ southernminn.com) Curt and Amy Johnson enjoy the patio, and plenty of colorful blooms, at their Century Farm acreage southwest of Owatonna. (Jane Moore/southernminn.com)
Johnson Family Farm stakes its ground near Ellendale
I
By JANE TURPIN MOORE Guest Contributor f you’ve occasionally thought there are plenty of Johnsons inhabiting Steele County, you’re not mistaken. A good portion of those Norwegian-rooted souls sprang from Curt Johnson’s greatgreat-grandparents, who emigrated from Norway in the late 1800s. “They had eight or nine boys, and those boys all settled right around here,” said Johnson, 63, whose great-grandpa was one of the sons. “At one time there
were a lot of Johnson farms right in this area, and there are still a few left.”
mother is 86, so it was something I thought I’d better do now.”
Today, Johnson, along with his 86-year-old mother Mary Lou, owns two of those farmsteads. Earlier this year, their holdings received the distinction of being named Minnesota Century Farms, though they in fact could both be considered quasquicentennial properties; the 97 acres in Johnson’s name date (in family ownership) to 1891 and the other, belonging to Mary Lou, originated in the family in 1899.
The Johnson farms are adjacent to each other, separated only by the winding, graveled, dead-end 89th Avenue and located about 12 miles southwest of Owatonna in rural Ellendale—the very heart of southcentral Minnesota’s farming country.
“It was something that was worth honoring for the family,” said Johnson of the Century Farm designation. “My
“We’re smack dab between Waseca, Ellendale, New Richland and Owatonna,” said Johnson of the Lemond Township properties. “Our address is Ellendale, our kids were in the Owatonna school district and we had a New Richland telephone number back in
the landline days.” Johnson’s wife Amy, a retired nurse, says she was a “city gal” before marrying Johnson in 2005. But she, too, has come to cherish the Johnson farm. “It’s heaven,” said Amy Johnson of the bucolic site, which is populated with trees and has just enough of a rolling slope to make things interesting. “It’s peaceful and quiet, there’s room for my flower gardens, and there’s no traffic noise.” The Pontoppidan Lutheran Church is their religious center; conveniently, the rural church, founded by Norwegian Lutheran settlers, is a short mile and
15 | October 2023 | Southern Minnesota FAMILY FARMS a half away. Johnson was baptized and confirmed at Pontoppidan, and he remains a member to this day. Amy recalls that when she first accompanied her husband to the church cemetery to lay flowers on his father’s grave, she was struck by the repetition of names on the tombstones. “It was Johnson, Johnson, Johnson, Johnson, Paulson, Paulson, Hanson, Johnson,” she said, laughing. But Johnson’s father was halfGerman, and his mother is of Czechoslovakian descent, having been a Meixner from east of Owatonna. “I do like lefse,” he agreed. “But lutefisk? I had it once, and let’s say that was plenty for me,” Johnson laughed. Like many contemporary Midwest farmers, Johnson is primarily growing corn and soybeans these days, with A view of the scenic pasture at the Johnson family’s Century Farm in rural Ellendale. (Jane Moore/southernminn.com) portions of hay and alfalfa in the mix. He also uses some acreage as pasture ground for the 10 head of beef cows he here,” explained Johnson. maintains. After high school, Johnson began “There were dairy cows when I first farming with his dad. Johnson was started farming, until about 2000,” married in his early 20s and has two Johnson said. “Now I’ve just stuck with sons (Kellen, a high school math teacher beef cattle.” in Rochester, and Cole, owner of Haute The barn that formerly housed the Skin Spa & Tanning with locations dairy cows is part of the Johnson farm’s in Owatonna and Faribault) and two heritage; it’s well over 100 years old and grandchildren. still stands, though it was expanded in Although the farming operation has past decades. A chicken coop built by been “pretty stable” overall, Johnson Johnson’s ancestors also remains in play, revealed that his father’s untimely death and the Johnsons live in the original from a heart attack at age 53 was a trial. white farm house that dates to circa “It was quite an ordeal when dad 1900. passed away,” said Johnson, mentioning “Yep, it’s been remodeled many times, that his oldest son was only eight and my great-uncle added on a couple months old and they were milking over of times,” he said. “We’ve just updated 40 cows at the time. what was here. The original barn (rounded portion toward right of photo) still stands and is in “I hadn’t done any of the farm business yet so I had to learn how to do all of that. I had some kind neighbors Agricultural heritage who helped me out and I took some The Century Farm application for classes [on ag marketing]. Johnson’s 97 acres reveals the family’s “I’d planned to eventually take it over, stability; only three owners are listed but it was a lot right then.” in the land’s 124-year history. Charles Johnson managed to weather that H. Johnson (Curt Johnson’s greatstorm and learned, through the decades, uncle) was the first owner, for 54 years, that farming is an unpredictable followed by his nephew Harris, who occupation in even the best of years. laid claim for 43 years. Curt Johnson “Seems like every year you still get has owned the land for 35 years, and stressed out about something, but I don’t counting. worry about it as much now,” he said, The 203 Johnson acres across citing as an example a large hail storm 89th Avenue have a similar pedigree; that “wiped out everything” one season. the property was in the name of The Johnsons enjoy spending several Curt Johnson’s great-grandmother, weeks each winter in Mexico, relishing Sophia, for 43 years, then passed to the chance to miss some of the state’s his grandfather Richard Johnson for cold stretch; catching up on farm 18 years and finally to his father and magazines in the evening is a favorite mother, Ray and Mary Lou. Including activity during much of the year. the years of co-ownership with her “I was always too busy to take up husband Ray, Mary Lou has held the hunting or fishing when I was younger,” farm for 41 years to date. he said. Curt Johnson, a 1978 Owatonna High Since Johnson’s sons both have School graduate, was raised in the house careers outside agriculture, and it’s far on the other side of the lane along with too soon to know if his grandkids might his sister, Brenda. Brenda (Johnson) be interested in becoming ag producers, Sammon and her husband have a farm he isn’t sure what will become of the about four miles north of the Johnson Johnson family farm when he’s ready to properties, he reported. park his tractor for the final time. “We grew up on the farm across the “A lot of the neighbors are in the same road, and when I was first married and boat,” he said. “Their kids aren’t around bought the current place, I moved over either, or have no interest in running the
service at the Johnson family’s Century Farm in rural Ellendale. (Jane Moore/ southernminn.com)
The original chicken coop, still a functional outbuilding despite its century of service, on the Johnson family century farm. (Jane Moore/southernminn.com)
land, so we might be the last ones doing it. “I’ll keep farming as long as I feel like it.” After all, it’s not only his way of life— it’s also his ancestral home. “There are some big hills, and a creek runs through the land, and I still like
walking out to the pasture to take a look around,” said Johnson. “It’s where I’ve been all my life, and I’ve enjoyed it.” Freelance writer/collaborative pianist Jane Turpin Moore grew up in the Mankato area and is now based in Northfield. She blogs at timeformoore566445504. wordpress.com and fields emails at jturpinmoore@ gmail.com
Southern Minnesota FAMILY FARMS | October 2023 | 16
The Prieve family (Mark, in blue shirt, and his wife Susan in the black dress) received Minnesota’s Century Farm recognition in 2023 at the Rice County Fair. Pictured with them are their children and their spouses. (Photo submitted by the Prieve family)
P
By JANE TURPIN MOORE Guest Contributor
(Photo by Ali Prieve)
Prieves
preserve family farm in Faribault — ‘It’s home to everyone in the family’
erched on a peak just west of the Faribault Municipal Airport and north of Roberds Lake, the attractive white farmhouse in which Mark and Susan Prieve have lived since the early ‘80s stands as evidence of the family’s legacy and endurance in the area’s agricultural scene. And yet the house itself bears witness to the trials Mark Prieve’s ancestors endured as they established themselves on their special 102 acres of Rice County farmland, which were first purchased in 1892 by Prieve’s great-grandparents Julius and Lena Prieve. “We live in the farm’s second house that was built in 1906,” Prieve clarified. “The first house burned down.” Though details are scarce, information passed through the generations confirms that a fire in the kitchen stove was the culprit. “About 20 years back when we dug a basement around a new garage, we found leftover burned lumber and rusty square nails,” said Prieve. “They must have buried the remnants of the first burned house next to where they built this one,” he continued. “We were surprised to find it because we weren’t sure what had transpired back that long ago.” For the past 39 years, Mark and Susan Prieve have owned the land that
was officially designated a Minnesota Century Farm in 2023. It passed down to Prieve from his parents (Elmer and Sarah, owners for 24 years) and grandparents (Edward and Emma, 33year stewards of the property), and it’s definitely a point of pride for the Prieve clan. “Our family legacy is here,” said Prieve. “And Faribault is home.”
Fine farmland
According to Prieve, the family’s 102 acres are nearly ideal for agricultural purposes. “We have a fairly flat spot in the area,” said Prieve. “It’s good, flat, dark soil for crop farming.” Prieve, 64, has rented out the crop acres for decades and has retired from having beef cows, though he continues raising some beef cattle and the hay to feed them. “I’ve got some feeder steers, but I’m not farming full-time now,” he said. But as a kid, Prieve’s dad Elmer had milk cows, and he and his sister (Jill Taulbee, now a resident of Colorado) did their share of farm chores. “It was fun to go get the cows into the barn, start getting them fed and start the milking,” said Prieve. During Prieve’s childhood, he lived with his family first in Faribault and later at a place “just up the road” while his grandparents, Edward and Emma, resided on the Prieve home acreage where Prieve has now spent the bulk of his life. “I used to ride the bus after school and
17 | October 2023 | Southern Minnesota FAMILY FARMS
(Photo by Ali Prieve)
get off here,” Prieve explained; his dad was working on the farm and his mom worked in town. “Then I went home with dad later on, and I often ended up helping on the farm.” His least favorite chore? Pulling weeds in the soybean fields, he readily recalls. Grandma Emma’s cookies nearly made up for it, though. “Grandma Emma had the best chocolate chip cookies,” Prieve said. “They weren’t quite like any other cookies; even my Aunt Helen couldn’t figure out what was different about them.” But Prieve remembers seeing “lots of lard” in the kitchen and suspects that might have been the secret, despite recent evidence to the contrary. “We discovered her [hand-written] recipe not long ago, and what she had written down was Blue Bonnet margarine,” said Prieve. His grandma also regularly prepared meals reliably consisting of meat, potatoes and a vegetable. “And sometimes there’d be a Jiffy chocolate cake afterwards,” he reported. A rhubarb patch near the house has stood the test of time, and Grandma Emma’s rhubarb sauce is another sensory memory Prieve will always hold dear. “Susan uses the same rhubarb patch to make rhubarb custard pies,” shared Prieve.
Sticking with it
Prieve graduated from South St. Paul High School (rather than Faribault High School) in the late 1970s due to his late parents’ divorce. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree at Gustavus Adolphus College, where he majored in the emerging field of computer science. “Apple had just come out with the Apple II when I was a senior in high school,” said Prieve.
The Prieve family farm has been in operation for over a century. (Photo by Ali Prieve)
Mainframe computers prevailed at the start of his career. Farming has been a side gig for Prieve throughout his adult life, since he’s maintained an off-the-farm career in information technology for four decades and has been employed in the IT department of Daikin Applied Faribault for nearly 26 years. Susan, meanwhile, is a nurse who managed Rice County’s public health services. The couple married in 1984 and has three sons currently ranging in age from 27 to 37, plus a few cherished grandchildren. “It’s nice to be outside, and working with the animals has always been great,” Prieve said, explaining that he enjoyed the change of pace afforded at the farm after his indoor, tech-oriented day job. The untimely death of Prieve’s father Elmer occurred just one month after Prieve had finished college. “Dad had heart surgery and never quite recovered from it,” said Prieve, noting that Elmer Prieve was only in his early 50s when he passed. Prieve marvels at the agricultural changes—namely in the realms of efficiency and farming equipment—time has wrought. “I remember my dad talking about farming with horses and by the time I was here, it was all tractor farming,” said Prieve. “Dad got a 560 International diesel tractor when I was a kid, and that was the biggest tractor we’d ever seen. “Nowadays, that’s nothing but a small chore tractor. And I used to work
The house in which the Prieves live dates to 1906. (Jane Moore/southernminn.com)
for weeks to put in crops, but now the renters come in and do in a day what we used to do in a week.” Prieve’s aunt was interested in genealogy, so the family knows that great-grandfather Julius came from Germany. Indeed, Trinity Lutheran Church of Faribault—historically known in town as “the German Lutheran church,” Prieve shared—has been the Prieve family’s religious base for generations. Securing the Century Farm designation seemed like the right thing to do, and Susan was instrumental in
making it happen. “My wife decided to get it done,” chuckled Prieve. “It’s great that our family has a deep tie here and roots in a place. “This is home to everyone in the family.” Added Susan Prieve, “I can’t imagine a better place to have raised our family.” Freelance writer/collaborative pianist Jane Turpin Moore grew up in the Mankato area and is now based in Northfield. She blogs at timeformoore566445504. wordpress.com and fields emails at jturpinmoore@ gmail.com
Southern Minnesota FAMILY FARMS | October 2023 | 18
The Stanglers’ granddaughter Ella loves riding along with her grandparents. (Submitted photo)
An aerial shot of the Stangler farm from the early 1970s. (Submitted photo)
Love, support from the past sustain
Stangler family farm near Waterville
O
Sesquicentennial Farm at the Minnesota State Fair in August. “There aren’t many farms left that are like this,” said Jeff. “It’s a good feeling to nly six years after be part of something that’s this old and the Civil War ended, has endured so long.” Jeffrey Stangler’s Though none of the farm’s original great-greatoutbuildings remain standing (a barn grandparents, Edward with wooden shingles dating to 1919 and Rosa Stangler, was taken down just over a year staked their claim to ago), portions of the house in which 298 fertile acres 2 miles due west of the 61-year-old Jeff has lived since Waterville. birth were built in the early 1870s. More than 152 years later, Jeff and Additions were made both by Jeff and Susan, his wife of 40 years, are still his grandparents, Leslie and Theresa farming that same land, rotating corn Stangler. and soybeans and doing their level “I absolutely love the house,” said best to preserve memories of past Susan. “At one time, we were debating generations. whether to tear it down and build a new “Jeff keeps more than what I want one but we just remodeled. I love living to, but that goes back to family,” said in a house that means something. Susan. “Having things from the past— “You just feel like there’s family all tools, furniture, milking cans, his around you in an older farm house, and grandma’s and great-grandma’s dishes— we’re trying to keep the farm up to their makes us feel closer to them and lets us standards.” preserve their legacy. “It feels good to keep something of Heritage in the land theirs.” But it’s the land on which they live After Edward and Rosa’s 19-year and farm that is at the root of it all. ownership period ended in 1890 (Edward In recognition of the Stanglers’ was one of three brothers who emigrated longevity, the Minnesota Farm Bureau from Austria in the 1850s), Jeff’s greatgrandparents Otto and Mary Stangler A more-than-century-old barn on the Stangler property had to be taken down in the officially designated the Stangler summer of 2022. (Submitted photo) property as both a Century Farm and a held the property until 1920. Thereafter, By JANE TURPIN MOORE Guest Contributor
19 | October 2023 | Southern Minnesota FAMILY FARMS Leslie and Theresa Stangler shepherded it from 1920 to 1960, holding their own through the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, World War II, rural electrification and more. Jeff’s parents, Milton and Shannon Stangler, held the land from 1960-84, and Jeff and Susan have claimed it since then. One Stangler historical tidbit is that several German prisoners of war, detained at camps in the area during WWII, labored on the Stangler farm. Jeff reports they loved his grandma’s cooking and appreciated the decency with which they were treated. “My grandparents kept in contact with some of them by mail for many years,” Jeff said. The Stanglers are of Austrian Catholic heritage; when Jeff and Susan married, they compromised. “I was Methodist and he was Catholic,” laughed Susan. “We just wanted to find a religion that we could both enjoy together, so we joined Trinity Lutheran in Waterville.” Jeff was raised alongside his younger sister, Judy (Stangler) Hiller. Today, she lives in Waseca and is the IT director for Waseca County. But Jeff can’t really remember a time when he wasn’t farming; he began helping with field work, even driving a tractor, when he was eight years old. “That was a 1967 Oliver 1850 gas tractor,” reported Jeff, who still uses a 1957 Oliver Super 77 his dad bought new back in the day. The Stanglers’ three daughters (now ages 22, 31 and 34) grew up helping on the farm at harvest and also rock-picking in the spring. Their older two daughters are nurses. “Our youngest daughter is finishing training to be a dental technician, and she’s getting married next year. Her fiancé farms, too,” said Jeff, mentioning him as the only potential future farmer in the family. While maintaining a full farming operation, Jeff and Susan have also worked elsewhere, he as a construction grading supervisor and Susan in the
dietary department at Waseca Hospital (now part of Mayo Clinic Health System). “She’s pretty health-conscious,” Jeff said of his wife, “so we eat a lot of healthy foods. I drink a lot of water and there’s a V8 energy drink I like, but I don’t drink pop anymore.” Still, he relishes thoughts of his grandmother Theresa’s apple strudel. “That was our favorite dessert,” he recalled. “And we loved our sweet corn patches. We ate the corn with butter, butter and more butter.”
It’s a love story
After graduating from Waterville High School in 1980, Jeff studied ag mechanics at Mankato Area Vo-Tech (now South Central College). “I started farming a little of my own ground in 1978 before I even graduated,” he noted. Though Jeff was only 38 when his father Milton died (his mother, Shannon, passed away seven years later, in 2007), his 20+ years of farming experience had equipped him well to manage the farm. His true secret to success? Susan. “She is a very important part of this operation,” said Jeff. “Susan has worked side-by-side with me, doing whatever needs to be done. There wouldn’t have been farming for me without her help.” Susan has been all-in from the start— and it was essentially love at first sight, at least as far as Jeff was concerned. “We met when I was 15 and she was 14,” Jeff recalled. “And we’ve been together ever since.” The memory of their first meeting remains vivid in Jeff’s mind. He describes bicycling in Morristown with a friend when Susan, whose parents sold popcorn for the American Legion at dances in town, was sitting outside on a retaining wall by the post office, killing time. “She was tall and blond and I looked at her and told my buddy, ‘I’m going to marry that girl,’” Jeff said. For her part, Susan appreciated that Jeff was very caring and family-oriented, even at a young age.
A rainbow graced the scene as grain was unloaded in the Stangler farmyard. (Submitted photo)
“He was pretty wholesome,” she laughed, “and he was very fun. He had a motorcycle, and snowmobiles, and there was always something to do. “Even back then, I’d sit out here and work on machinery with him; I was a good ‘light holder’ as he and his dad worked on stuff.” Susan also helped her future fatherin-law, a seed corn dealer, unload seed corn bags. “It’s not that Jeff and I never disagree, but we do work well together, and we did from the very beginning,” she said. “And his dad was always so good to me, even when I was 15. When we had our two older girls, Milton and I would go to fairs with the kids when Jeff was working, and between Jeff’s mom and dad and my mom and dad, we always had someone to help with the girls.” With work days that typically begin
at 5 a.m. and don’t end until at least 7 p.m.—sometimes as late as 10 p.m.— being compatible and equally committed to the tasks at hand is vital. “Susan has been at my side from Day One,” said Jeff. “When I get down, she’s my support.” Even now, as they lead the Stangler Sesquicentennial Farm into its next era, the Stanglers proceed with confidence— because they’re together, and because they feel the love and encouragement of the family that went before them in the very place they continue to work and live. “We carry on from the support they gave us in the past,” said Susan, “and that will take us into the future.” Freelance writer/collaborative pianist Jane Turpin Moore grew up in the Mankato area and is now based in Northfield. She blogs at timeformoore566445504. wordpress.com and fields emails at jturpinmoore@ gmail.com
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