Remsen Farmers Coop

Extension field agronomist Joel De Jong in his office. October marked the anniversary of his 40th year with the ISU Extension Service.

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communities. They build on each other,” Joel said. Support from lenders, related industry and others to keep the livestock sector alive was vital.

Joel believes being the youngest member of a “stretched-out” generation in his family may give him a different view of the world. “My last grandparent died when I was seven or eight – that was my grandmother who was born in 1876. My dad was born in 1910. You think about the changes since then. His first few years farming, Dad was hand-picking corn. You can see how much the corn hook was used by the sweat stains on it and how it’s stretched out. My mom talked about the Dust Bowl and riding a horse to the country school. People think that’s long past history, but for me it’s a little more real.” When he’s not consulting over the phone, presenting programs, scouting fields and talking to the media, he spends time with his wife, two daughters and his four grandchildren. His wife, Lorraine, retired last May after teaching for 20 years in Le Mars Public Schools, where she was a middle school language arts/literacy teacher. Previously she taught at a preschool and had a before- and after-school care program in Sergeant Bluff. A long-time 4-H leader, she’s currently filling in a part-time Extension position coordinating the Clover Kids program. During the Plymouth County Fair, she’s the co-superintendent of static exhibits.

Lorraine is running for a seat on the Le Mars school board. “She’s all about the kids and is committed to make sure education is done well,” Joel said. She is one of the co-founders of the Le Mars Education Enhancement Project (LEEP) which raises money to augment the resources available in classrooms. Joel and Lorriane have two daughters. Kaitlin is married to Trevor Oetken who is a technician with Agri Vision, servicing forage choppers. They live halfway between Craig and Struble. Kaitlin is a stay-at-home mom for their four children: Kylie, 10; Wyatt, 7; Ty, 5; and Weston, 3. This fall, Kylie will become the fifth generation of the family to participate in Plymouth County 4-H. The kids spend a lot of time with Grandpa and Grandma. “They’re at our house a lot, especially during Trevor’s busy season and Kaitlin is running the older ones around. They make our house a mess, but it’s wonderful,” Joel said. Kaitlin is on the board of the Parent Teacher Organization, is the 4-H dog superintendent at the fair, and is very active in youth activities and teaching at their church. Joel and Lorraine’s other daughter, Mackenzie, lives in Carroll and is an ISU Extension family life specialist. “She always said she wouldn’t be in agriculture like her dad and wouldn’t teach like her mom.” But her position brings her awfully close. Joel and Lorraine have an “aluminum condo” which they enjoy at Lake Okoboji. They’re members of the United Methodist Church in Le Mars where they’ve been active on committees. Joel added, “I also have a Harley that I ride to go check crops. People don’t like to ride with me because I’ll stop and wander through farm fields.” Many years, he goes with friends on an