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An aerial view of the Houlton farm in 2019.

Rachael and Dustin on their wedding day with his grandparents, Helen and Charles Houlton.

If you look closely, you’ll see Oliver’s 7th birthday cake includes a manure spreader and chopped up Snickers bars to represent the manure. Dustin learned cake decorating from his mom, and he decorates his children’s birthday cakes. not a better job you can have. As long as you get your work done, you can set your own hours.” His dad’s health issues also “spurred things along” in his career change. When he was 52, Doug was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. “I'm run by a pacemaker and a defibrillator. I’ll be on my sixth one this coming year. I either had to give up a lot of things or make some other major changes. If Dustin didn’t want to farm, I was going to have to get a full-time hired man for a while.” Recently, Doug’s doctor told him to cut back on a few things to lower his stress level. “So I told him I’d back off the auctions and just feed more cattle. He said: ‘That’s not my idea of less stress.’”

He has cut back on auctioneering a little bit, focusing primarily now on land sales. He’s also learning to say no to some charity auctions. Several years ago, he provided free services for 42 charity auctions. Sue has also had her share of health issues. She’s had surgery to replace her shoulders, her knees and one hip. But life’s challenges haven’t diminished her positive attitude or her willingness to laugh about life on the farm. “I got a manure spreader for my birthday one year,” she said. “It had a ribbon on it!” Doug was quick to add. Sue is originally from Wisconsin, near Dodgeville and Spring Hill, home to the House On The Rock, a famous tourist attraction. (House on the Rock sits atop a 60 x 70-foot column of rock which stands 200 feet high surrounded by forest. Other buildings include a re-creation of an early 1900s American town; nautical exhibits; a huge collection of automatic music machines; and the world’s largest carousel.) Sue was in seventh grade when her family moved to this area after her dad was transferred by A.O. Harvestore Co. The future of the Houlton farm looks secure. “There’s no doubt Oliver will farm,” Dustin said. “He told me this morning: ‘Dad, why don’t you go to school for me today and I’ll stay here on the farm.’” Oliver is an animal lover and has a way with the livestock and they call him the “cow whisperer” on occasion. Older brother Charlie is undecided on what he wants to do, but does show interest in the grain side of the farming operation.