Shawn and Jessica like to travel with their son, River, who is 6½. River said he likes their trips to Okoboji and Omaha. His favorite things are baseball, recess, kittens, and Grandma’s pie and mac and cheese. He also plays a lot with his best bud, their chocolate Labrador named Millie. GENERATIONS Allen said his father, Paul, was from Kingsley, Iowa. “Dad hauled oats from Kingsley up to my grandfather who farmed just a mile south of Shawn, Blanche and Allen Vannorsdel; and Les Sampson who helps during harvest. here. Mom was still living with my grandfather helping him on the majority of the roles on the farm. Throughout his farm. Those two took a liking to each other.” Paul married career in financial services, he was actively farming, Evelyn in 1947 and they lived in Kingsley for a year, before especially during spring and fall. Two years ago, he moving to the Viborg area to farm and feed cattle. Evelyn gave up banking altogether. was part of the third generation of the Larsen family to farm in Turner County. Blanche said, “It’s really nice to have the confidence Prior to joining his father and his brother, Merlin, in the farming operation, Allen studied agriculture at Mitchell Technical College, while Blanche took a secretarial course there and worked for Dr. Burt Tiesen in Freeman. They were married in 1975.
in him that he can take over. We go away and don’t really worry about anything. So we’re really thankful.”
Thirty years later, as the next generation began to farm, Allen and his brother decided to separate their interests, with Merlin’s family hanging on to the cattle feeding operation. Blanche worked side-by-side with Allen in the field through their years together. “I could operate just about everything except I wouldn’t drive a semi or a combine. But any other kind of equipment I can do.” Allen added, “She’s done it well. She could drive a semi if she wanted to.” Blanche also enjoys gardening and is the farm’s chief rock picker. “She’ll see one rock in the field, go to pick it up, and pretty soon she’ll have a hundred more,” Shawn said. But she and Allen spend more time golfing now than picking rocks. Two years ago, they bought a small place in Arizona where they enjoy warm weather in the winter, golfing and riding ATVs in the mountains. “It’s a completely different kind of riding there with the desert and rocks and lots of canyons and beautiful scenery. We usually have a destination and camaraderie with others,” she said.
When it’s your livelihood that counts … count on me. Mark Kasten, Agent 180 N Main Ave 180 N Main Ave. Parker, SD 57053 Parker, SD 57053 Bus: 605-297-4747 Bus: 605-297-4747 mark@markkasten.com 368 N Main St. Freeman, SD 57029 Bus: 605-925-7353 mark@markkasten.com
On their drive to and from Arizona, they stop in Fort Collins, Colorado, to see their daughter Lacy, her husband, Dan Johnson, and their daughter, Audra. Allen and Blanche’s other daughter, Angie, lives in Durham, New Hampshire. Angie is married to John Pelaggi and they have a son, Cole, and twin daughters, Autumn and Sienna. Blanche and Allen’s winter residence in Arizona was part of a plan where Shawn phased out of banking and took over the
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August 2022 | www.agemedia.pub | The Farming Families Magazine
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