Parsons Insurance

Coral, Todd, Denver and Sami Nordmann.

THE NORDMANN FAMILY

THE WIELENGA FAMILY

Turner County, May 2022

Todd and Coral Nordmann raise swine breeding stock and sheep on the family farm south of Chancellor. Plus, with business partner Steve DeGroot of Orange City, Todd runs the sheep alley at Sioux Falls Regional Livestock. In addition, he judges livestock shows across the country. Wherever his family travels, Todd runs into people who know him and he never forgets their face. “Even if I don’t remember a guy’s name, I know he’s got really good black-faced lambs that I sold for him. I have a photographic memory that way. But it’s a weird photographic.”

They’re proud of their children and the success they’ve had in the show ring. “When our son, Denver, was born; and then a year later our daughter, Sami, was born, I said ‘They will win the FFA livestock judging at the state convention.’ And 17 years later, they did.” Sami is a showman who can “stick it” when the chips are down. “Denver is a livestock whisperer; he is so good with handling animals,” Todd said.

Hutchinson County, June 2022

“Even though we’re not directly farmers, we pride ourselves on having the farmer work ethic. Both of our dads are hard workers and we definitely learned that from them,” said Ryan Wielenga. His wife, Cassie, added: “We work for the farmer. We definitely put in the hours.”

Based on an acreage south of Menno, Ryan and Cassie operate Wielenga Trucking, LLC. Ryan and 4 full-time employees and several part-time employees haul cattle, grain, and wet and dry distiller’s feed. Cassie does all the accounting, taxes and reports.

The couple has 4 children. Cassie said, “We strive to keep the kids active and outdoors. And it’s nice having my mom and dad (Bill and Mary Schoenfish) just north of town where they’re free to roam on the farm. Also, my dad owns the farm in this quarter and my sister (Kari) lives in the next house over where we used to live.” The kids frequently run through the alfalfa patch to her sister’s house.

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Cassie and Ryan Wielenga with their children Savanah, Jensen, Lillian, Valerie and their dog, Buddy. Photo by DeAnn McClure, Photography by DeAnn.