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Serving rural Benton County, Morrison, Mille Lacs & Kanabec Counties.
BENTON AG Sauk Rapids Herald
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THURSDAY, MAY 4, 2017
Hand-in-hand
Knopiks Ànd beef, crop farming to be great pairing BY NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER
Jim Knopik raises 25 cow-calf pairs on his farm east of Camp Ripley. Knopik, also a crop farmer, bought back into the beef industry after selling off his herd in 2002.
LITTLE FALLS — What pairs well with beef? Most people might answer that question with mashed potatoes and gravy or a good red wine. But for Little Falls farmer Jim Knopik, his nearly 40 years of crop farming and raising beef cattle has been a testament to a tried and true combination. “We’ve always crop farmed. They go hand-in-hand,” said Knopik, who raises Black Angus. “In the summertime, while we’re busy in the Àelds, the cattle are on the grass and don’t take a whole lot of time, other than going around the fences once and a while. Then, in the winter, you don’t have much else to do other than feed the cows. Come spring, they’re done calving before the Àeldwork starts.” Knopik and his wife, Debbie, currently own 25 cow-calf pairs and grow kidney beans and soybeans, corn, rye and hay on roughly 1,400 acres east of Camp Ripley with their son, Robert. However, the Knopik’s herd
was not always small. At one time, the couple raised approximately 200 head. “We started with 10, and then we built from there,” Knopik said. “When the kids got out of high school, we sold the cows and we started traveling for the winter. We did that for about 10 years. We had a Àfth-wheel camper and went to Florida, Texas, California, those southern states. Where ever it was warm, we were going.” Growing up on a dairy farm, Knopik had always had a fascination with beef herds and the equipment that came with them. “I’ve always liked them, ever since I was young,” he said. “I’ve always liked the western style [of ranching]. My family always just had dairy, and it didn’t impress me too much. Beef farmers had round balers and Àfth-wheel trailers. All we had was a crate in the back of the pickup.” So when the couple married in 1979, they bought beef and began to grow their herd. The Knopiks have always Knopiks: page 4B
A Benton County revival
Schubert, Smelter named local dairy princesses BY JENNIFER COYNE STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – It’s been three years since Benton County dairy producers had a princess to represent them. However, on April 22, that notion changed as not one, but two, young women stepped into the advocating role. Throughout the year, Rebecca Schubert and Alison Smelter will serve as Benton County Dairy Princesses, attending parades and participating in June Dairy Month activities in an effort to encourage the consumption of dairy products. A chance to change perception When Schubert was in high school, she was a student in several agriculture-related classes. Those classes ultimately persuaded the 18-year-old to pursue a degree in ag economics, and crop and weed science at North Dakota State University, and to also represent Benton County dairy producers as a county princess. “I’m excited to share with the public the lifestyle of dairy farming,” Schubert said. “It’s a big responsibility, but an equally big
PHOTO BY MARK KLAPHAKE
Alison Smelter (left) and Rebecca Schubert were crowned the 2017 Benton County Dairy Princesses April 22 at Jimmy’s Pour House in Sauk Rapids.
honor to be the positive connection between dairy farming and the public.” Schubert is the daughter of Jerome and Natalie Schubert, of Rice, and has spent the past four
years balancing schoolwork and on-farm responsibilities at O & S Dairy. On the dairy, Schubert Àrst began feeding calves, but her responsibilities have developed
into setting up the milking parlor, milking the cows, and cleaning the barn. “My sister, Amanda, worked on the dairy before me, so I guess I followed in her footsteps,”
Schubert said. In her role as dairy princess, Schubert is looking forward to interacting with consumers and inÁuencing their decision to consume dairy products as part of a balanced lifestyle. “I’m really excited,” Schubert said. “I’ll be able to serve in a public relations role and attend events that mix the importance of communication with what I love, dairy farming.” As an older dairy princess, Schubert is looking forward to using her skillset to talk about dairy farming in a positive light. “I had the opportunity to run for princess earlier, but this is a good time for me,” Schubert said. “I’ve broken out of my shell and I can’t wait to tell everyone what dairy is all about. For me, it’s a big honor.” A young dream come true Ever since Smelter was a young girl, helping on her grandparents’ dairy, she wanted to represent dairy farmers in a county princess role. At the age of 17, Smelter will get to fulÀll her dream. “I’ve always known I wanted to be a dairy princess,” Smelter said. “I wanted to be able to get the community more involved in dairy farming and the hard work that goes into producing milk and other dairy products.” Smelter is the daughter of Princesses: page 2
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