Benton Ag Plus - September 2, 2023

Road trip

“What are you doing on Wednesday,” my husband asked one Sunday afternoon.

“I don’t know. Why,” I answered.

“We’ve got a road trip to make. We bought a corn head south of the cities.”

RUMINATIONS WITH MARY

MARY BARRON-TRAUT

A road trip! One of those farm tasks that I enjoy immensely. He explained that he and our son had needed it for our second combine and so had sealed the deal.

The Tuesday evening before the trip, preparations were made to the pickup and the combine head trailer — greasing bearings and checking tires. On Wednesday morning, I nished all of my household work early and packed food while my hubby completed milking and chores. We couldn’t leave until a little after noon because our son wouldn’t get off of work until then.

By the time we were ready, I had lled most of the truck’s backseat with everything I needed. My laptop bag with the computer, cell phone chargers, magazines, the food cooler lled with our lunch and snacks, and our border collie Trixie — she loves road trips as much as we do.

Also, just in case they were in the mood to talk about it, I brought along the folders containing information about the shed they’d been talking about building for ve or more years.

With Trixie and me comfortably in the back seat, my hubby driving, and my son in charge of navigating, we hit the road. The decision was made to stay off of freeways due to the trailer length and the slower speeds we would need to maintain. All in all, it would make for a less stressful trip and more enjoyable scenery because the guys like to check out the crops and I like looking at farmyards for landscaping ideas.

Road trip page 3B

Fleeced Fleeced to meet you to meet you

Triple T Alpaca opens farm to visitors

BY HANS LAMMEMAN STAFF WRITER

When you love alpacas as much as Beth Turner and her family at Triple T Alpaca in rural Foreston, it is only natural to share that passion with others. Ranked the second in the nation for new alpaca breeding farms by the Alpaca Owners Association, the Turner family has opened the doors of their operation to guests for Open Farm

Days events since 2019.

With an array of offerings like farm tours and face painting, Open Farms Days attract crowds looking to learn more about alpacas and local vendors. Turner and her husband, Brent, son Jameson and in-laws John and Darlene — all of which were voted as the Mille Lacs County Farm Family of the Year for 2023 — look forward to the events as a chance to inform visitors about the species they adore.

The farm has three events left

this season: Sept. 23, Sept. 24 and Oct. 14.

“They are a very interesting animal; they are not like any other livestock,” Turner said of alpacas. “They are very sustainable. The more we help educate other people on their eece and ber and their uses, the better the industry will do as a whole.”

Triple T Alpaca page 2B

I Sauk Rapids Herald Serving rural Benton, Morrison, Mille Lacs and Kanabec counties

(Top, left) An alpaca peeks its head over a fence at Triple T Alpaca Aug. 19 in rural Foreston. The herd fluctuates in count but typically totals between 35 and 50 alpacas.

COVER CROP of the month

Triple T Alpaca

from page 1B

The family moved to the Foreston area in 2018, starting their farm with ve male alpacas and quickly deciding to breed their animals. The Triple T herd has grown to over 40 animals that vary in ber color and age — from newborns known as cria to 15 years old.

The herd is housed on 2 of the farm’s 40 acres, aside from an hour or two each day when they are let out to the pasture.

African Cabbage

Producers may know that cover crops benefit the soil and agricultural operations, but do they know the benefits of each species? Each month a different cover crop species will be highlighted to provide producers with information needed to successfully grow cover crops or alternative forages on their operation.

African cabbage is an open leaf cabbage in the brassica family. It is commonly used as a cover crop and as a forage. The plant originated in eastern Africa and was typically used as an oilseed crop but is now only grown for oilseed on a small-scale.

As a cover crop, African cabbage is a great soil builder and great at nutrient scavenging. It will sequester sulfur and phosphorus and release it back into the soil with breakdown the following spring.

As a forage, African cabbage is best used for grazing and not recommended as a hay. African cabbage will yield around two tons of dry matter per acre. Regrowth will take a while as African cabbage requires a minimum grazing height of at least 6 inches.

African cabbage should be planted at a depth of a quarter to half inch between the dates of April 15 to Sept. 15 for the best growth. Rates of seeding will vary based on the intended use and if in a mix. When planted in a monoculture, the minimum seeding rate should be 5 pounds pure live seed per acre.

While alpacas are not among the most common livestock choices for small farms in Minnesota, Turner said the species has its fair share of admirers because of their cuddly appearance and friendly demeanor.

Turner said alpacas are excellent animals for hobby farms. Their eece is sheared once annually and turned into yarn, sold in bulk or sent to ber cooperatives.

“Even the bad cuttings of their eece like their legs and stomachs where it gets kind of dirty, you can use it in your garden for weed control,” Turner said. “We use their poop; it is a phenomenal garden enhancer and soil fertilizer. Everything about them is very useful and eco-friendly. And they are adorable and easy to take care of.”

Turner said alpacas have a reputation among the uninformed as being

TK Timber

Walker Kilmer, of Santiago Township, makes eye contact with a curious alpaca through a fence at Triple T Alpaca Aug. 19 in rural Foreston. Children in attendance at an Open Farm Days event completed an alpaca-themed scavenger hunt to win a sticker and candy.

aggressive. This misconception, she said, may stem from llamas rather than their smaller, tamer

cousins.

“People think they (alpacas) spit a lot,” Turner said. “They do

spit, but it is generally toward each other when they are ghting over a food source. It is rare to get spit on by an alpaca.”

While Open Farm Days have brought in larger crowds each season, Turner said she hopes to continue growing the events and attracting visitors from farther out of town.

“We have denitely seen more and more people coming over (thanks to) better advertising, knowing where to advertise and getting yers out,” she said. “It is a lot of local people. We would love to expand that and bring people in from the Twin Cities metro area and St. Cloud.”

A mother Alpaca stands with her newborn Aug. 19 at Triple T Alpaca in rural Foreston. The baby alpaca, known as a cria, was born hours before an Open Farm Days event.

An alpaca sticks its head through a fenced enclosure toward visitors holding feed pellets at Triple T Alpaca Aug. 19 in rural Foreston. The Triple T Alpacas typically stay on 2 of the farm’s 40 acres.

PHOTOS BY HANS LAMMEMAN

John Bowden, of Milaca, takes an up-close photo of an alpaca at Triple T Alpaca Aug. 19 in rural Foreston. Triple T Alpaca’s remaining Open Farm Days are Sept. 23, Sept. 24 and Oct. 14.

Information provided by the Morrison County Soil and Water Conservation District.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ADVANCECOVERCROPS.COM

Establishing fall-seeded crops

Edward A. Murphy Jr. was a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy West Pointe and a World War II veteran that served in China, India and Burma during the war.

Following the con ict, he became the research and development of cer at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. A secret research project that the Air Force was working on at the time was intended to measure the effects of gravitational acceleration (G-forces) on ghter pilots.

University of MN Extension by

Tyler Rice

In one such test, after a rigorous design period and eventual launch, a failure occurred because of mismatched wiring from sensors to electronic strain gauges, and this resulted in zero data to back up the entire experiment. From out of this learning experience Lt. Col. John Stapp aided in popularizing Murphy’s phrase, “If anything can go wrong, it will.”

Popular culture has since interpreted this phrase with a high degree of negativity, but in its origins Stapp and Murphy, on behalf of the Air Force, were simply hedging their bets by assuming a worst-case scenario in order to address any concerns before anyone was seriously injured. The concept has remained a mainstay in defensive design to this day.

So, what does G-force testing and ghter jets have to do with crop production?

Establishing any crop can be an investment in futility if the producer does not take the necessary steps to ensure some degree of success. Research-based university extension recommendations on planting date windows, especially for fall-seeded crops and including cover crops, have been established to acquire growing degree days needed before winter dormancy and also to avoid green-bridge connections that harbor insect pests and diseases.

There are challenges associated with waiting until the appropriate time but still meeting

Road trip from page 1B

About an hour south of home, we made a pit stop. Nope. Not at a convenience store for gas or snacks, but at an implement dealership. Even though a deal had been made over the phone to purchase the implement, it was important to compare it with any others, so they knew they’d made a good deal.

While my hubby and son did their thing, Trixie and I did ours. We wound our way between massive gravity and silage boxes until we found the lower pro le implements and could see the horizon again, and all the while Trixie strained at the end of her leash following the scent of bunnies and voles and whatever else had left an interesting trail to follow.

Once we were all back in the truck, it was snack time. I handed out the Mountain Dew, opened a bag of sour cream cheddar chips and put them along with a baggie of grapes out on their shared armrest. Next, I proceeded to make a favorite road snack — Ritz crackers with a slab of venison summer sausage and colby jack cheese. I purposely didn’t pack any sweets because a stop at a Dairy Queen

the drop-dead planting date while trying to cover so many acres and take care of other crops at the same time.

Data collected from 2019 through 2021 at the University of Minnesota Southwest Research and Outreach Center concludes that the timing of planting cereal rye in the fall has a signi cant impact on the performance of the crop, and the amount of biomass produced in spring. In this particular study, the latest date of four planting dates — the rst 1.5 weeks of October — were statistically different in terms of biomass production in spring by the same termination dates as compared to their earlier planted counterparts. In this example, you can imagine the impact above ground was simply a re ection of root structure development and soil microbial activity below ground.

Whatever your goals might be for your fall-planted crop — whether cover crop, winter forage or even grain — planting date can have an impact.

Farmers are no strangers to checking the weather forecast and for good reason. If you would like to plan any outdoor activity, you consult with the alleged experts. According to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, a ve-day forecast can accurately predict the weather about 90% of the time while a seven-day forecast can accurately predict the weather about 80% of the time. If we stretch the forecast out to 10 days or longer from today, the accuracy suddenly becomes less than 50%.

With much of the region remaining in D2 drought conditions, it is a good time to take Murphy’s advice. Consider the 10-day, 7-day and 5-day forecasts when thinking about fall crop establishment and what chances of a precipitation event in proximity to today means for the next crop.

somewhere along the return trip would be inevitable.

The trip itself was, thankfully, uneventful as most of those trips turn out to be, but the reason I enjoy them so much is the uninterrupted time we get to spend as a family. When our boys were young, we used to take road trips on Sunday afternoons just for a chance to get off the farm and to have time to talk. Often the boys would doze off in the back seat, so my hubby and I would discuss family concerns or farm business.

Now that the boys are on their own — one living on an-

Growing your education

University of Minnesota Extension Soil Solutions Field Day

Farmers and agricultural experts from across the region are set to gather from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7, for the University of Minnesota Extension Soil Solutions Field Day.

The event – which takes place at West Central Research and Outreach Center, located at 46352 Highway 329, Morris – aims to explore innovative methods to enhance farm productivity through the promotion of healthy soil.

A wide range of sessions will be offered throughout the day, covering various topics such as tillage choices in soil conditions, water management through cover crops, planting green during dry years and the detrimental impact of soil erosion on crop productivity.

For additional information about the event and to assure a complimentary lunch, individuals can visit z.umn.edu/Sept7.

For inquiries, contact Jodi DeJong-Hughes at dejon003@umn.edu or 320815-4112.

Diverse Farm Tour

Sustainable Farming Association and the West Central Initiative Foundation are partnering for an evening of learning and networking. The event takes place 4:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7.

A tour of Naima’s Farm, 2204 E. Lake Jessie Road SE in Alexandria, will include a discussion on vegetable farming and a demonstration of a high tunnel system. SFA’s Jonathan Kilpatrick will lead a discussion on livestock grazing management at the farm.

At 6 p.m., following the tour, the group will caravan to Longtrees Woodfire Grill, 4409 Highway 29 in Alexandria, for a meal and to learn about funding opportunities from various county and state agencies.

Admission and the meal are complimentary. Registration is required and no walk-ups will be accepted. Register at secure.sfa-mn.org/np/clients/sfamn/ eventRegistration.jsp?event=6733.

For more information contact Mary Fischer at mary@sfa-mn.org.

Women in Ag Field Day for Productive Soil

University of Minnesota Extension Women in Ag Network is hosting the Thriving Roots Field Day from 8:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8, at the West Central Research and Outreach Center, 46352 Highway 329 Morris.

The event is designed for women passionate about farm productivity through healthy soil. Extension educators, soil specialists and topic experts will offer hands-on sessions on topics that include tillage in soil conditions, cover crop roots and their effects on soil, planting green information about cereal rye crops, methods to reduce soil erosion and the economics of cover crops.

For more information and to register, visit z.umn.edu/Sept8. A complimentary lunch and beverages will be provided.

Initiate Soil Health

other continent and the other with his own family — those bouts of uninterrupted time to talk are very rare. Thank goodness for technology because due to the time change, we are typically able to call the youngest on WhatsApp when his work day is done. We don’t always talk about super important things, but just having all of our voices together in that truck warms my heart, Camaraderie, tradition, sightseeing — these are just a few reasons why when we implement a road trip, I get excited.

The Benton Soil and Water Conservation District and Minnesota Soil Health Coalition will host its annual field day Tuesday, Sept. 12. Initiate Soil Health, a free event, will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Emslander Farm, 8133 170th Ave. NE, Oak Park.

The event will educate people on how to implement soil health practices and include various speakers, a farmer panel, a rain simulator, slake tests and other demonstrations.

Morning coffee and doughnuts and lunch are provided.

Register with Renee Thell at 320-968-5300, ext. 3, or by visiting soilandwater.org.

Emerald ash borer virtual meeting

EAB, or Agrilus planipennis, is an invasive beetle, native to Asia, that has been causing damage to the nation’s ash trees. Minnesota is home to the largest concentration of ash trees in the country with over a billion trees, and EAB has been confirmed in 42 Minnesota counties.

Experts from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture will present EAB information during a virtual meeting will take place 10-11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12. The meeting will be recorded.

For more information, visit www.mda.state.mn.us/eab.

Beef Quality Assurance Training Online

The University of Minnesota Extension and Minnesota Beef Council will host online Beef Quality Assurance training at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14. Producers attending the free workshop will receive a three-year certification.

Certification is voluntary, but, over the last three years, people have been asked to complete to program in order to market to certain processors. Only one person from an operation is required to be certified to ensure the entire operation is following standards.

Register for the two-hour online training at z.umn.edu/BQASept14.

Field Day showcases strip tillage

Wright Soil and Water Conservation District, University of Minnesota Extension and Centra Sota Cooperative are planning a Soil Health Field Day from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28. This field day will be hosted at Mike Young’s farm at 5430 70th St. SW, Waverly. Attendees may follow extension event signs to the field day location.

This field day will be an opportunity to see strip tillage in action. Young will be harvesting sections of his corn field, so participants can see how the equipment prepares the seed bed for planting while leaving residue to protect the soil between the rows. Soil pits will demonstrate how strip tillage affects soil structure, organic matter, plant root growth and more. There will also be presentations on how to utilize soil health management from the agronomic perspective.

The event includes a complimentary dinner. Registration can be made on the event page at z.umn.edu/StripTillFieldDay or by contacting Taylor Herbert at 612-394-5229 or therbert@umn.edu.

Benton County Fair 4-H results

FOLEY — The Benton County Fair took place Aug. 1-6 in Sauk Rapids. The following is a list of champion and reserve champion placements received by Benton County 4-H youth.

CLUB AWARDS

— The Cornerstone Clovers 4-H Club earned champion in barrel.

— The Duelm 4-H Club earned champion in container garden.

— The Elk Rivers Critters 4-H Club earned reserve champion in scrapbook.

— The Graham 4-H Club earned reserve champion in bench.

— The Mayhew Lakers 4-H Club earned champion in bench.

— The Pioneers 4-H Club earned reserve champion in barrel.

— The St. Pat’s 4-H Club earned champion in scrapbook.

GENERAL PROJECTS

4-H marketing-grades 9 and above: Kathrine Mersinger, champion.

Aerospace-grades 9 and above: Katelynn Pollard, champion.

Aerospace-grades 6-8: Brayden Zintek, champion. Adam Heinen, reserve champion.

Aerospace-grades 3-5: Kraig Rudolph, champion. Tosh Maus, reserve champion.

Rocket launch-grades 9 and above: Pollard, champion. Chase Dahler, reserve champion.

Rocket launch-grades 6-8: Brayden Zintek, champion. Adam Heinen, reserve champion.

Rocket launch-grades 3-5: Luke McKay, champion. Maus, reserve champion.

Crafts-grades 9 and above: Anna Fox and Mersinger, champion.

Crafts-grades 6-8: Eve McKay and Alaina Ferkinhoff, champion. Eve McKay, reserve champion.

Fair

from page 4B

“Winning premier showmanship has meant the world to me,” Schlough said. “I studied for a month prior to prepare. Last year, when I participated in this competition for the rst time, I realized how challenging it was and how rewarding it would be if I won. I put a lot of work into 4-H, and when I do, it all pays off in the end.”

The senior division of Premier Showmanship for grades ninth through one year after high school graduation, included Ashley Betker in beef, Morgan Molitor in swine, Abigail Nelson in sheep, Austin Moli-

tor in poultry, Marizza Lenz in llama, Joseph Achen in dairy, Cade Barringer in meat goat and Alex Peltz in dairy goat. The 2023 Senior Premier Showmanship was awarded to Ashley Betker, of Royalton, a member of Elk River Critters 4-H Club.

“Being the Premier Senior Showman has always been a dream of mine,” Betker said. “I feel so accomplished I have earned it. I knew I wanted to try to the best of my abilities, so I made sure I learned a little bit about each animal before competing. Whether that was practicing showing the animal or studying general knowledge about the animal. 4-H has been a big part of my life by learning more

Crafts-grades 3-5: Sam Heinen, champion. Anya Neu, reserve champion.

Bicycle-grades 3-5: John Anderson, champion.

Child development-grades 9 and above: Isabella Wieber, champion.

Child development-grades 6-8: Zoe Spiczka, champion.

Child development-grades 3-5: Madison Sweno, champion.

Citizenship: Epsen Evens, champion and reserve champion.

Consumer education-grades 9 and above: Mersinger, champion.

Consumer education-grades 6-8: Elise Gramke, champion.

Creative writing-grades 9 and above: Chase Dahler and Sarah Lutze, champion.

Creative writing-grades 6-8: Ben Zintek, champion. Elise Gramke, reserve champion.

Entomology-grades 9 and above: Ana McKay, champion.

Exploring animals-grades 9 and above: Alex Peltz, champion. Skylar Morris, reserve champion.

Exploring animals-grades 6-8: Lyla Beehler and Emma Froelich, champion. Korah Waters, reserve champion.

Exploring animals-grades 3-5: Frances Rudnitski, champion. Lauren Dahler, reserve champion.

Exploring animals (horse)-grades 6-8: Ferkinhoff, champion.

Fine arts-grades 9 and above: Holly Heinen, champion. Lutze, reserve champion.

Fine arts-grades 6-8: Ferkinhoff, champion. Spiczka, reserve champion.

Fine arts-grades 3-5: Lucy Almgren, champion. Kylee Miller, reserve champion.

Fishing sports-grades 9 and above: Chase Dahler, champion.

Fishing sports-grades 6-8: Brayden Zintek, champion and reserve champion.

Fishing sports-grades 3-5: James Timpe, champion. Kraig Rudolph, reserve champion.

Global connections-grades 9 and above: Katie Paulson,

about the agriculture industry and making new friends that I share good memories with. Being the 2023 Premier Senior Showman is an honor; hard work pays off. I am so thankful for all the help and support from fellow 4-H’ers and family members.”

Not only did 4-H’ers excel in livestock, they also took stage for performing arts acts and Fashion Revue. Performing Arts Champion, 4-H’er Brady Roberts, is a graduate from Sauk Rapids and member of Green Acres 4-H Club. Roberts performed a lyrical dance to the song “Always Been You” by

Phil Wickman in honor of his uncle Kenny, who passed away in November 2021 after losing his battle to kidney cancer.

“It’s been a very dif cult journey to get where I am today, with so many different roadblocks in the way to learn a lyrical dance while mourning his death,” Roberts said. “I couldn’t be prouder to have gone out with a bang for my last dance solo and dedicating to my uncle.”

During Fashion Revue, 4-H youth showcased their out ts they either constructed or purchased. Court of Honor Medals were

champion. Evens, reserve champion.

Health and wellness-grades 6-8: Elisa Gramke, champion.

Home environment-grades 9 and above: Ashlyn Swanson, champion.

Home environment-grades 6-8: Emma Kaschmitter, champion.

Landscape design-grades 6-8: Eleanor Larsen, champion.

Livestock demonstration-grades 9 and above: Dominic Malikowski, champion. Cade Barringer, reserve champion.

Livestock demonstration-grades 3-5: Makayla Traut, champion. Maus, reserve champion.

Mechanical science-grades 9 and above: Henry Gramke, champion. Peltz, reserve champion.

Metal work-grades 9 and above: Kaylin Janski, champion. Carly Hackett, reserve champion.

Metal work-grades 6-8: Adam Heinen, champion.

Metal work-grades 3-5: Sophia Hackett, champion.

Performing arts: Travis Boyle, champion. Brady Roberts, reserve champion.

Photography-grades 9 and above: Roberts, champion. Alicia Belanger and Boyle, reserve champion.

Photography-grades 6-8: Audrey Ethen, champion. Alivia Arnold, reserve champion.

Photography-grades 3-5: Abrielle Lyon, champion.

Photography elements-grades 9 and above: Mersinger and Lane Stangler, champion. Mersinger and Colton Stanger, reserve champion.

Photography elements-grades 6-8: Eve McKay, champion. Carly Hackett, reserve champion.

Photography elements-grades 3-5: Ella Lamberg, champion. Sophia Hackett, reserve champion.

Photography manipulation-grades 9 and above: Mersinger, champion. Colton Stangler, reserve champion.

Photography manipulation-grades 6-8: Hailey Manea, champion. Sophia Beauchamp, reserve champion.

4-H results page 7B

presented to Ashlyn Swanson, Elise Gramke, Alicia Belanger, Sophia Beauchamp, Anna Fox, Carley Roberts, Josi Pozorski, Lilly Ackerman, Maya Rahm, Addison Dahler and Katie Gramke.

One hundred seventeen 4-H’ers advanced to

the state fair and many others will be competing in the state dog, shooting and horse shows. For more information about Benton County 4-H and all the activities throughout the year, contact the Benton County Extension Of ce at 320-968-5077.

PHOTOS SUBMITTED

4-H’er Ana McKay, a freshman from St. Cloud, showed her entomology project, a shadow box of a variety of bugs, at the Benton County Fair in Sauk Rapids. McKay earned a Champion ribbon and plaque.

Assistance available for livestock losses due to extreme heat

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency in Minnesota wants to remind producers of disaster assistance for livestock death losses due to eligible natural disasters, such as extreme heat.

Saving, storing and treating vegetable seeds

BY MARISSA SCHUH & NATALIE HOIDAL University of Minnesota Extension Educators

expected. They include tomatoes, peppers, beans and peas.

The variety of plant also makes a difference in seed-saving success.

vest seeds.

Farm Service Agency News

by Ryan Brunn, executive director for Benton and Mille Lacs counties

The Livestock Indemnity Program provides assistance to producers for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by adverse weather, including extreme heat. Producers must le a notice of loss within 30 calendar days of when the loss is rst apparent. Producers then must provide the following supporting documentation to their local FSA of ce no later than 60 calendar days after the end of the calendar year in which the eligible loss condition occurred. Those documents are: proof of death documentation, a copy of grower contracts and proof of normal mortality documentation.

In addition to ling a notice of loss, producers must also submit an application for payment by March 1, 2024. USDA has established normal mortality rates for each type and weight range of eligible livestock including cattle, poultry, swine, etc.

Producers should record all pertinent information regarding livestock inventory records, including documentation of the number, kind, type and weight range of livestock as well as beginning inventory supported by birth recordings or purchase receipts.

Con nement operations must follow good management practices and the con nement facility’s operating equipment must meet industry standards to be eligible for LIP. Poultry and swine death losses in con nement operations that are attributed to an eligible adverse weather event causing the con nement operation’s equipment to malfunction are not eligible for compensation under LIP if good management practices are not followed; the con ned livestock operation’s facilities do not possess all the equipment that meets industry standards such as, but not limited to, backup generators, alarm systems, fans, etc.; and management decisions were made not to take the necessary measures that could have prevented the loss.

For more information, producers should contact their local county FSA of ce or visit fsa.usda. gov.

Gardening season is coming to a close, and while next spring can seem impossibly far away, if people are saving seeds, now is the time to start collecting.

What plants people take seeds from and how they save them will affect next year’s success.

Some vegetables are self-pollinating, while others are not.

— Self-pollinating vegetables are more likely to produce what is

— Cross-pollinating vegetables are more likely to cross with other varieties in area gardens, leaving people with a less predictable outcomes.

— Vine crops have separate male and female owers, which can cross-pollinate. Avoid saving these seeds if there are multiple vine crops in the garden, as people can end up with a zucchini-pumpkin hybrid that does not have the best qualities of either parent.

If a person planted an heirloom or open-pollinated variety, it is a good candidate for seed saving. If a person planted a hybrid variety, saving seeds will result in plants that do not necessarily have the good qualities of the parent.

It is also important to save seeds from healthy plants. Look for plants free of disease symptoms, and unblemished fruit or pods.

Different vegetables have different periods when it is time to har-

Harvesting vegetable seeds

Courtesy of the University of Minnesota Extension

Tomato seeds

—Allow fruits to ripen fully and scoop out the seeds, along with the gel surrounding them, before eating or cooking the tomatoes.

— Put the seeds and gel in a glass jar with some water.

— Stir or swirl the mixture twice a day. The mixture will ferment and the seeds should sink to the bottom within five days.

— Pour off the liquid, rinse the seeds and spread them out to dry on paper towels.

Pepper seeds

— Allow some fruits to stay on the plants until they become fully ripe and start to wrinkle.

— Remove the seeds from the peppers and spread them out to dry.

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In general, store seeds in a cool, dry, dark environment over the winter, and try to use them again in the next couple of years. The longer seeds are stored, the less likely they are to germinate well.

Sous vide is an advanced piece of equipment to treat seeds. It keeps water at a steady temperature.

Hot water seed treatment is one way people can reduce the chance that seedborne disease shows up. This process needs to be performed carefully as it can kill seeds if directions are not followed to the letter.

Peas and beans

— Save peas and beans by allowing the pods to ripen on the plants until they are dry and starting to turn brown, with the seeds rattling inside.

— This may be as long as a month after people would normally harvest the peas or beans to eat.

— Strip the pods from the plants and spread them out to dry indoors.

— The pods should dry at least two weeks before shelling, or people can leave the seeds in the pods until planting time.

Treating seeds is especially important to reduce the risk of transporting diseases via seed from garden to garden if people are sharing seeds or using seeds from a seed library.

Some people treat seeds after harvesting them while others prefer to do this in winter when they have downtime. And others prefer to do it right before planting in spring.

As long as people follow instructions carefully, hot water treatment at any time should not impact germination.

The Ohio State University has good videos and fact sheets about how to hot water treat seeds.

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Photo manipulation-grades 3-5: Neu, champion.

Pets-grades 9 and above: Peltz, champion.

Pets-grades 6-8: Katie Gramke, champion.

Pets-grades 3-5: Sweno, champion.

Pet show: Brayden Zintek, champion.

Plastic art sculpture-grades 9 and above: Fox, champion.

Plastic art sculpture-grades 6-8: Hailey Manea, champion. Makenzie Manea, reserve champion.

Plastic art sculpture-grades 3-5: Sam Heinen, champion.

Safety-grades 9 and above: Maya Rahm, champion.

Safety-grades 6-8: Kaydence Rudolph, champion.

Safety-grades 3-5: Sweno, champion.

Scrapbooking-grades 3-5: Sweno, champion and reserve champion.

Self-determined-grades 9 and above: Barringer, champion. Henry Gramke, reserve champion.

Shooting sports-grades 9 and above: Kara Reding, champion.

Shooting sports-grades 6-8: Kaydence Rudolph, champion.

Shooting sports-grades 3-5: Kraig Rudolph.

Technology-grades 3-5: Owen McKay, champion.

Tractor driving-grades 9 and above: Mason Vannurden, champion. Mason Arnold, reserve champion.

Tractor contest-grades 6-8: Jack Dahler, champion. Andrew Scheel, reserve champion.

Veterinary science-grades 9 and above: Joseph Achen, champion. Maya Rahm, reserve champion.

Veterinary science-grades 6-8: Marnie Rahm, champion.

Video and filmmaking-grades 6-8: Ferkinhoff, champion. Eve McKay, reserve champion.

Wildlife biology-grades 9 and above: Chase Dahler, champion. Lilly Ackerman, reserve champion.

Wildlife biology-grades 3-5: Khloe Klosowski, champion.

Woodworking-grades 9 and above: Raelee Lyon, champion. Chase Dahler, reserve champion.

Woodworking-grades 6-8: Roman Rudnitski, champion.

Woodworking-grades 3-5: Abrielle Lyon, champion. Sweno, reserve champion.

Youth leadership-grades 9 and above: Mersinger, champion. Boyle, reserve champion.

FOODS & GARDENING

Cake and cookie decorating-grades 9 and above: Travis Boyle, champion.

Cake and cookie decorating-grades 6-8: Holly Heinen, champion.

Cake and cookie decorating-grades 3-5: Austynn McKay, champion.

Flower gardening-grades 9 and above: Nicholas Sakry, champion.

Flower gardening-grades 6-8: Alaina Ferkinhoff, champion.

Flower gardening-grades 3-5: Kailee Lubbesmeier, champion.

Foods-grades 9 and above: Joseph Achen and Heinen, champion. Allison Barringer, reserve champion.

Food-grades 6-8: Ann Reisinger, reserve champion.

Food-grades 3-5: Tosh Maus, champion. McKay, reserve champion.

Food preservation-grades 9 and above: Anna Fox, champion.

Food preservation-grades 6-8: Heinen, champion. Roman Rudnitski, reserve champion.

Food preservation-grades 3-5: John Anderson, champion. Lauren Dahler, reserve champion.

Food Revue: Johnathan Mersinger, champion. Robert Mersinger, reserve champion.

Fruit-grades 9 and above: Alex Peltz, champion. Sakry, reserve champion.

Fruit-grades 3-5: Dahler, champion.

Herb gardening-grades 9 and above: Nevaeh Beack, champion. Peltz, reserve champion.

Indoor gardening-grades 9 and above: Beack, champion. Marizza Lenz, reserve champion.

Indoor gardening-grades 6-8: Emma Kaschmitter, champion.

Indoor gardening-grades 3-5: Makayla Traut, champion.

Largest vegetable-grades 9 and above: Peltz, champion. Achen, reserve champion

Largest vegetable-grades 3-5: Anya Neu, champion.

Nutrition-grades 9 and above: Johnathan Mersinger, champion.

Potatoes-grades 9 and above: Barringer, champion. Sakry, reserve champion.

Potatoes-grades 3-5: Anderson, champion. Natilee Montag, reserve champion.

Vegetable gardening box-grades 9 and above: Sakry, champion. Peltz, reserve champion.

Vegetable gardening box-grades 3-5: Jase Brenny, champion.

Vegetable gardening plate-grades 9 and above: Peltz, champion and reserve champion.

Vegetable gardening plate-grades 3-5: Harper Moulzolf.

CLOTHING & MATERIAL ART

Constructed-grades 9 and above: Ashlyn Swanson, champion.

Constructed-grades 6-8: Elise Gramke, champion.

Constructed-grades 3-5: Lauren Dahler, champion.

Court of Honor: Lilly Ackerman, Sophia Beauchamp, Alicia Belanger, Addison Dahler, Anna Fox, Elise Gramke, Katie Gramke, Josi Pozorski, Maya Rahm, Carley Roberts and Swanson.

Fashion Revue-grades 9 and above: Alicia Beauchamp, champion. Ashlyn Swanson, reserve champion.

Fashion Revue-grades 6-8: Elise Gramke, champion. Sophia Beauchamp, reserve champion.

Fashion Revue-grades 3-5: Lauren Dahler, champion. Austynn McKay, reserve champion.

Purchased-grades 9 and above: Swanson, champion. Ackerman, reserve champion.

Purchased-grades 6-8: Sophia Beauchamp, champion.

Purchased-grades 3-5: McKay, champion. Lauren Dahler, reserve champion.

Sewn non-garment-grades 6-8: Emma Kaschmitter, champion.

Sewn non-garment-grades 3-5: Anya Neu, champion. JulieAnn Gerads, reserve champion.

Upcycled-grades 9 and above: Fox, champion.

Upcycled-grades 3-5: Neu, champion. McKay, reserve champion.

Needle arts-grades 9 and above: Kathrine Mersinger, champion. Katelyn Pollard, reserve champion.

Needle arts-grades 6-8: Zoe Spiczka, champion. Ashley Paulson, reserve champion.

Needle arts-grades 3-5: Emmeline Hoheisel, champion.

Quilting-grades 9 and above: Ackerman, champion. Kara Reding, reserve champion.

Quilting-grades 6-8: Kaschmitter, champion.

BEEF

Breeding heifer: Nolan Hackett, champion and reserve champion.

Cow-calf pair: Koriana Hackett, champion.

Crossbred steer: Cylie Marshik, champion. Audrie Marshik, reserve champion.

Dairy steer: Lauren Dahler, champion. Kylee Miller, reserve champion.

Beef calf: Keaton Nelson, champion. Kimslee Hackett, reserve champion.

Crossbred calf: Mason Vannurden, champion. Maya Rahm, reserve champion.

Dairy calf: Jacqualynn Beauchamp, champion. JulieAnn Gerads, reserve champion.

Market heifer: Katelynn Pollard, champion and reserve champion.

Market steer: Pollard, champion. Drew Arnold, reserve champion.

Showmanship-grades 9 and above: Ashley Betker, champion. Nolan Hackett, reserve champion.

Showmanship-grades 6-8: Nelson, champion. Alivia Arnold, reserve champion.

Showmanship-grades 3-5: Drew Arnold, champion. Natilee Montag, reserve champion.

DAIRY

Best udder: Kylee Miller, champion.

Colored calf: Joseph Achen, champion. Braiden Maus, reserve champion.

Holstein calf: Atley Gruba, champion. Beckett Gruba, reserve champion.

Junior colored dairy: Achen, champion. Braiden Maus, reserve champion.

Junior grade Holstein: Carson Popp, champion. Atley Gruba, reserve champion.

Senior dairy: Miller, champion. Achen, reserve champion.

Showmanship-grades 9 and above: Achen, champion. Carson Popp, reserve champion.

Showmanship-grades 6-8: Abigale High, champion. Brianna Popp, reserve champion.

Showmanship-grades 3-5: Tosh Maus, champion. Beckett Gruba, reserve champion.

DOG

Agility-elementary-16: Hannah Talvitie, champion.

Agility-intermediate-16: Katelynn Pollard, champion.

Agility-senior: Claudia Schlough, champion. Ashley Paulson, reserve champion.

Agility-advanced-8: Jenny Paulson, champion.

Agility-jumpers 1a-16: Pollard, champion.

Agility-jumpers 1b-16: Hannah Talvitie, champion.

Agility-jumpers 2-16: Schlough, reserve champion.

Agility-jumpers 3-8: Jenny Paulson, champion.

Agility-jumpers 3-12: Marizza Lenz, reserve champion.

Costume-grades 9 and above: Katie Paulson, champion. Pollard, reserve champion.

Costume-grade 6-8: Ashley Paulson, champion.

Games 2-12: Ashley Paulson, champion.

Games 3-8: Jenny Paulson, champion.

Games 3-12: Lenz, champion.

Interview-grades 9 and above: Jenny Paulson, champion. Katie Paulson, reserve champion.

Interview-grade 6-8: Ashley Paulson, champion. Eve McKay, reserve champion.

Interview-grade 3-5: Luke McKay, champion.

Obedience Four dog team: Lenz, Ashley Paulson, Jenny Paulson and Katie Paulson.

Obedience-beginner: Talvitie, champion. Lenz, reserve champion.

Obedience-foundation class: Eve McKay, champion. Jenny Paulson, reserve champion.

Obedience-graduate beginner: Ashley Paulson, champion. Talvitie, reserve champion.

Obedience-novice: Pollard, champion. Schlough, reserve champion.

Obedience-graduate novice: Lenz, champion. Jenny Paulson, reserve champion.

Poster-grades 6-8: Katie Gramke, champion. Elise Gramke, reserve champion.

Poster-grades 3-5: Madison Sweno, champion.

Rally foundation class: Jenny Paulson, champion. Luke McKay, reserve champion.

Rally pre-novice: Lenz, champion. Talvitie, reserve champion. Rally-novice: Ashley Paulson, champion. Talvitie, reserve champion.

Rally-preadvanced: Schlough, champion.

Rally-advanced: Lenz, champion. Pollard, reserve champion.

Showmanship-novice: Eve McKay, champion. Valerie McKay, reserve champion.

Showmanship-open: Ashley Paulson, champion. Jenny Paulson, reserve champion.

Showmanship excellent: Lenz, champion. Pollard, reserve champion.

GOAT

Dairy showmanship-grades 9 and above: Alex Peltz, champion. Emma Goertz, reserve champion.

Dairy showmanship-grades 6-8: Holly Heinen champion. Taylor Posch, reserve champion.

Dairy showman-grades 3-5: Kailee Lubbesmeier, champion. Sam Heinen, reserve champion.

Junior doe: Lubbesmeier, champion. Peltz, reserve champion.

Senior doe: Chase Posch, champion. Taylor Posch, reserve champion.

Market breeding doe kid: Aleaya Kipka, champion. Cade Barringer, reserve champion.

Market breeding yearling doe: Makayla Benc, champion. Kipka, reserve champion.

Market dairy wether: Taylor Posch, champion. Chase Posch, reserve champion.

Market meat breed wether or doe: Cade Barringer, champion. Allison Barringer, champion.

Meat showmanship-grades 9 and above: Travis Boyle, champion. Cade Barringer, reserve champion.

Meat showmanship-grades 6-8: Taylor Posch, champion.

Meat showmanship-grades 3-5: Kendall Micholski, champion. Chase Posch, reserve champion.

HORSE

Halter showman: Ava Messerli, champion. Aubrey Schlueter, reserve champion.

High point all around rider: Marley Wheeler, champion. Austynn McKay, reserve champion.

High point game rider: Abigale Wheeler, champion. Raelee Lyon, reserve champion.

High point pleasure rider: Marley Wheeler, champion. Messerli, reserve champion.

Miniature horse overall: Heidi Schimnich, champion.

LLAMA/ ALPACA

Interview-grades 9 and above: Nicole Schaefer, champion. Marizza Lenz, reserve champion.

Interview-grades 6-8: Audrey Ethen, champion. Claudia Schlough, reserve champion.

Interview-grades 3-5: Livaya Meller, champion. Evelyn Skaj, reserve champion.

Performance course-grades 9 and above: Lenz, champion. Isabella Pederson, champion.

Performance course-grades 6-8: Schlough, champion. Ann Reisinger, reserve champion.

Performance course-grades 3-5: Priya Thole, champion. Meller, reserve champion.

Poster-grades 9 and above: Schaefer, champion. Lenz, reserve champion.

Poster-grades 6-8: Ethen, champion. Schlough, reserve champion.

Poster-grades 3-5: Meller, champion. Evelyn Skaj, reserve champion.

Showmanship-grades 9 and above: Lenz, champion. Pederson, reserve champion.

Showmanship-grades 6-8: Schlough, champion. Reisinger, reserve champion.

Showmanship-grades 3-5: Charlotte Skaj, champion. Thole, reserve champion.

POULTRY

Breeding pen chickens: Austin Molitor, champion. Morgan Molitor, reserve champion.

Egg production-white: Morgan Molitor, champion. Austin Molitor, reserve champion.

Egg production-brown: Riley Pleskac, champion. Terrilynn Pleskac, reserve champion.

Market pen-chickens: Braiden Maus, champion. Tosh Maus, reserve champion.

Large fowl breeding pen: Ashton Meehl, champion. Mason Meehl, reserve champion.

Waterfowl: John Anderson, champion. Schlough, reserve champion.

Showmanship-grades 9 and above: Morgan Molitor, champion. Austin Molitor, reserve champion.

Showmanship-grades 6-8: Ashton Meehl, champion. Claudia Schlough, reserve champion.

Showmanship-grades 3-5: Anderson, champion. Mason Meehl, reserve champion.

RABBIT

Rabbit large class: Lyla Beehler, champion. Regan Listul, reserve champion.

Rabbit small class: Beehler, champion. Listul, reserve champion.

Showmanship grades 9 and above: Morgan Molitor, champion. Alex Peltz, reserve champion.

Showmanship grades 6-8: Beehler, champion. Claudia Schlough, reserve champion.

Showmanship grades 3-5: Austynn McKay, champion. Tosh Maus, reserve champion.

SHEEP

Ewe lamb: Emma Goertz, champion. Kendra Demo, reserve champion.

Ewe yearling: Terrilynn Pleskac, champion.

Market lamb: Lauren Thissen, champion. Keaton Nelson, reserve champion.

Lamb lead: Isabella Wieber, champion.

Wether dam: Mason Vannurden, champion. Keaton Nelson, reserve champion.

Showmanship-grades 9 and above: Abigail Nelson, champion. Mason Vannurden, reserve champion.

Showmanship-grades 6-8: Keaton Nelson, champion. Raelyn Vannurden, reserve champion.

Showmanship-grades 3-5: Thissen, champion. Raelyn Helmin, reserve champion.

SWINE

Barrow: Roman Rudnitski, champion. Morgan Molitor, reserve champion.

Breeding gilt: Morgan Molitor, champion. Austin Molitor, reserve champion.

Market gilt: Austin Molitor, champion. Morgan Molitor, reserve champion.

Showmanship-grades 9 and above: Morgan Molitor, champion. Austin Molitor, reserve champion.

Showmanship-grades 6-8: Alivia Arnold, champion. Roman Rudnitski, reserve champion.

Showmanship-grades 3-5: Frances Rudnitski, champion. Sophia Hackett, reserve champion.