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Serving rural Benton County & parts of Morrison, Mille Lacs & Kanabec counties.
BENTON AG Plus
A Supplement to the Sauk Rapids Herald
THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016
Serving the industry Schlichting appointed to Minnesota Area II Potato Research and Promotion Council by JENNIFER COYNE STAFF WRITER
RICE – As another spring season arrives, Rick Schlichting Ànds himself in a situation all too familiar. For the second time, Schlichting has been elected as the Benton County representative on the Minnesota Area II Potato Research and Promotion Council. He was Àrst elected as a board member eight years ago and then re-elected after his Àrst three-year term was completed. “Since the program began, someone from our farm has always been on the board,” Schlichting said, whose uncle, John Wojtanowicz was a founding member. “This is a small group of 20 to 30 farmers and we have to keep cycling through the leadership roles.” The potato farmer runs approximately 6,000 acres near Rice, with his aunt, Diane Wojtanowicz. Together, the families grow Russet Burbank potatoes, kidney beans and corn.
“My grandma started this farm when she emigrated from Poland in the ‘20s,” Schlichting said. Schlichting will serve a three-year term, staying up to date with how producers’ checkoff dollars are being distributed for research at the University of Minnesota and North Dakota State University (NDSU), and also educating the public. For every bag of potatoes produced, 2 cents is generated towards the council’s purpose. “The funds are equally divided between the two colleges,” Schlichting said. “Recently, NDSU has done considerably more research in Grand Forks because they have the potato breeders and professors.” Additionally, board members represent their region in the state, being the voice of other potato producers. “As an area representative, I can voice concerns and help in the decisionmaking process,” Schlichting said. Often times, knowing
PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER
Rick Schlicting farms 6,000 acres with his family near Rice. Schlicting was appointed to the Minnesota Area II Potato Research and Promotion Council.
education of the industry might not mimic real happenings of the industry, the council attempts to puts a larger emphasis on the needs
of potato farmers to ensure a future market. “Sometimes that gets left out if not talked about,” Schlichting said. “We have
to Ànd a potato that Àts the breeder in the Twin Cities. “We are interviewing bill for the industry.” One of Schlichting’s Schlichting Àrst responsibilities includes continued on pg. 3B overseeing the hire of a
Service to the community by JENNIFER COYNE STAFF WRITER
Whether it’s a child looking to become more involved in the community, an elderly couple wanting to share their experience with home gardening or a crop farmer searching for information on pesticide use, Benton County Extension Services helps everyone. “There’s a channel to share information, an avenue where everyone can beneÀt partially or directly,” said Dan Martens, ag production systems extension educator. Benton County Extension Service works directly with the University of Minnesota Extension to provide information and resources from the university to the loSAUK RAPIDS HERALD FILE PHOTO cal communities. Likewise, Jessica Ackerman (back) helps Breah Sutherland cut a bear faculty at the university have mask at a 4-H camping-themed day camp at Municipal Park the opportunity to underlast July. stand the needs and goals of
communities in central Minnesota. “Basically the county ofÀce is the front door to the University of Minnesota Extension Service and the St. Cloud regional ofÀce,” Martens said. “Really, Extension is a part of a network that is working and learning together.” Martens works with four other individuals who all aid in providing expertise to the communities of Benton County – Heidi Anderson, county 4-H program coordinator; Beth Berlin, horticulture extension educator; Emily Wilmes, ag production systems – livestock; and Darlene Szafranski, administrative assistant. “Our ultimate goal is for all Extension ag staff to provide general knowledge, locally,” Martens said. Additionally, Benton
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County works cooperatively with Morrison and Stearns Counties to create programs that producers and community members Ànd valuable, including summer dairy tours, forage tours, and other workshops and meetings. “Because of the signiÀcant livestock enterprise in Benton County, the key is to produce crops for feed, whether that’s silage, hay or grain,” Martens said. “These workshops help farmers do that.” Not only do Extension workshops and programs cater to adults, but youth and families, as well. In Benton County, 430 youth and 112 adults are involved in the 4-H program, which Anderson oversees. The county has 20 local clubs that community members can be a part of. “We have a really strong program that’s great for youth, families and volunteers,” said Anderson, who grew up in the Benton County 4-H program.
Rubes Sponsored by Fluegge’s Ag
Benton County Extension a valuable resource
Throughout the year, members of the organization are given the opportunity to participate in day camps, residential summer camps, project workshops and the county fair. “This past year we launched a new engineer it workshop and held a few new project workshops that have a lot of people interested,” Anderson said. “Our livestock project area and workshops have historically been popular, too.” Attending these different events put on by the 4-H organization allows families to reconnect with others who share similar passions. Anderson also helps coordinate events for community members not involved in the 4-H organization of Benton County. “I always encourage people to check out our website and Facebook page for Extension continued on pg. 2B