Country Acres - April 3 edition

Country Friday, April 3, 2020

cres A Focusing on Today’s Rural Environment

Volume 8, Edition 3

PHOTO SUBMITTED

A crew gathers to tap trees for maple sap at the Hans and Lynn Kroll farm near Long Prairie. Pictured are (foreground, from left) Hans Kroll, Ben Barlage and Margaret Barlage, holding baby Thea. In the background, John Kroll drives the tractor.

Krolls continue maple syrup tradition on century-plus farm

By DIANE LEUKAM Staff Writer

PHOTO SUBMITTED

This cast iron spile (tap) is used to collect sap from maple trees. The spiles were used by John Kroll for many years before his son, Hans, and his wife, Lynn, took over the maple syrup business.

LONG PRAIRIE – The woodlands were silent, awaiting the end of winter on the Hans and Lynn Kroll farm near Long Prairie. On the first weekend in March, that silence was broken by the arrival of a cheerful group of family and friends.

The group formed into several crews, each of them made up of three people. They set out into the woods to prepare for the upcoming maple syrup season – a season timed by nature itself.

“Using a battery-operated hand drill, one person from each crew drills a hole into the tree, a few inches up and over from the previous year’s hole,” Lynn said. “The next person taps a spile into the hole, and the third person hangs a bag or bucket. Family and KROLL continued on page 2

This month in the

COUNTRY

4

Up comes the corn!

Diane Leukam Column

6

Sitting at the farmer’s table Belgrade

8

So many questions Spicer

11 Eight crowned dairy princess Freeport 15 Renaissance man Sauk Centre 18 Still crafting together Richmond

21 Country Cooking 23 What’s this?

Page 2 • Country Acres - Friday, April 3, 2020

Country Acres Published by Star Publications Copyright 2014 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave. Sauk Centre, MN 56378 Phone: 320-352-6577 Fax: 320-352-5647 NEWS STAFF Diane Leukam, Editor diane@saukherald.com Ben Sonnek, Writer ben.s@saukherald.com Herman Lensing, Writer herman@melrosebeacon.com Jennifer Coyne, Writer jenn@dairystar.com Evan Michealson, Writer evan.m@star-pub.com Carol Moorman, Writer carol@melrosebeacon.com Natasha Barber, Writer natasha@saukherald.com Sarah Colburn, Freelance Writer

Story ideas send to: diane@saukherald.com SALES STAFF Kayla Hunstiger, 320-247-2728 kayla@saukherald.com Missy Traeger, 320-291-9899 missy@saukherald.com Tim Vos, 320-845-2700 tim@albanyenterprise.com Mike Schafer, 320-894-7825 mike.s@dairystar.com Warren Stone, 320-249-9182 warren@star-pub.com Jaime Ostendorf, 320-309-1988 Jaime@star-pub.com Bob Leukam, 320-260-1248 bob.l@star-pub.com

PRODUCTION STAFF Pat Turner Amanda Thooft Nancy Powell Maddy Peterson

Deadlines: Country Acres will be published the first Fridays of April, May, June, September, October and November, and the third Friday of every month. Deadline for news and advertising is the Thursday before publication.

friends make up the crews and we get good exercise and nice conversation.”

By the end of the process, 1,500 spiles (taps) are placed, with some trees having two or three, depending on their size.

With the spiles in place, the trees – and the Krolls – would wait for the maple syrup season to begin.

The spiles used for the Krolls’ maple syrup operation are made of cast iron, and speak of the history of this place.

“We are still kind of old school,” Hans said March 26 during a phone interview from their home. “We are still using cast iron spiles my dad, John, used. We are on a gravity system; we put out buckets and bags that are used one season.”

The story of the Kroll farm PHOTO SUBMITTED has a few twists and turns, Collecting sap is a family affair, with some of the grandchildren watching the action on the Hans and Lynn Kroll farm near much like many farms do.

The farm was settled as Long Prairie.

240 acres in 1892 by Hans’ great-great-grandfather, Joachim Heinck. His son, Johann, Hans’ great-grandfather, then farmed the land. After he passed away, Johann’s widow was suddenly in need of help on the farm. She placed an ad for a hired hand in an American newspaper written for German-speaking people, looking to hire someone who spoke German.

At the time, William Kroll was working on a ranch in South Dakota when he read the ad. He moved to Minnesota and was hired on at the farm.

Later he married Hulda Heinck (Hans’ grandmother) and eventually took over the farm. Since then, it has been in the Kroll name. William and Hulda’s son, John (Hans’ father), farmed the land next and still lives on the farm. He just turned 93.

The Heinck/Kroll farm was similar to most in its day, with a variety of crops and animals sustaining the families being PHOTO SUBMITTED raised there. Maple syrup was a Hannah Kroll and her niece collect sap from maple trees at the Kroll farm near Long part of that life for personal use, Prairie. but in 1960 that changed.

“My dad thought there were enough maples to make an enterprise of it,” Hans said.

“He got a loan from the PCA (Production Credit Association) to get an evaporator. I was 6 years old. Since then, making syrup has been continuous except two years: 1976 was a dry year and the next year we didn’t tap the trees, and then in 2012 we didn’t have a spring. It was 70 degrees in March and we didn’t tap.”

This year, the taps began running well by the third week in March and the harvest began in earnest. The season will normally last for three weeks to a month of intense work.

“It’s the freezing and thawing that makes the syrup season,” Hans said. “The pressure in the tree is greater than the atmosphere, which creates the pressure to push the sap out.

When it stops freezing, the trees start to bud and the season is over.”

The workers in this harvest have changed throughout the years. When the Krolls’ children – Jessica, Leah, Peter,

KROLL continued on page 3

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Friday, April 3, 2020 - Country Acres • Page 3 KROLL continued from page 2

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PHOTO SUBMITTED

r At 219 degrees and 66-67% sugar content, maple syrup flows from the evaporator through an orlon filter into a stainless steel milk can.

Margaret, Hannah, Katheryn and Thomas – were growing up, they were homeschooled and available to help in the afternoons, along with many of their friends.

They are all grown now, so other young people are hired, including some of the Krolls’ grandchildren.

While the sap is running, it is collected each day. Some days, that might be up to 1,500 gallons or more.

“Yesterday, we collected from 1-5 p.m. and got 800 gallons,” Hans said.

The operation becomes busier based on temperature.

“They [the trees] run best when it’s over 40 degrees and they freeze the night before,” Lynn said. “If it’s under 40 they don’t do much.”

Following trails in the woods, a tractor is used to pull a trailer with a tank on it. Five-gallon buckets are emptied into the tank and placed back on the trees to collect more for the following day.

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CORRECTION In the March 30 issue of Country Acres, Page 1, in “This Month in the Country,” the story, “Fair enough!” with Denny and Corinne Baker was listed as being located in New London. It is also listed as such with a photo on page 10. In both cases, this should have been “Spicer.” Country Acres regrets the error.

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How is that social distancing going for whole lot more than digging a hole and putting you? a seed in it. Wow. I have often said, “I love my home, and On the other end of the spectrum, we it would be nice to be able to spend more time have a story about Dr. C. Wes Hanvy of Sauk here!” Be careful what you Centre. He is semi-retired but wish for. Just kidding. I can has been a large animal veterlive with the inconvenience of inarian working primarily with being cooped up for a while, or dairy cattle and has a much as long as it takes. I sit here in better understanding of farmcomfort writing – not everyone ers than Bloomberg. One of the has that opportunity. statements in his interview is No one knows for sure revealing: what the upcoming weeks and “To me, dairy farmers months will bring, and I want to are the world’s great problem give a shout out to all of Amersolvers,” he said. “They are ica, particularly those on the carpenters, plumbers, feed exby Diane Leukam front lines in hospitals around perts, crop experts, weather this vast nation, caring for forecasters. If all America had COVID-19 patients. They are literally risking a work ethic like the American dairy farmer, their lives for their patients and sadly, some of we wouldn’t be falling behind the world in our them will not survive. The stories coming out production. You can’t beat a good old Ameriof this worldwide crisis are amazing, and so can dairy farmer.” are our people.

Much of today’s ignorance of farming Let’s talk about our country people, farm- is simply that people are so removed from it. ers in particular.

I want to share something a friend of mine How about spring planting? Farmers will posted on Facebook. It was a photo from Indigo on with their work as they always do, fig- ana showing a tractor in a field during spring uring out how to make things happen in chal- planting – probably from last year. There was lenging circumstances. Soon, small grains will concern that the wet spring was delaying farmbe in and farmers will be looking at planting ers in getting the crops in the ground. A young corn and beans. It will be warm. And sunny. lady made the comment and I quote: “Why And, up comes the corn! is there a need for farmers growing corn and I can’t resist. Mike Bloomberg is out of soybeans when most people go to Krogers or the political race but he, like so many before Albertsons to get groceries anyway?” him, has realized that anything that is recordAs ridiculous as it sounds, this girl is not ed, photographed or put online is forever. If alone. you run for political office it’s going to come Rather than condemn her, let’s admit this out. is real and try to inform her and people like her How about his statement at Oxford Uni- about farming. versity in 2016 that he could teach “anybody” Here in Country Acres, we like to share to be a farmer. all sorts of agriculture stories. Every farm, like “It’s a process. You dig a hole, put a seed every person, is different. There are big and in, put dirt on top, add water, up comes the small, crops and animals, conventional and orcorn,” he said. ganic and everything in between.

Bloomberg is a billionaire but obviously One thing is certain: Food does not come he has no clue about the complexities of farm- from Krogers or Albertsons – or Coborn’s or ing. In this issue we spoke with Mike Mastey, Walmart. who worked for 20 years as a farm business There is even a renewed interest in peomanagement instructor at Ridgewater College. ple with some acreage growing more of their For a little insight as to what today’s farmers own food if they can. Sometimes it takes a crideal with, just read the story. And then, add in sis to wake America up, and with everything the challenges of the aspects of farming that happening now, taking food for granted may there is no control over, such as weather, poli- become a thing of the past. That would be a tics and now, coronavirus negatively affecting good thing. prices, especially in dairy, and I think it’s a

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Friday, April 3, 2020 - Country Acres • Page 5 KROLL continued from page 3 Back at the farm site, the sap is pumped through a reverse osmosis machine, which will remove three-quarters of the water. It then goes into an evaporator which removes more water. The evaporator is a chambered system. The sap flows through the chambers, with the sugar density increasing as it is pushed through and reaches the end of the process.

Using the reverse osmosis and evaporator makes for less work, and is more economical.

“With our reverse osmosis we don’t have to burn so much wood,” Hans said. “If the sap is sweet, we can do 10 gallons an hour; without reverse osmosis we could only do two-and-ahalf gallons an hour. That’s a big difference.”

As the syrup exits the evaporator, it will be at 219 degrees, something the Krolls watch very closely.

“Lynn will check density with a refractometer to make sure it [the sugar content] is correct, between 66-67%,” Hans said. “If it is correct, it goes into a bulk tank and blended with other batches to ensure that when people come to get syrup, it’s all the same.”

In addition to their own trees, the Krolls purchase sap from three neighbors, to cook from a total of 2,400 taps. Their end goal is 600 gallons of pure

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Lynn and Hans Kroll stand in front of the evaporator in their syrup house at their farm near Long Prairie. The Krolls harvest sap and make maple syrup from their woodlands each spring.

(66% sugar) maple syrup, or one quart per tap.

Their individual customers hail from many miles around.

“A lot of people buy bulk; they bring their own container and they have to can or cool the syrup when they get home,” Hans said.

After the first 350 gallons or so are sold to their regular

bulk customers, the remainder is reheated and bottled in quarts, pints and half-pints and sold under their own label.

Some of the labeled syrup is sold at craft shows and local stores, or given as gifts after being purchased by a local real estate company. Some even finds its way into whiskey from a local distillery.

We have assorted

Of course, it can be found in Lynn’s kitchen. One would think the Krolls eat a lot of pancakes, but that is reserved for when the grandchildren come.

The syrup is used in homemade bread and other baked goods.

“Lynn will make maple cream,” Hans said. “It spreads like peanut butter and the kids would eat it on toast all day

long.”

When winter comes, the Krolls will be back out in their woodlands, collecting deadfall and making wood to be used in syrup-making next spring.

“I use a chainsaw and my son-in-law got us a wood-splitter for the skid steer,” Hans said. “My dad did it by hand in the old days.”

Speaking of “Dad,” he is looking forward to reconnecting with friends as they make their way to the farm to purchase this year’s syrup.

“There is one older farmer, he’s 90 and every year he comes with the same gallon jug; I fill it for him,” Hans said. “He just called me last night; he likes to come and visit Dad. [Normally], they will sit in the syrup house and talk about farming with the horses, and threshing.”

Soon, the Kroll farm will fall under a new name, that of “Barlage.” It is in the process of being transitioned to a fifth generation, that of daughter Margaret and her husband, Ben Barlage. They will be cash cropping organic grain and selling beef, while Hans and Lynn will retain the syrup business, along with growing their organic garlic.

But first, they must finish the harvest, a season which quite literally culminates in pure sweetness.

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Page 6 • Country Acres - Friday, April 3, 2020

Sitting at the farmer’s table

Mastey explains complexities of farm business plans

By SARAH COLBURN Staff Writer

BELGRADE – Mike Mastey has spent decades sitting across the kitchen table with farmers as they share the most intimate financial details of their farming operation.

He’s seen those farmers welcome newborns and been with some of them long enough to see their kids graduate from high school. He worked sideby-side with farmers as they’ve gone through some of their biggest challenges of their lives, like a death in the family or the loss of a parent.

“You knew more about those families than a lot of people knew,” Mastey said. “It was you and them and getting down and dirty and personal.”

Mastey served 20 years as a farm business management instructor at Ridgewater College. Students age 19 to 75 took his class, registering with the college and having Mastey assigned as their private instructor. Unlike a traditional college-level class, there was no daily attendance required and no auditorium-style lectures. Instead, an in-depth and confidential look at a farmer’s financials and plans took place in the comfort of their own home or office.

Mastey helped farmers outline and acknowledge their goals, helping them to create a business plan and in some cases, a succession plan, as he helped

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Mike Mastey spent decades helping farmers create business management plans to help guide their work and set achievable goals.

them determine the financial health of their business.

“We’re there to help them look at the information they have and make better management decisions,” Mastey said.

He’d help farmers review their available data and their goals, whether it was to add more acres, increase in size, create an exit strategy or help a new student who was interested in farming as a profession.

“The business plan is just a road map of where you’ve been, where you are, where you’re hoping to get and how to get there,” Mastey said.

Today, Mastey works as the CFO and controller for Barrett Farm Supply in Barrett. He’s now implementing all the business strategies he’s been teaching to move Barrett forward in a planned

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Mike Mastey used a drone to take this aerial image of a farm field. He uses the imagery to look at plant development and health. The aerial photographs help him, and others, determine why a certain part of a field might not be producing as well as another; they can use the images to determine where drainage may be necessary.

way. In addition, he’s still working with farmers in his new role, one he began in July 2019, inquiring what the company can do to improve things for its customers.

Mastey approaches the job knowing farmers have their own production plans, plans that outline exactly what they need to do to produce 200 bushels of corn or what type of seed, fertilizer and pest and weed control they may need to make their numbers.

The production plan is a piece of the overall business plan which outlines how the business will evolve over time.

A study released a few years ago from Dr. David Kohl, professor emeritus at Virginia Tech, looked at the profitability of farms and found they were nine to 10 times more profitable with a business plan, Mastey said.

MASTEY continued on next page

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A written plan, Mastey said, helps much interest they’re paying.

The last thing he focuses on is net farmers think beyond the crop they’re producing. All too often, he said, the income ratio. This takes into account coffee talk centers on how many bush- how much income a farmer has left els or pounds or head of animals a farm- after paying all the bills. The remainer has/works with. Many times, he said, ing funds need to cover family living though the numbers may look similar at expenditures as well as principle payface value, one farm may be struggling ments and reinvestment back into the business. For a crop farm, he said that’s while the other is thriving financially. probably 10-15 If a farm is percent and for meeting the goals a livestock farm the farmer set out closer to the 20 for it personally percent range. and financialIn order to be ly then, he said, able to consider that’s a success. all those ratios, “Those goals Mastey said, it’s will be different important for for every single farmers to keep farmer,” he said.

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There are Many of his stusome metrics dents came to him Mastey has used through the years to help farmers gauge without any records outside of their intheir own businesses. One of the ratios come tax filings and he said Farm BusiMastey considers is the working capital ness Management instructors can begin with whatever information a farmer has to gross revenue ratio.

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Page 8 • Country Acres - Friday, April 3, 2020

So many questions!

Williamson’s curiosity leads to agronomy studies at SDSU

By SARAH COLBURN Staff Writer SPICER – Daniel Williamson was always an inquisitive child. From the time he could walk he wandered the barn with his dad, a little pail of feed in his hand. As he grew, he added to his chores and was always happy to try something new.

Williamson’s inquisitive nature

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Daniel Williamson dons his official FFA blues during the 2018-19 FFA year.

is now helping the 18-year-old study Agronomy at South Dakota State University.

His passion for plants and animals has made, and continues to make, an impact on the family business, Williamson Organic Farm in Spicer. The farm has been in business for more than 100 years and been organic since 1995. Today the farm produces soybeans, barley, corn and alfalfa along with conventional sheep and beef cattle.

“I’ve been able to gain a lot of knowledge on plants over the years,” Williamson said. “I helped produce and harvest plants, look at [our] fields and other people’s fields to be able to gain basic knowledge.”

His hands-on experience combined with a constant litany of questions is what made Williamson who he is today, according to him and his father, Donnel Williamson.

Now the college freshman is looking to expand a project he began in high school, growing algae to feed to his livestock.

In high school, Williamson received an FFA Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) grant to grow his own algae.

He was inspired by something he read online and saw other people growing their own through the national FFA organization.

He started small, using a clear plastic tub and aerator, adding water and plant fertilizer and an initial source of algae he ordered online. He’d harvest the al-

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Daniel Williamson collects water out of the ditch on his parents’ property near Spicer. Williamson is testing the water to determine how efficient the wetland is at removing contaminants.

gae by straining it through a cheesecloth or adding it to a dry beet pulp he was able to feed to his goats.

“Algae is a high source of protein and vitamins and minerals that I thought could benefit my herd,” Williamson said.

The goats are his – he’s been buying, selling and caring for goats since he was 9 years old. As he fed his herd the algae, which he had to limit because beet pulp contains molasses, his herd

became more muscular.

He continued his research and explored different methods of growth and feeding. This summer he plans to expand his experiment with a larger size tub and a bigger aerator, allowing him to grow more algae and eventually, to be able to provide the nutrient-rich food WILLIAMSON continued on page 10

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Grace Zeidler Grade: 12 Parents: Chris and Amanda Zeidler DASSEL-COKATO FFA CHAPTER Tell us about some of the things you’ve done this year in FFA: I have been involved in many things so far this year. I am currently serving as the Chapter Secretary and one of the Region V Directors. Projects that I have been involved in are Road Ditch Clean-up, Brunch with Santa and Farmer Meals. I have helped facilitate the Greenhands in the Spotlight camp, and the National Officer Candidate Training for the National FFA officer Candidates that choose to come to our training. I had the opportunity to travel with our Ag Issues team and seven other delegates to National Convention where we cheered them on as they competed. I am currently on the Farm Business Management and Parliamentary Procedures teams and we recently finished our fruit sales fundraiser. FFA has been the best experience I have ever been a part of and I would never change anything that I have done thus far.

Name one current issue you believe will impact agriculture in the future. Why? One current issue that I believe will impact agriculture in the future is the number of farms that are closing because they expect the population to grow to more than 50 billion. If farms continue to close, where will the food come from to feed that number of people. Farmers are faced with new challenges and opportunities every day – from feeding an expanding global population while meeting strict new emissions requirements, to producing more food on fewer acres while minimizing their environmental footprint. I am worried about the dairy industry the most; more than 2,700 farms have closed nationwide.

How would you encourage an inactive FFA member to become more involved?

One way that I would try to encourage an inactive member to become more involved would be by learning their interests and hobbies. Through learning more about that FFA member, I can use that to find a Career Development Event that would fit their interests or find a service project they might enjoy.

What is the greatest benefit you have received from being involved in FFA? One of the greatest benefits I have received from being involved in FFA would be that I have become more comfortable with public speaking. I have never been a big public speaker but through FFA, I have been able to grow as a leader and help others like me to grow as leaders.

What do you enjoy most about FFA? Why? There are many things I have enjoyed about FFA. One thing that really stands out to me is the friendliness of members that you meet from across the nation at different events such as the National Convention and the Washington Leadership Conference. I have gotten the opportunity to do so much through this organization and I don’t think I would do anything different.

What does leadership mean to you? Leadership is about Influencing people by what you say and do. Good leadership is influencing someone to do something well or better. Great leadership is when you influence someone to be the very best they can be. A good leader is one who is always three steps ahead of the others. He looks out for the people before himself. John C. Maxwell said, “a good leader is one who takes a little more than his share of the blame and a little less than his share of the credit.” Leaders are kind, motivating, knowledgeable and always concerned for the other person. They build excellence and accomplish this by first building character.

Understandably, they need to be trusted and prove themselves trustworthy so that people will look up to and admire them. One who strives to be a good leader has to be honest, inspiring, intelligent and stand firm for what he believes, not backing down. Truly committed leaders strive to know more and study continually to improve their skills, not sitting down and watching life go by. I believe that a true leader becomes experienced by studying and following the mistakes and successes of others. Putting oneself out there, in the real world, one is able to relate to others in their daily lives. While there is no such thing as a perfect leader, the job should still be done to the best of one’s ability.

What other hobbies and interests do you have outside of FFA? I am involved in our school’s track and gymnastics team as well as the National Honor Society and Student Council. Outside of school, I am on the new 2019-20 Region V FFA Officer team and also serving on the Wright County Teen Court, just to try it out for six months. At church, I help in the sound booth a few Sundays a year. I am a volunteer apart of the group WHAT UP (Winsted Holding Activities That Unite People), which holds activities once a month throughout the year and movies in the summer.

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Page 10 • Country Acres - Friday, April 3, 2020 WILLIAMSON continued from page 8

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Daniel Williamson combines water, plant fertilizer and a source of algae in a small plastic tub. Williamson grows algae and harvests it by straining it through a cheese cloth or adding it to dry beet pulp to feed his goats on the family farm in Spicer.

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source to his goats as a dry option rather than a wet source.

“As a kid I’ve always been looking at new things and asking questions; FFA has been a good place for me to grow and explore things, they’ve given me a good method to do that,” Williamson said.

For three years during high school, Williamson tested the water inlets and outlets on the family farm and a nearby farm, inspired by teachings of water quality at school and discussions with his parents on what it means to be an organic farm.

His goal was to see if the wetland on the farm

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property removed pesticides and herbicides from the water. He tested the drainage ditches that came out of the wetlands because those ditches connected to a stream on their organic farm and they didn’t want any contamination.

Williamson donned a set of waders and used an isolating water collector to gather samples and send them to a water testing facility in Detroit Lakes. He was testing for nitrates and phosphates. His testing showed the wetland did in fact remove nitrogen from the water that was coming from surrounding farmland.

His testing of the surrounding ditches, near where the family’s cows grazed, found them to be eutrophic, meaning the amount of dead plant material in the wetland area was so congested that the water couldn’t sustain plant or animal life.

The testing ultimately led to digging up the ditches and removing some of the sediment from the waterway, making it healthier.

Because of Williamson’s findings, his parents fenced off the drainage ditch from the pasture so the cows couldn’t access it. That change sparked the farm to move to rotational grazing and now the herd is moved to a new section of pasture every 15 to 20 days.

“It’s increased our forage,” Donnel Williamson said. “Before that we were supplementing with hay in the fall and now, we don’t need to; the grass in the pasture grows a lot taller and has some time to recover.”

Through the years, Donnel Williamson has been supportive of his son and his ambitions.

“He does ask a lot of questions and we’re all right with that,” he said. “You don’t learn unless you ask a lot of questions.”

Daniel Williamson credits his family for guiding him through the years and allowing him to explore and propose new ideas. After college graduation, Williamson said he hopes to work for an agronomy firm.

He’s currently taking classes on plant pathology, grain and seed prep, producing and testing. His job, he said, could be anything from selling seed to producing it or testing it.

“Seeds seem interesting to me right now,” he said.

“I think plants are pretty cool, I like the fact we’ve been able to develop them to this point, producing plants that are more disease resistant and have higher yield capabilities.”

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Friday, April 3, 2020 - Country Acres • Page 11

Eight crowned dairy princesses

PHOTO BY MARK KLAPHAKE

Eight ladies (from left), Katherine Maus of Freeport, Hailey Frericks of Albany, Maggie Molitor of Rockville, Jessica Ohmann of Albany, Jacqueline Massmann of Kimball, Frances Klaphake of Freeport, Alexandra Christen of Sauk Centre and Savanna Marthaler of Sauk Centre, were crowned Stearns County Dairy Princesses March 14 at the Freeport Community Center in Freeport.

Katherine Maus

Hailey Frericks

Maggie Molitor

Jessica Ohmann

Jacqueline Massmann

Frances Klaphake

Alexandra Christen

Savanna Marthaler

Parents: Darrel and Lisa Maus Siblings: Nathan, Ashley and Briana Town: Freeport

Parents: Steve and Tammy Frericks Siblings: Kallie and Bryce Town: Albany

Parent: Joe Molitor Siblings: Melaine, Kristen, Leah, Hannah, Maria, Abby and Angela Town: Rockville

Parents: Ron and Ami Ohmann Siblings: Nathaniel, Alissa and Isabella Town: Albany

Parents: Paul and Susan Massmann Siblings: Matthew, Jonathan and Andrew Town: Kimball

Parents: Richard and Cindy Klaphake Siblings: Kate, Courtney, Alexis, Carley and Madison Town: Freeport

Parents: Glen and Becky Christen Siblings: Alissa, Mitchell, Clara, Noah and Olivia Town: Sauk Centre

Parents: Harold Marthaler and Denise Mikkelson Siblings: Anthony, Dominic, Eugene, Vincent and Julia Town: Sauk Centre

Describe your farm and what your role has been there. I am the fourth generation on my family’s dairy farm where my three siblings and I help our parents. We milk 60 Holstein cows and my responsibilities range from feeding the cows and calves and milking the cows, to scraping

Describe your farm and what your role there has been.

Growing up around dairy has led to my involvement in the dairy industry. Through the 4-H lease program, I am able to lease dairy cattle to show from my friends and family. I have shown dairy cattle at the Stearns County Fair, Minnesota State

Describe your farm and what your role there has been. I live on an organic dairy farm in Rockville. I am proud to say that I am the fourth generation living and working on my family’s dairy.

Currently, we are milking about 250 Holsteins and farm about 700 acres of

Describe your farm and what your role there has been. I currently live on a hobby farm north of Albany. Although didn’t grow up on a dairy farm, I have been given the opportunity to be involved in the dairy industry by leasing and showing dairy from New-Vue

Describe your farm and what your role there has been. I live on my family’s dairy farm with my three older brothers and parents. My father owns the farm with two of his other brothers. We milk around 100 cows. My father and his brothers do most of the milking

Describe your farm and what your role there has been. We have a stanchion barn and we milk around 65 cows. I help out both my mom and dad with cleaning mangers and bedding when they need a hand. When I was younger me and my sisters would feed

Describe your farm and what your role there has been.

I live on my family dairy farm southwest of Sauk Centre. We are currently milking 33 Holstein cows.

My role is to help my parents with the milking morning and night, along with occasionally helping

Describe your farm and what your role there has been. I grew up on a 72-cow dairy farm. On the farm, I was in charge of taking care of calves, caring for the cows and milking the treated cows. In April of 2019, my father decided to retire. Now, I am currently working on a

Maus page 12

Frericks page 12

Molitor page 12

Ohmann page 13

Massmann page 13

Klaphake page 14

Christen page 14

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Page 12 • Country Acres - Friday, April 3, 2020

Maus from page 11 DOUG LEGATT

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What is your favorite memory from the farm? Growing up on a farm, I have accumulated many memories and one of my favorites actually comes from the field, and not the barn. When I was in elementary and middle school, I used to ride with my dad in the field while he was cutting alfalfa, hauling manure, chopping or plowing. We would have snacks, and almost every ride I would also have a book with me. No matter if it was during the summer, I would still be in school because I considered them to be my favorite kind of field trips.

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County Dairy Princess? This upcoming year, I am looking forward to sharing my story about growing up on a dairy farm and how dairy can benefit everyone. Being a Stearns County Dairy Princess will give me the opportunity to speak to community members at many events including parades, school visits, Breakfast on the Farm and the Stearns County Fair.

How has the coronavirus pandemic affected you, personally as well as on the farm, and how are you staying positive? With the coronavirus all around us, it has impacted me in many ways. I am currently a freshman at MN State University in Moorhead, and our classes have now been moved online for the rest of the semester. As a result of that, I am able to take my classes at home where I can also be an extra hand in the barn or around the farm. One way that I am trying to stay positive is by keeping happy thoughts. Even though we are separated from others during this time, I am able to spend more time with my family and the cows, as well as being safe.

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Currently, I am employed on a robotic dairy farm where I am a robot barn technician. I also am involved in Dairy Judging and Dairy Knowledge Bowl through 4-H. What is your favorite memory from the farm? There are many memories that I cherish from being on the farm, but one I remember most is in my grandparents’ barn. When I was younger my family and I would go over to my grandparents’ to help around milking time. I vividly remember my grandpa always letting me milk one of the oldest cows in their barn, because she was the nicest. She was big and black and me and my sister called her “grandma cow.” I also remember holding bottles for the calves and sitting on the cart in the aisle of the barn.

What do you look forward to in the upcoming year as a Stearns County Dairy Princess? I am really excited for what this year will hold as a Stearns County Dairy Princess. Making connections with consumers, working with farmers, and attending events are just some of the things that I am looking forward to. I am also really happy to be working with fellow princesses and ambassadors that share the same passion as I do.

I am grateful for this opportunity and to become more involved in the dairy community.

How has the coronavirus pandemic affected you, personally as well as on the farm, and how are you staying positive? Everything is constantly changing around us between online schooling, cancelled events, and so much more. On a positive note, it has allowed me to work more on the farm and find a new normal!

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Molitor from page 11

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land. My duties on the farm include milking cows, feeding calves, operating equipment and bringing cows to the pasture for grazing.

What is your favorite memory from the farm? My favorite memories on the farm consist of me following my Dad around as a little girl. I always loved riding alongside him in the tractor or Ranger anytime I got. Even at a very young age, he would encourage me to ask questions and learn the tasks he was completing. I learned so much from him and greatly valued the quality time I got to spend with him.

What do you look forward to in the upcoming year as a Stearns

County Dairy Princess? This year I look forward to meeting new people from all across Stearns Country and sharing with them how the dairy community has positively impacted my life. I love sharing my story as a dairy farmer as well as creative and tasty ways that people can consume dairy foods.

How has the coronavirus pandemic affected you, personally as well as on the farm, and how are you staying positive? Due to the coronavirus, I am currently taking my classes online and all of my extracurricular activities have been temporarily paused or postponed. I am using this extra time to help out more on the farm and spend more time with my family. Day-to-day operations on my family’s farm have not changed much. Like always, my family continues to work hard to produce a quality product despite any challenges that we may face. My family and I work hard to stay positive by supporting each other and continuing to live faith-filled lives.

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Friday, April 3, 2020 - Country Acres • Page 13 Proud sponsor of Katherine Maus

Ohmann from page 11 Ayrshires for the past six years as well as working at Groetsch Dairy as a robotic technician. Also, each year my sisters and I bring our leased dairy heifers to our pasture in spring to care for and work with them.

What is your favorite memory from the farm? My favorite memory on the farm is helping my youngest sister, Isabella, work with her heifer for the fair.

At only 6 years old, Isabella is a born showperson (I like to think she gets it from me). She gets her heifer to walk perfectly in no time while my 17-year-old sister and I struggle with our heifers at the start. It is so enjoyable to be able to work beside my sisters each day.

What do you look forward to in the upcoming year as a Stearns County Dairy Princess? I am really excited for Breakfast on the Farm.

It is a great opportunity to connect with lots of people from across the county. Everyone is excited to see the featured operation and of course, consume lots of yummy dairy treats. The numerous events in the coming year including school visits, parades and farm tours will be fun events to share my love of all things dairy.

How has the coronavirus pandemic affected you, personally as well as on the farm, and how are you staying positive? I’ve learned it’s true that we are all in this together. Together, by our sacrifices and looking out for one another, we will move forward to a better future.

We are learning to come together as a community knowing that what we do individually affects all of us as a whole. It is important that we support our local communities and lean on each other. When we work together we can not only survive but thrive in light of big challenges like this one. Personally, my on-campus college studies got interrupted and were moved online. While it wouldn’t be my first choice, I’m grateful for 2020 technology and (like farmers) my ability to adapt to change.

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Massmann from page 11 while my brothers and I do the chores, such as feeding and laying down bedding for the cows. Along with chores, I enjoy working with the newborn calves.

What is your favorite memory from the farm? One of my favorite memories from the farm is when I brought my best friend to the farm for the first time and it just happened that one of the more mature calves got out. I will never forget how terrified my friend was to see a calf out of its pen. Luckily I got the calf back in, but my friend has not been back to the farm since then.

What do you look forward to in the upcoming year as a Stearns County Dairy Princess? I look forward to speaking with people about the dairy community and how important it is to our health and economy. I’m excited to share my dairy experience and how it has

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How has the coronavirus pandemic affected you, personally as well as on the farm, and how are you staying positive? The coronavirus pandemic has affected me in my education; for instance, the week schools were being shut down for the first two-week time interval, I was supposed to be taking the ACT test, which would determine if I could apply for scholarships to help me pay for college.

Of course, with everything else I’m involved in, such as clubs and church organizations, it sucks not knowing when things will be rescheduled, or if they will even be able to be rescheduled. But as far as how the coronavirus affects me on the farm, prices of milk are likely to go down and there might not be as much of a demand for milk or milk products, but cows won’t stop producing milk, so we’ll keep doing our jobs.

Sometimes, it’s a struggle to stay positive in a negative situation such as the coronavirus, but I’ve learned that one day this will all be over and we will get back to the things that we enjoy, and until that day I’m going to cherish this time to reconnect with nature and myself.

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Friday, April 3, 2020 - Country Acres • Page 15

Renaissance man

Hanvy balances veterinary, writing, art and woodworking skills

By HERMAN LENSING Staff Writer

SAUK CENTRE – Dr. C. Wes Hanvy likes to use the word extraordinary.

A resumé shows he is a veterinarian and a veteran, but that only scratches the surface. A family man, reader, author, philosopher and artist; he is truly a renaissance man.

A native of Tennessee, he has lived most of his life in Minnesota. He and his wife, Gwen, currently reside in Sauk Centre.

“I moved to Minnesota 39 years ago this year,” said Hanvy. “I came here in 1981, just in time for the coldest winter in 50 years.”

The attraction to the state was not winter, but dairy cattle. Following his tour of duty with the U.S. Marine Corps in the Vietnam era, Hanvy completed his studies in veterinary medicine.

“I grew up on a dairy farm in Tennessee,” he said. “I was real interested in working with dairy cattle but there wasn’t much to be had in Tennessee to work with dairy cattle.”

He searched around and found there were about 15-20 openings across the nation. His choice to come to Minnesota was made for him more than by him.

“I didn’t pick Minnesota deliberately, but everyone else hired somebody; the

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Dr. Wes Hanvy is a semi-retired veterinarian and has worked primarily with dairy animals like this Holstein cow.

guy in Minnesota was still open,” he said. “On such small decisions, does life swing sometimes,” As a person with a number of interests, he quickly found that the people he worked with were also multi-fac-

eted. They might have been described crop experts, weather forecasters. If all as dairy farmers, but their talents were America had a work ethic like the Amermuch more. ican dairy farmer, we wouldn’t be fall“To me, dairy farmers are the world’s great problem solvers,” he said. “They HANVY are carpenters, plumbers, feed experts, continued on page 16

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PHOTO SUBMITTED

Displayed on a handcrafted bench created by Dr. Wes Hanvy from the ash wood of a downed tree is “The Lord of the Rings,” (left) his favorite book, while “Puffer Fish Blues” was written and published by Hanvy. A second book is yet to be published and details some of his experiences working as a veterinarian on dairy farms.

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ing behind the world in our production. You can’t beat a good old American dairy farmer.”

His practice put him in contact with various parts of rural Central Minnesota. For two decades he practiced around the Pierz area. Today, he generally works in and around the Clarissa area.

“I am semi-retired,” he said. “It is now kind of seasonal; there are certain months where I work quite a bit and others where I don’t. I am available if they get busy and need me.”

Being busy is something he is used to. Besides his work and raising a family, he has also authored a book, and makes furniture.

His book, “Puffer Fish Blues,” is available at Great River Library, and is based on a philosophy of how to deal with conflicts. It takes its name from the toxic fish that “puffs” up when frightened or faced with something new.

“It covers a way to live your life and solve problems independent of any religious input. The book is a way to live your life without the black and white restraints religions want to put on you.” he said. “I am not an atheist, but I think organized religion tries to take something as extraordinary as the Divine and put it in a little box and label it.”

Writing a book came naturally to him. Books, and the written word, have held a fascination for him for a long time. He read his first book when he was a 4-yearold. His favorite book is JRR Tolkien’s “Lord of the

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PHOTO SUBMITTED

This wine table mixes form with function and was built by Dr. Wes Hanvy, a Renaissance man who lives in Sauk Centre with his wife, Gwen. The table was made using wood from a collapsed barn in Todd County.

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Rings.”

“I’ve read thousands of books and have hundreds of books here. If I were on a deserted island, and could have only one book, that would be it,” he said.

He found wisdom, enjoyment and enlightenment in reading. Writing a book also provided insights into himself.

“Writing is a very healing and illuminating process,” he said. “It helps you figure out things. You write them and you learn about yourself.”

Hanvy has written another book, one dealing with some of his experiences on dairy farms. It was inspired, in part, by some of his favorite books.

“It is similar to the James Herriot novels. I can only dream I could be that good,” he said. “I’ve given it my best effort. The book is about being a veterinarian.”

Herriot’s stories are about a veterinarian in the early 20th century in England. Hanvy is currently trying to get the book published. More than likely, there will be a story in there of his favorite animals to work with.

“Dairy goats,” he said when asked about his favorite animal. “They are the most extraordinary, inquisitive animals in the world.”

Something else Hanvy learned in writing his books HANVY continued on next page

Page 18 • Country Acres - Friday, April 3, 2020

Still crafting together

Elfering projects range from quilts to homes

By SARAH COLBURN Staff Writer RICHMOND – When Kurt and Deann Elfering were married 19 years ago they handmade quilts for all the members of their wedding party. Little did they know that nearly two decades later they’d still be crafting things together.

Today, the Elferings craft much bigger things – like houses.

The couple met at a going away party for a mutual acquaintance. That night, Kurt talked to Deann about the 3,600-square-foot house he’d drafted as part of a college engineering class and built from scratch in 1997 with the help of his buddies. It was 1999 and she told him she was two weeks away from breaking ground on a home she was having built in Sartell. There, she and her dad installed all her flooring, she and her family stained the trim, left the basement unfinished and did her own landscaping to save on costs. He invited her to see his place and get some finishing tips for her own project

0

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Deann (from left), Kale, Lana and Kurt Elfering are still living in the home constructed years ago by Kurt and his friends. Now, the couple has almost completed a full remodel of the property.

and they hit it off, dating slowly as Deann readied for the closing.

The do-it-yourselfers were in their early to mid-20s.

Now, 19 years later, they have two kids, Lana, 15 and Kale 12, and two dogs. They live in the sprawling rambler

Kurt built on seven-and-a-half acres, their closest neighbor is a quarter of a mile away and they grow pumpkins in their pumpkin patch. Their property overlooks a wetland behind Big Lake.

They’re in the midst of a complete remodel, with only

two remaining rooms.

“There were certain things we always wanted to change to make it functional to live here,” Deann Elfering said.

A nine-foot-long island now replaces the peninsula that once served as the drop-zone for the kitchen. Now, six swivel

seats fit at the countertop and it’s not only the drop zone, but a place for cookies and homework.

“It’s just a lot more functional,” Deann said.

When Kurt built the house, he was a single guy – no kids, no girlfriend. He and three buddies, as well as his brother, agreed one night that they’d all help each other build their houses. Kurt’s house was the fourth one in line, built the fourth summer into their pact to help one another. They started his house in the middle of August and he moved in the end of December.

Aside from the cement and block work, the siding and the taping of the walls, Kurt and his friends, all contractors, took the project from start to finish.

“I didn’t think when I was in college that I’d still be in the house,” he said. “I just wanted to start building equity in the house; I didn’t know how long I was going to be there.”

He’d always been interested in the piece of land that overlooks the lake and the lowland and he designed the house for that specific property, and eventually purchased it. The north side of the house doesn’t have a lot of windows. He deELFERING continued on next page

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Page 20 • Country Acres - Friday, April 3, 2020 ELFERING continued from page 19 Though they have hired contractors for a lot of the work, the Elferings continue to do a lot themselves. They hauled 9,000 pounds of tile to the house themselves on a trailer. They tore out a lot of the original fixtures and finishes along the way and have done their own painting. A cabinet company stained the trim and Kurt installed it.

“We do what we’re comfortable with and we hire out what we’re not,” Deann said.

She thinks she came by her love of building adventures from her father who died 17 years ago. He was there for her at every step when she purchased her new home, calling her to remind her what was next when she was working with contractors, and working with her side-by-side installing her flooring.

“I’ve never been afraid to try some-

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Kurt and Deann Elfering remodeled their kitchen, adding a large center island that has now become the hub of their home.

thing new,” Deann said.

Kurt credits his wife for coming up with creative ways to update the house.

When he originally built it, he didn’t have the financial backing to put in a lot of upgraded amenities. Now, he said, PHOTO SUBMITTED as they talk about the kids getting older Kurt and Deann Elfering struggled with the layout of the original kitchen as shown in this “before” pho- and they think about eventually movto. The peninsula had become a drop zone but didn’t offer enough space to accommodate their family. ing up north, they occasionally glance

at properties.

“We haven’t hit that wow factor that pushes us to move to a different location,” he said. “We mostly find that what we have now fits us better. Once this last transition is done, I don’t foresee us doing anything else to the house.

But … you never know.”

They re-designed the space and opened it up, adding more cabinets and a large island.

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Friday, April 3, 2020 - Country Acres • Page 21

COUNTRY COOKING

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Page 22 • Country Acres - Friday, April 3, 2020

Picking up seed, sales experience

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Members of the Alexandria FFA Chapter pick up seed in mid-March at ProAg Cooperative in Brandon. Pictured are (front, from left): Cody Lea, Melissa Bercier of ProAg Farmers Cooperative and Claire Deters with Mycogen Seeds; Back: Austin Jenc, Carter Moen and Blake Satterlee with ProAg. The only Minnesota chapter chosen to participate in the Turn the Bag Blue and Gold program this year, Alexandria FFA members learned salesmanship and provided resources to support their chapter. Throughout the schools and communities in the Country Acres readership area, FFA programs consistently deliver future leaders for agriculture industries.

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Friday, April 3, 2020 - Country Acres • Page 23

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119,500

Cummins 8.9 liter, 310 HP, 16 speed power shift, 33 front weights, 2 rear wheel weights, 4 hydraulic remotes, differential lock, 540-1000 PTO, 380-80R34 front tires, 38080R54 rear tires, front and rear duals on 22” row spacing, Outback STX auto steer, Deluxe cab, front fenders.

day cab, 394,353 miles, Cummins ISX, 450 HP, 13 NEW 2020 Timpte 4066 ag super hopper, speed Eaton Fuller, air leaf, 11R 22.5 tires, 180” air ride, 11R22.5 tires, 40’x66”x96”, wheel base, 3.70 ratio, dual fuel tanks, single stainless steel front corners and rear panel, exhaust air slide 5th wheel, all aluminum wheels, 4 aluminum wheels, Thunder electric power tarp power windows and door locks. with remote, FET paid.

Have all your Ag & Truck equipment repaired locally:

Explore our family of versatile, hard working compact and utility tractors. * Rates as low as 0% for 84 months in the U.S. and 0% for 84 months in Canada. Offer valid on select models and subject to credit review and approval through AGCO Finance LLC. Dealer participation may vary.

Contact your participating dealer for more details. Offer subject to change without notice.

CAApril3_1B_TV

21915 160th Street Glenwood, MN 56334

2019 Degelman$ 109,500 protill 33’

WATS: 18002324265

YOU’RE LIVING YOUR DREAM. NOW YOU CAN DRIVE IT, TOO.

redhorizonequipment.com

Equipment & Truck

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PAYNESVILLE SOIL SERVICE