Country Acres - April 1, 2023

Sheds of

TREASURES

Gottschalks collect mechanical magic

BY GRACE JEURISSEN STAFF WRITER

KINGSTON – The sound of tinkering and power tools can be heard nearly every day of the week at the Gottschalk residences in Meeker County.

Around 28 years ago, Scott Gottschalk arrived at the county fair to find his boys, Trevor and Travis, hadn’t been keeping their cattle clean and watered properly. While Scott was seeing red and trying to find his two boys around the fairgrounds, Trevor and Travis were seeing green, John Deere green to be exact.

“I showed up; those cattle were a mess. I was fuming,” Scott said. “Then I find the two of them with their hands all over a few John Deere tractors, making conversation with the man that owned them.”

Scott was a dairy farmer for many years before selling his herd, but the dairy cattle wasn’t anything his two boys took an interest in. Instead they wanted to wrench away at antique tractors, a hobby that has gone far beyond what they ever expected.

“Trevor and I sat at those tractors, talking to John Lair for four hours that day,” Travis said. “He sold us our first

two project tractors. We used the money we got at the 4-H auction from our steers to pay for them.”

They were a 39B and a 44B John Deere. John Lair became a close friend and mentor to Trevor and Travis and watched their talents blossom for many years. Both of the tractors stand among the Gottschalks’ collection of rare John Deere tractors that now numbers over 60 pieces of equipment ranging from a horse drawn Velie carriage to a road scraper with a serial No.1 that was part of the national highway system construction from when President Eisenhower was in office.

They also collect memorabilia and other things manufactured by John Deere and John Deere’s family members, including the only complete collection of all the bicycles John Deere companies made, including the only known courting tandem bicycle that never made it into production and a

Gottschalks page 2

PHOTO SUBMITTED (Top)The Gottschalk family – (front from left) Jared, Henry, Molly, Astrid, Scott, Hiltina, Stella, Rosalynn and Cruz (back from left) Trevor, Theresa, RaeLynn and Travis – have a museum of snowmobiles, bicycles, John Deere tractors and motorcyles near Kingston. The family started their endeavor when Trevor and Travis were 12 and 10-yearsold.

PHOTO BY GRACE JEURISSEN Travis Gottschalk sits on the first tractor he restored when he was 10 years old March 26 near Kingston. He purchased the tractor with the money he received from the 4-H Livestock Auction.

PHOTO BY GRACE JEURISSEN Bombardier Ski-Doo snowmobiles are among hundreds of different types of antiques in the Gottschalks’ collection.

Aountry cres

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Copyright 2014 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave. Sauk Centre, MN 56378

Phone: 320-352-6577

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NEWS STAFF

Grace Jeurissen, Editor grace.j@star-pub.com

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Gottschalks from front

complete cast-iron toy collection. To add to the green lining the walls of their sheds, they have a large collection of John Deere pedal tractors, including one of the 10 prototypes called the Coffin Block pedal tractor.

“We have things that even John Deere doesn’t have,” Scott said.

The Gottschalks’ sheds are full of history. Each tractor has a story, and Trevor and Travis started restoring the history of those pieces when they were just 10 and 12 years old. They eventually set their hopes on restoring a complete collection of first year lettered series John Deere tractors. Those tractors line the walls of one of their sheds.

“I thought it was ridiculous what the boys wanted to do at first, but as time went on, I began to see that this was their passion, and I started to enjoy what they were doing too,” Scott said. “I’m more of the tour guide because the wrenching wasn’t something I ever understood.”

Travis agreed.

“Dad and mom were skeptical when we first started, but now we all get into finding different pieces to add to the collections,” Travis said. “Don’t let him fool you though; we usually kicked dad out of the shop when we were working on something.”

Scott and his wife, Astrid, supported the boys’ hobby and helped more with the travel and marketing side of their projects. They too started get-

ting into collecting, and due to their dairy background, collect Land O’Lakes memorabilia and even have a John Deere Gold Medal Cream Separator that became part of their home décor.

The boys often found rare pieces of equipment in other farmers’ pastures or the back of sheds. They would bring home a piece that hadn’t run in decades and the two of them would begin repairing until it was returned to its original green and yellow glory.

The Gottschalk boys’ tractor restoration project became nearly a full-time job; they would spend endless hours in the shop. To afford their pas-

sion, the boys worked various jobs, including milking at a neighboring dairy, and also received scholarships through 4-H and FFA. Travis used one of his tractors as a FFA proficiency project and won national recognition.

Both boys liked restoring the rare, low production number tractors.

“The boys were getting recognition from collectors all over,” Scott said. “The boys eventually were asked to do a presentation on tractor restoration at the Gathering of the Green in Illinois.”

Trevor and Travis, who were 15 and 13 at the time, practiced their presentation in

the living room of their home in Minnesota. Upon presenting to a crowd of between 300400 grown men at the Gathering of the Green, the largest John Deere memorabilia event in the U.S., the boys were faced with some speculation from people in the audience, whether they were knowledgeable enough to be presenting on tractor restoration.

The boys were so well versed in John Deere tractor restoration that they knew the paint mix by heart.

Gottschalks page 3

Spring is Here!

PHOTOS BY GRACE JEURISSEN

Snowmobiles are stacked on shelves March 26 at Trevor Gottschalk’s home near Kingston. The Gottschalks have a collection of over 200 antique snowmobiles including the Evel Kneivel snowmobile.

A John Deere R diesel tractor is among many tractors in the Gottschalks’ collection. The Gottschalks have around 60 tractors.

A John Deere road scraper, serial No.1 sits in the back of the Gottschalks’ shed. The scraper was used to build the national highway system when President Eisenhower was in office.

“Trevor can hear what’s wrong with an engine just by listening. He can tune a tractor by ear,” Travis said. “He did the carburetors while I usually worked on the clutch. We work well as a team.”

The boys had mentors and friends they developed due to their passions. Many of those mentors were excited to see the next generation take pride in the work they do.

As time went on, the boys grew up and felt they needed a new challenge. Though their

love of green tractors still resonates throughout their lives, they started diversifying their collection of rarities.

The Gottschalks are also a motorcycling family, Harley Davidson lovers to be exact. Scott’s goal was to have a complete collection of the 17 motorcycles in production from the 100th year of Harley Davidson in 2003. They have them all and plan to bring the collection to shows this summer in the 120th year.

When snow coats the

ground, the family switches gears and engages in another type of collecting, antique snowmobiles. The snowmobiles, despite only becoming an interest in 2015, are the largest collection in the Gottschalk’s museum.

“I had never ridden a snowmobile until I was an adult,” Travis said. “We never had snowmobiles as kids, but they are a really cool piece to collect.”

At one point in time, Minnesota had 64 manufacturers of snowmobiles; the Gottschalks have 41 of those 64 in their collection of over 200 snowmobiles. Toy haulers and semi-trailers are full of them. Among that collection is the Evel Knievel snowmobile.

“Word got around that the boys were doing the snowmobiles, and collectors from all over started reaching out and saying they should come see their collections,” Scott said. “These collections were hundreds of snowmobiles; the largest I saw was 650 snowmobiles.”

Word of mouth is one of the best avenues the Gottschalks use to find unique relics to add to their collection. They have purchased snowmobiles from other collectors’ retirement auctions and through personal sales.

“If we are looking for something, we just mention to people at shows and events, ‘Hey, I’m looking for a Northway snowmobile; know of any out there?” Travis said. “You’d be surprised how much opportunity you get from just that.”

They have found hundreds

of collectible machines and repaired them to their former glory or collected them to display for those who want to visit a cool piece of history.

One trend stands true among the collectors they have gotten pieces from;

those people wanted to see their sleds displayed in a museum, not flipped and sold for a higher price.

A John Deere Gold Medal Cream Separator is among many of the memorabilia the Gottschalk family has from John Deere. The family wanted the cream separator because of their dairy background.

PHOTOS BY GRACE JEURISSEN

A Velie Motorcar sits on a hydraulic lift March 26 near Kingston. The car was used in a movie several years ago.

The milkman

Our family has a way of making friends with anyone we do business with. So much in fact, they have been invited to weddings and graduation parties.

We’ve seen many different people filter through our barn doors, most of whom have shared a laugh. The milkman is the most prolific one.

The milkman frequents our farm more often than the other business acquaintances. Even though he is in the barn for a mere 30 minutes every other day, that’s plenty of time to grow a friendship and chat about the area gossip while he works.

Most of the milkmen that have come through our family farm have been smiling, friendly people.

The milkman has been a friend of the dairy farmer for generations, and in my experience, one milkman in particular left a unique mark on my childhood.

Dan the milkman was hauling milk for my grandpa and dad well before I was born. He became a family friend and experienced the generations of farmers’ kids grow up and take over. He watched as family farms slowly disappeared from the area, and in our case, he watched as we moved our cows and family to a site that wouldn’t feel the effects of urban sprawl for many years.

When Dan visited our farm in Shakopee, he always had a treat in the truck. We kids would see him pull into the driveway and park in front of the milkhouse, pull his big hose out and hook it up to the tank. Little Grace would say hello and ask if he had any gum.

He carried a few different kinds of gum, but Juicy Fruit is the one that I remember most. My grandpa also carried Juicy Fruit.

Juicy Fruit’s sweet flavor only lasted for a maximum of 10-15 minutes, but we would still be gnawing on a stale piece of chewing gum two hours later.

Occasionally Dan carried suckers, the Tootsie Pops with the Tootsie Roll in the middle. If

we didn’t make it to the barn because of school, he often left three suckers on the step of the bulk tank for us to retrieve later.

Dan is still hauling milk, but no longer for our family as when we moved, we switched creameries.

I saw one of his trucks a few weeks back on my way to an interview, which was part of the reason I thought to write about him. I think those milkmen are important to not just the farm, but to the families.

Since 2009 we’ve switched milkmen several times. Dave was one we had for a while until he retired two years ago.

I had made a joke one time, saying the substitute milkman was a good-looking guy and, of course, next time Dave showed up, my dad had to tell him. Dave then referred to himself as the good-looking milkman.

I began to tease Dave about how he would be a better milkman if he brought me treats, just like Dan the milkman did.

He laughed. But then on the occasion, a package of Kwik Trip cinnamon rolls or occasionally a Tootsie Pop would show up on the office desk. I was joking, but who am I to decline eating a cinnamon roll at two in the afternoon.

Dave retired and in came another milkman. The next spring, the next generation of milkman began frequenting our farm. He’s a younger guy and he picked up one afternoon while our family was slicing bacons. I believe the words my sister said were, “I call dibs.”

I wonder if that’s where the saying, “It must be the milkman’s kid,” comes from.

All jokes aside, the next generation of milkman is taking over the family business, no different than I am. Even Dan the milkman’s boys are driving truck every week, just like their dad.

Farming is familial. I can feel it in my bones, and it gives me purpose. I’m sure trucking is the same.

Touch of Grace by Grace Jeurissen

Salutes... KAILEE JOHNSON

Paynesville

320-243-3938

www.feedcomn.com

Town: Long PrairieGrey Eagle Grade: 11

Parents: Jeff Johnson and Kristin Gates-Johnson FFA Chapter: Long Prairie-Grey Eagle

- Kailee Johnson

Tell us about some of the things you’ve done in FFA. We do many activities in our FFA chapter. I am a part of our dairy cattle judging team. The biggest fundraiser we do is our fruit sale. What makes this fundraiser particularly successful is how it inspires us to compete with one another which expands our sales efforts to not just families but area businesses, teachers and churches. Every year our chapter goes to the Minnesota State FFA Convention. We have lots of fun spending time with each other and our advisor Mr. Gjerstad. We do lots of summer recreational activities such as making food at our Grey Eagle Gem Fest Tractor Pull, Adopt-AHighway, and we have a lake day and cook out for our FFA members.

Name one current issue you believe will impact agriculture in the future. Why? One problem I see for future farming is small and locally owned farms are slowly going extinct. This not only effects the families who owned them but also locally owned businesses that sell those farms’ produce. Locally owned farms are their own happy communities and always help each other out when times are tough. My family runs our very own dairy farm. Roughly 4 years ago an uncle was diagnosed with stage 4 Colon Cancer. He was hospitalized for an extended length of time and then was in recovery after that. If we didn’t have community farmers who were there with us every step of the way, we would have had an even tougher time. This world needs our local farmers to keep small towns going and happy. Small town farms are blessings we can’t take for granted.

How would you encourage an inactive FFA member to become more involved? I would explain all of the benefits to FFA and things they would gain from it such as leadership skills, teamworking, memories and so many friends. It’s just like a family. Members not only can be themselves, but get to be with others who enjoy the little things and will always have your back. Not to mention the amazing food we get to taste, make and share.

What is the greatest benefit you have received from being involved in FFA? I have been in FFA for 5 years now and in that time FFA has not only built my confidence but also my leadership skills, public speaking and life skills. After being named President as a sophomore I made it clear to our FFA members that they are able to come to me with ideas and problems no matter what. Being able to connect with people like that I would have to say is the biggest benefit I have gained.

What do you enjoy most about FFA? The most enjoyable part is making the funny memories that will last a lifetime. It all starts in Mr.Gjerstad’s Intro to Agriculture class where you crack jokes, judge livestock and take turns being the teacher for the day. I will never forget the little things like that. I enjoy the competitions and convention, but the memories you make at those places is the best part.

What does leadership mean to you? Most people think leadership is being in charge and controlling those with you, but I think leadership is maintaining control and balance within my other FFA members and making sure everyone is enjoying their experience in FFA. That’s what I believe leadership is, and should be.

What other hobbies and interests do you have outside of FFA? Outside of FFA I work on my uncle’s dairy farm milking cows. I am also a part of our volleyball team. In my free time, I am a youth group leader and some of my hobbies include hunting, fishing, riding four-wheeler and snowmobile.

How does one lose a chainsaw? Well, that’s the easy thing to do. Keeping track of where the chainsaw is in the woods is the ongoing challenge.

Chainsaw designers and manufacturers know what they’re doing in painting them bright red and blaze orange. The neon green, royal blue, and sunshine yellow make a little less sense. Black saws are entirely lose-able. You’ll never see a brown saw.

Working out –outdoors, that is by Nancy Leasman

I think it’s best to break this down and qualify my opinion.

Working in the woods during the spring, summer, and early fall offers the greatest challenge in keeping track of where you put the saw. Small trees, smaller shrubs like leatherwood, gooseberries, and even buckthorn as well as the blooming plants like Jackin-the-pulpit, cranesbill, sarsaparilla, ivies, and vines offer just enough camouflage to hide a green, blue or black saw. Yellow and red saws disappear in the russet and golden colors of fall. All of them fare better against a white landscape in winter.

I work with a yellow saw and a red saw, and I’ve misplaced both of them in the summer and autumn woods.

As I’m cutting branches, I frequently set down the saw to haul the smaller pieces to the nearest brush pile. This is a good memory exercise, keeping track of the work site in relation to the position of the piles. You might not think

this is much of a challenge, but then maybe you haven’t spent much time in the woods. Many times, I’ve laid the saw aside, gathered up an armload of branches, triangulated my path from the saw to the pile while noting the position of another pile, noted landmark trees (or more rarely rocks), trekked to the pile and unloaded, turned, retraced my steps and then failed to find the saw.

You might fault my memory and my triangulation. One day, I spent so much time looking for my saw that I understood old cultural beliefs in trolls, leprechauns and mischievous fairies. I wasn’t that far from where I had been and yet the saw was nowhere to be seen. Surely no one could have hopped up from a hobbit hole and stolen my saw. But, I couldn’t find it. Eventually I reoriented myself from the brush piles to the landmarks and found it.

I’ve spent even more time hunting for my glasses after hanging them on a tree limb. Of course I see better with my glasses on and they provide eye protection, but they fog up in the winter woods and I resort to hanging them on a branch. I employ the same memory exercises to remember where I’ve put them, but they’re smaller than a chainsaw, brown, with bows reminiscent of branches….

And you thought workouts in the woods were only physical!

Small town farms are blessings we can’t take for granted.

Nurturing

a business

Ways produce vegetables for community

BY TIFFANY KLAPHAKE STAFF WRITER

green lettuces and yellow peppers are all grown in luscious rows spanning 4 acres near Garfield.

“I like to grow color,” Jane said. “I love all the colors vegetables come in.”

The Ways use their bountiful harvest to provide Community Supported Agriculture for their area. For 18 weeks from June to October, subscribers can receive an edible rainbow of fresh produce. Clients can sign up to receive a large share or a smaller share weekly or a share every other week.

“We like to have a mix of vegetables for them,” Jane said. “We do all the staples, and then

Garlic is one of the many varieties of produce the Ways grow on their farm. They use organic fertilizers and cover crops to help production.

we throw in some different things like fennel, different kinds of squashes or different varieties of carrots or beets that they can’t get in a grocery

store.”

The couple are also regulars at the Alexandria farmers market and provide vegetables to La Ferme, a gourmet restau-

PHOTO BY JULIE B OSEL

Jeff + Jane Way

rant, and Nice Juicery, a juice shop, both in Alexandria.

PHOTOS BY TIFFANY KLAPHAKE (Left) Jeff and Jane Way have started sprouts for their 2023 vegetable production season. They have sprouts both in their basement and greenhouse.

Ways page 10

Jeff said this year they are offering 50 spots on their list to receive a CSA share.

“A benefit for us, and I think it’s mutual for our customers, is that we get to build good relationships with each other,” Jeff said.

Ida Valley Farm has an active Facebook page where they post pictures and videos of what they are working on at their farm.

The couple started with the CSA program in 2021 as a way to help move their produce. Jeff and Jane also allow customers to come to Ida Valley Farm and work for four hours and receive a large CSA share as payment for their work.

The Ways also have some part-time help in the summer to pick, prune, wash and organize the produce on top of maintaining their two high tunnels, greenhouse and the 3-acre garden. The two high tunnels are unheated, leaving Jeff and Jane to continue to start their seedlings in their

basement this cold and snowy spring. They recently started heating the greenhouse and moved cool weather crops such as onions and lettuces out there from their basement to make room for plantings of tomatoes and peppers.

Jane writes a newsletter each week with information about the produce as well as recipes that incorporate the fresh vegetables.

Jeff and Jane careful-

ly crop plan their gardens and greenhouses to make sure they will always have fresh produce to offer.

“We are feeding 50 families for 18 weeks,” Jane said. “We have to have enough stuff for them.”

To make sure they have enough fresh produce throughout the growing season, the Ways start planting seeds in their basement the last week in February.

“We plan to plant something every week now until the first week of August,” Jane said.

So far, Ida Valley Farm has lettuces, herbs, tomatoes and peppers started under grow lights in their basement until it gets warm enough outside to transplant or move into their greenhouse.

To maximize their space in the high tunnels, Jeff and Jane use companion crops.

“We’ll use beets as a companion crop with the tomatoes,” Jane said.

“So, we will have rows of beets on each side of our tomatoes.”

Waysfrom page 9 Ways page 11

Like any business, vegetable farming comes

with its challenges. Over the years, Ida Valley Farm has dealt with pests and of course Mother Nature.

“We do our crop planning for the season, deciding when we need to plant it and when we think it will be ready to be harvested,” Jane said

PHOTO BY TIFFANY KLAPHAKE

Sprouts grow under lights in the basement of Jeff and Jane Ways’ home near Garfield. Once weather cooperates, they will be transplanted to the gardens and greenhouses at Ida Valley Farm.

PHOTO BY TIFFANY KLAPHAKE

Bright grow lights are part of the Ida Valley Farm’s process to start sprouts for spring. The lights act as a source of ultra -violet rays that would typically come from the sun.

PHOTO BY JULIE BOSEL

Leaks, potatoes, peppers, tomatoes and onions are among many of the vegetables grown at Ida Valley Farm near Garfield. The Ways have a CSA program for community members to receive fresh produce.

PHOTO BY TIFFANY KLAPHAKE

Jane Way points to a sprout March 21 at Ida Valley Farm near Garfield. The plants start in individual starter pots.

PHOTO BY JULIE BOSEL

Tomatoes grow in one of the Ways’ greenhouses at their farm near Garfield. They sell their produce at local restaurants and directly off the farm.

Ways from page 10

“When it actually gets harvested depends so much on the weather, that’s the tough part.”

Of all the colorful and unique crops Jeff and Jane grow, they often like to try new varieties or sometimes a whole new crop itself to expand their rainbow of a garden. This year the Ways are trying ginger for the first time.

While Ida Valley Farm produce is not certified organic, they do use organic-certified pesticides when needed. They also use cover crops to help enrich their soil.

Whether it is Swiss chard, garlic, carrots or ginger, one thing is for certain: The produce is at its best, whether it is for the CSA or at their farmers market stand, Jane said.

“They know they’re getting fresh vegetables, and they’re supporting a local farmer, supporting local food in a community,” Jane said. “It’s not being shipped in. They like something that they can consistently get. And, it’s always fresh. When they get it, it has been picked within 24 hours.”

Ways page 12

Ways from page 11

What started out as a side business for Jane when she was laid off in 2014 has now grown into a thriving business for the couple.

“I love working outside growing and nurturing things,” Jane said. “I like getting to know the people we work

with. Building those relationships is really important to me. Getting to know our customers and their stories, then sharing our food with them, is pretty cool.

Jeff agreed.

“Just to see the smile on their face and to have that interaction means a lot to us,” he said.

PHOTO BY TIFFANY KLAPHAKE

and Jane Way love working outdoors for their vegetable farm near Garfield. The farm started

for Jane in 2014 when she was laid off

Dair y princess programs provide a way to ge t young women Dairy programs a way to get young women involved in the dair y community and also creates dair y involved in the dairy and also creates dairy advocates. Dair y princesses represent dair y farmers in their advocates. Dairy princesses represent dairy farmers in their respective counties and attend numerous events with the goal of counties and attend numerous events with the of connecting with consumers. with consumers.

T he crown and banner worn by a dair y princess make it easy

The crown and banner worn a dairy make it easy for the public to identify who she is and what she represents. for the to who she is and what she represents.

L earn more about the princess programs supported by Learn more about the programs supported Midwest Dair y Association in Iowa and Minnesota. Midwest Dairy Association in Iowa and Minnesota.

The future of agriculture depends on our hard work today. That’s why we’re proud to support the National FFA Organization and help inspire the next generation of agriculture dreams.

Grace Woitalla Stearns County Princess

Parents: Keith and Patty Woitalla

18 years old from Holdingford

Why did you decide to run for dairy princess? I decided to run again for dairy princess because of my passion and the positive impact I want to make for my local dairy community. I want to continue to support dairy because dairy production has been my whole life growing up on a dairy farm, and I want to ensure the future of dairy. I also want to promote it as a dairy princess for another year and make sure dairy farmers are getting the recognition they deserve. My past year of service was enjoyable, and I want to continue educating the public about dairy. I can make a larger impact on my local dairy community by applying my knowledge and passion another year.

Sophia Schiffler

Stearns County Princess

Parents: John and Kristie Schiffler

17 years old from Albany

Why did you decide to run for dairy princess? I decided to run for dairy princess because I felt it was important for me to be able to share the voice of the farmers with consumers. I also want to share my story and the impact that the dairy community has had on me and hopefully impact others.

How do you plan to use this position to promote the dairy industry? I plan on using my position as a goodwill ambassador of my local dairy community to promote the dairy industry by getting out into the community and answering consumers’ questions. Leading by example and sharing my story is a great way of connecting with consumers and educating them about how nutritional dairy products are. Just by being a dairy advocate and going to events throughout the communities I am able to make a difference in my dairy community. The farmers are on their operations constantly, but I am able to get out and make a difference for them.

Describe your farm and what your role there has been. My family farm, Woitalla Dairy LLC, is co-owned and operated by my father and uncle. We milk 125 dairy cows in conjoined tiestall barns. We raise all of our replacement heifers, calves and steers. In total, we have about 550 head of cattle, and we farm about 750 acres of land. I help with the day-to-day tasks to help operate the farm. I have always tagged along with my dad but took an active part in working on the farm since I was 12. I do all aspects of working with the dairy herd and the associated processes with running a dairy. I am also active in the fieldwork and feed production aspects of our dairy farm.

How do you plan to use this position to promote the dairy industry? I plan to use my position to promote the dairy community by going to local events. I also hope that by going to these events I am able to connect with consumers and learn their stories. Describe your farm and what your role there has been. I live on a 250-cow, four-robot dairy farm just outside of Albany with my mom and dad and four younger siblings. We farm about 400 acres along with milking cows. We also have many other animals such as dogs, cats, goats and chickens. On the farm, I help with daily chores like feeding calves and washing robots when my schedule allows. I try to help as much as possible when I am not in school or sports.

Morrison County Princess

Parents: Landon and Michelle Westerman

17 years old from Little Falls

Why did you decide to run for dairy princess?

Becoming a dairy princess has been something I have always wanted to do growing up. I was a princess last year and enjoyed it so much that I had to run again. I loved going into my community and teaching the people who don’t understand what the dairy industry is about.

Paige Gerads

Morrison County Princess

Parents: Jamie and Rebecca Gerads

18 years old from Upsala

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE?

Individuals are eligible to compete in the Minnesota Dairy Princess Program based on meeting one of the following four criteria.

• Either you, your parents, or guardians must be actively engaged in the production of milk for sale to a licensed plant.

• Are employed part time or full time on a dairy farm in a dairy related capacity.

• Care for/and or custom raise dairy cattle that will return to farms who contribute to Minnesota dairy.

• Own or lease a dairy animal or more that are housed on another dairy farm. You participate on that farm without pay in exchange for the care and housing of those animals.

How do you plan to use this position to promote the dairy industry? Promoting the dairy industry is something I love being able to do. I am hoping to go to classrooms to teach kids how the dairy industry works and why dairy is so important. I will also be attending my FFA’s Kitty Barnyard to educate young kids about the dairy industry. Serving ice cream at events this summer will give me an opportunity to help answer questions adults have about the dairy industry.

Describe your farm and what your role there has been. I live on my family’s dairy farm outside of Little Falls. We farm 400 acres, milk 40 cows, have 30 beef cows and feed out our steers. We also have chickens, some goats and a mini donkey. I milk the cows every morning before school and at night in our tiestall barn. I mostly just milk, but I also help my younger siblings take care of the calves when it is needed. I help my dad keep the cow records in order and help vaccinate all of the animals. I help with fieldwork when I am needed and do whatever else needs to be done around the farm.

Why did you choose to run for dairy princess? I wanted to run for dairy princess because I have always looked up to the past dairy princesses and have wanted to become one of them since I was a little girl. Not only this but because I want to share the story about my family’s small dairy farm and all the ones around me. How do you plan to use your position to promote the dairy industry? Farmers work hard day in and day out, yet many still don’t see the impact they hold on our communities, and many young kids in school don’t even know where dairy products come from besides the grocery store. As a dairy princess, I would love to visit many schools and talk with young elementary students about the dairy industry and all farmers do, hoping to inspire a few to become dairy farmers or future dairy princesses much like princesses in the past influenced me.

Describe your farm and what your role there has been. I never thought about becoming a large part of the dairy industry until I joined 4-H in seventh grade and fell in love with showing dairy cows. Through that experience, I began to become more involved in my family’s farm. I began to help my dad evaluate potential show animals and choose many of the matings for our heifers and cows.

Shannon

Russel

Laureen Walter

Pope County Princess

Parents: Nate and Angie Walter

18 years old from Westport

Why did you choose to run for dairy prinI decided to run for dairy princess because I wanted to be an advocate for the industry. When I was younger, I looked up to the dairy princesses and knew that someday I wanted to be one. Growing up on a dairy farm

Dayna Terning

Meeker County Princess

Parents: Darrel and Heidi Terning

18 years old from Dassel

Why did you choose to run for dairy princess? I chose to run to become the Meeker County Dairy Princess because I have a strong background in dairy, and this is a position that will allow me to be on the people side of the industry.

Pope County Meeker County Todd County

Dannielle Berscheit

Todd County Princess

Parents: Mark and Jessica Berscheit

18 years old from Grey Eagle

Why did you choose to run for dairy princess? When I was little, I saw dairy princesses handing out ice cream yogurt, cheese, sticks, pencils and stickers. I thought they looked very pretty, and it was cool

led to my interest and involvement in the dairy industry and eventually led to my decision to run for dairy princess.

How do you plan to use your position to promote the dairy industry? Serving as a dairy princess is a great way to promote the dairy industry. I am looking forward to all of the events that will take place this summer. These events are great at connecting consumers with producers. One of my favorite things to do is have conversations with the public and share my involvement in the dairy industry.

Describe your farm and what your role there has been. I grew up on a 100-cow dairy farm in Westport. We milk crossbred cows. In 2013, our farm was certified organic. I always preferred working with the cows rather than working in the fields. My main job was to milk, which also happens to be my favorite job. I still help as much as I can when I am home from college on the weekends or in the summer.

Dairy Princess Dairy Princess

How do you plan to use your position to promote the dairy industry? I have personally been involved in both the production and manufacturing sides of the industry. When I am not doing chores with my brother Dylan, I am working daily at First District Association. Because of my background, I have personal stories that people want to hear about the industry. I plan to use this position to advocate in as many settings as possible.

Describe your farm and what your role there has been. I used to milk cows for Howe Holsteins in Hutchinson, which helped prepare me to work for my brother when he had his own farm. In August 2022, Dylan started renting the Settergren Farm in Dassel. Currently, we are milking about 60 cows, and I help with everyday chores.

Dairy Princess

that they were dairy princesses. Seeing them made me want to become a dairy princess in the future. Years later, I received a letter discussing the role of dairy princess, and I am excited to be able to have a chance to represent my county as a dairy princess.

How to you plan to use your position to promote the dairy industry? I want to help people understand dairy farming and how healthy dairy products are to our diets.

Describe your farm and what your role there has been. We milk 50 cows and grow all of our own feed and bedding for the cattle. I help where I am needed. My everyday chore is to feed the calves.

Kandiyohi County

Grace ThompsonHannah Lingbeek

Kandiyohi County Princess

Parents: Matthew and Brenda Thompson

17 years old from Kerkhoven

Why did you decide to run for dairy princess? I decided to run for dairy princess because I not only wanted to finish out my career as a member of the Kandiyohi County dairy royalty, but I have a passion for both promoting the dairy industry and having people know where their food comes from.

How do you plan to use this position to promote the dairy industry? As dairy princess, I plan to participate in dairy events such as agricultural shows, parades and local activities to inform people of the source of their food and promote the dairy industry.

Describe your farm and what your role there has been. I grew up near my grandparents’ farm, so I often helped with unhooking cows, feeding calves and picked rock in the summers. In 2019, my grandparents retired and sold their cows. After talking to Rod and Naomi Lindquist, they were willing to sponsor me this year in my run for dairy princess. While there, I have learned how to work their robotic milkers and how to feed their calves. I love being able to work with their animals and am excited to see what this year holds.

Hailey Klimek

Douglas County Princess

Parents: Alan and Jessica Klimek

18 years old from Alexandria

Why did you decide to run for dairy princess? I started as a junior dairy princess because I love dairy farming. I now am able to step into the role of Douglas County Dairy Princess to promote dairy. It is very important to be an advocate so I can share the importance of dairy farming and nutrition within my community.

How do you plan to use this position to promote the dairy industry? Having grown up on a dairy

BELGRADE MEAT CENTER

The Meat Specialist 320-254-8287

801 Beltline Rd. Sauk Centre, MN 56378 320-352-6564 Ag Solutions

Kandiyohi County Princess

Parents: Jonathan and Dawn Lingbeek

19 years old from Pennock

Dairy Princesses Dairy Princess PO Box 359 Long Prairie, MN 56347 phone 320-732-2819 fax 320-732-2148 Colby Petersen, Owner 408 Washburn Ave. • Belgrade, MN www.belgrademeatcenter.com

Why did you decide to run for dairy princess? I decided to run for dairy princess because I not only wanted to finish out my career as a member of the Kandiyohi County dairy royalty, but I have a passion for both promoting the dairy industry and having people know where their food comes from.

How do you plan to use this position to promote the dairy industry? As dairy princess, I plan to participate in dairy events such as agricultural shows, parades and local activities to inform people of the source of their food and promote the dairy industry.

Describe your farm and what your role there has been. I grew up near my grandparents’ farm, so I often helped with unhooking cows, feeding calves and picked rock in the summers. In 2019, my grandparents retired and sold their cows. After talking to Rod and Naomi Lindquist, they were willing to sponsor me this year in my run for dairy princess. While there, I have learned how to work their robotic milkers and how to feed their calves. I love being able to work with their animals and am excited to see what this year holds.

farm, I have many stories I can share with others. I have many wonderful experiences from being active in FFA and 4-H.

Describe your farm and what your role there has been. At our family farm, we milk 90 cows. We raise all of our heifers for replacements. We grow corn, alfalfa and oats for feed. My role is feeding calves as well as helping with bedding, milking and vaccinations as needed.

BY JAN LEFEBVRE | STAFF WRITER

BROOTEN – When Jerry and Linda Jennissen were selected to be inducted into the Minnesota Livestock Breeders’ Association Hall of Fame, they decided to write their acceptance speeches separately. “We had made it clear to each

other that we were not going to share our speeches with each other until we heard it there along with everybody else,” Jerry said. Although their approaches were Jennissens page 23

Jerry Jennissen checks on his herd March 27 at Jer-Lindy Farms near Brooten. Jerry and his wife, Linda, milk 195 registered Holsteins and a few Brown Swiss in a double-8 herringbone parlor, but they plan to switch to four robotic milking units this fall

PHOTOS BY JAN LEFEBVRE

Linda and Jerry Jennissen stand in a hallway at Redhead Creamery March 13 on Jer-Lindy Farms near Brooten, Minnesota. The hallway is where the plaque Linda is holding will hang, which the Jennissens received March 9 for being named to the Minnesota Livestock Breeders’ Association Hall of Fame.

different, their speeches, delivered March 9 at the MLBA’s annual meeting in St. Paul, had something in common – both had made their love and respect for their cows a central theme.

The Jennissens milk 195 cows – registered Holsteins and a few Brown Swiss – in a double-8 herringbone parlor, but they plan to switch to four robotic milking units this fall. They also farm 250 acres, growing brown mid-rib corn for silage and alfalfa for baleage.

Their farm, Jer-Lindy Farms near Brooten, is the site of Redhead Creamery that they own with their daughter and son-in-law, Alise and Lucas Sjostrom. This spring, they are expanding the site, adding Redhead Creamery Spirits where they will produce spirits from whey.

A plaque with the Jennissens’ portrait now hangs in Haecker Hall at the University of Minnesota, among the other 200 portraits of MLBA Hall of Fame members chosen throughout the years since the award was first issued in 1934.

“I remember as a youth going through that building and seeing all the pictures of the people hanging on the wall and never really thinking that someday I may be hanging on that wall too,” Linda said. “We feel very honored and humbled.”

The Jennissens were nominated by John Reed, who owns an Angus ranch near Brooten and is a previous hall of fame award recipient.

In introducing the Jennissens at the event, Reed summed up their contributions to the live-

together since 1979.

stock industry.

“(They) have set an example in productivity, business development and consumer outreach for Minnesota’s dairy and livestock industry,” Reed said. “I could go on for a long time. These people are amazing.”

The award is given based on MLBA criteria, which looks for excellence in livestock breeding, contributions to organizations and youth programs, and service within the industry. The Jennissens have excelled in all three areas.

Linda was the first female chairperson of Midwest Dairy Association’s Minnesota Division Board, served four years on the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board and accompanied Gov. Tim Pawlenty on a trade mission to China.

Jerry served on the Minnesota Milk Producers Association board, was in the first class of Young Dairy Leaders Institute and was named its 2006 distinguished

alumnus, and co-founded the Dairy Star newspaper. Both Jerry and Linda served on the Stearns County Holstein Association Board. They also provide 15-20 dairy heifers a year to 4-H participants for their projects.

Their farm received the International Dairy

Foods Association 2017 Innovative Dairy Farm of the Year. It has also received a National Sustainability Award and been recognized as Minnesota Milk’s Producer of the Year.

For almost a decade, the Jennissens have given weekly tours of their farm, which to date have

introduced thousands of people to life on their dairy and raised awareness about dairy farming.

“I would like to share that with consumers – where their food comes from, how we manage it, why we do it,” Linda said. “I feel privileged to live on a farm. Not many people have that opportunity, so I feel like it is something that I want to share, and I think it’s protecting our right to operate.”

Both Linda and Jerry said they place importance on dispelling misconceptions people

may have about the dairy industry and farming in general.

“We care about our animals, we care about our land, we live here, and our grandchildren grow up in this environment,” Linda said. “They eat food that is grown on our land and drink the water that is here, so why wouldn’t we care about it?”

Jerry agreed.

“People have a lot of things to worry about in this world,” he said. … “The thing they don’t need to worry about as much is their food. Farmers are doing a great job producing the safest, best quality, most abundant food supply in our history of the world.”

Jer-Lindy cows have been among Minnesota’s top 100 Dairy Herd Improvement Association herds for value and Holstein USA’s top 10% for type and production. They have earned more than a dozen years of Holstein USA’s Progressive Genetics Herd awards and several Progressive Breeders’ Registry awards.

Jennissens page 24

Linda Jennissen greets a calf March 27 on her farm near Brooten. Linda and her husband, Jerry, who both grew up on dairy farms, raised four daughters on their farm.

A four-hour-old calf checks out the pen it shares with its mother March 27 at Jer-Lindy Farms near Brooten. Healthy calves can stand and walk on their own within fifteen minutes after birth. Linda and Jerry Jennissen discuss their cows March 27 at Jer-Lindy Farms near Brooten. The couple met as kids when they were both showing heifers in competition at Minnesota Dairy Days.

PHOTOS BY JAN LEFEBVRE

Linda and Jerry Jennissen stand in their freestall barn March 27 on their dairy farm near Brooten. The couple have been married and dairy farming

Jennissens from page 23

In 2017, the Jennissens provided the showcase herd at the Minnesota State Fair, featuring their dairy cows for both the state’s livestock community and the fair’s nearly 2 million attendees.

“That was a project to which I surmise 98 out of 100 dairymen would say, ‘No, thank you,’” Reed said. “But, they took it on as a way to show their commitment to the industry and help the industry. They halter-broke 16 cows, trained them, brought them down to the state fair and spent 13 days showing their herd to the people.”

Jer-Lindy Farms began when the Jennissens married in 1979 after getting to know each other through events where they showed cattle. Both were raised on dairy farms. In his speech, Jerry talked about their first meeting when he was 13 years old and Linda was 9. They were both showing heifers during Minnesota Dairy Days, and their heifers were tied up outside, next to each other. Linda was not pleased that Jerry’s heifer kept eating her heifer’s feed, and she let Jerry know it.

“She was cute, smart,

fun,” Jerry said. “It was the beginning of a more than 50-year friendship that continues to this day.

I am proud to be on a photo with that girl that will hang in the Hall of Fame today.”

As newlyweds, Jennissens rented farm sites. They bought their current site in 1983 and began milking 50 cows in a tiestall barn. The house had no electricity or plumbing and needed a major remodel. In 2002, they converted the barn into a flat parlor and added a freestall barn. A pit parlor was built in 2009.

They raised four daughters – Tammara, Emily, Alise and Maggie – on their farm. All showed animals and won awards at county and state fairs. Jerry and Linda thanked their daughters in their speeches. Then, they thanked the cows that made their family’s dairy life possible.

“The dairy cow has been my ticket to travel to so many places in this great country and beyond,” Linda said. “Because of her, I have learned livestock management, production, manufacturing, market-

ing, sales and a love for ridiculously good cheese. After 43 years in dairying, the excitement of watching a cow give birth has not lost its luster, nor has the agony of watching your best animal take her last breath lost its pain.”

Linda also said how dairy farming brought both challenges and joys that shaped their lives.

“Dairy farming is definitely not for the weak of heart,” she said. “It builds character.”

Jerry spoke about the gifts that come with the animal-human connection. One experience he

shared happened when the Jennissens had their showcase herd on display at the Minnesota State Fair. At the end of one day after the cows had been milked, fed, bedded and were lying down to rest, a young man and woman came by. The woman approached Jerry.

“She asked me the most often asked question,” Jerry said. “‘Can I touch them?’”

Jerry told her she could, so she approached an old cow at the end of the lineup. Cautiously, she patted the cow’s behind, then slowly worked her way up to its head and eventually sat down by it, putting her arm around its neck and hugging it. She sat like that for a while. Eventually, her partner

became a bit impatient to leave, but every time he said they should get going, the woman asked him to wait just another minute. Finally, after about 10 minutes, she stood to go.

“As she walked by me, she leaned over and said really quietly, ‘That was one of the greatest moments of my life,’” Jerry said.

As he shared the story during the ceremony, Jerry became a little choked up while taking about how powerful human connections with animals can be. Then he expressed gratitude for the good fortune he and Linda had in getting to work with their dairy herd every day.

“It has truly been my privilege to be one of God’s caretakers of these animals,” he said.

an

washing

so

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Jerry and Linda Jennissen’s portrait now hangs with those of new and previous inductees to the Minnesota Livestock Breeders’ Association Hall of Fame at Haecker Hall on the University of Minnesota campus. Around 200 inductees have been named since the award was first given in 1934.

The site of Red Head Creamery on Jer-Lindy Farms is scheduled for an expansion this spring. Besides enlarging the creamery itself, a new facility will be added on for making spirits from whey produced on the dairy.

The Jennissens have

outdoor

station

visitors can take a tour of the farm and then wash up before sampling artisan cheeses at Redhead Creamery, located on site. The farm hosts an annual Curd Fest each June with live music, local food makers and vendors, beer, wine and other items.

Linda Jennissen drives a skid loader to clean the freestall barn March 27 at JerLindy Farms near Brooten. Linda, a pro at all aspects of livestock comfort and care, grew up on a dairy farm and has co-run Jer-Lindy Farms with her husband, Jerry, since 1979.

PHOTOS BY JAN LEFEBVRE

Jerry Jennissen stands by new filtering equipment March 27 at Jer-Lindy Farms near Brooten. The equipment is part of a new distillery venture Jerry, his wife, Linda, and daughter and son-in-law, Alise and Lucas Sjostrom, are launching this year that will produce whey spirits and add to their already successful dairy and creamery on the farm’s site.

Bl oming

with brightness

Fiedler

flourishes with Sunny Mary Meadow

BY SARAH COLBURN STAFF WRITER

SARTELL – On a half acre of land, on the soil her late husband was raised, Liz Fiedler grows flowers.

Tens of thousands of flowers are grown at Sunny Mary Meadow near Sartell. Fiedler launched the business in 2020 and caters to 114 subscription-based customers.

Customers receive 10 bouquets weekly from July through September.

It is a business and livelihood for Fiedler that almost was not.

During the coronavirus pandemic, Fiedler, a nurse practitioner, told her husband, Josh, she wanted to spend a few hundred dollars on seeds to nourish a hobby that would make her happy.

Fiedler sowed the seeds and began selling cut flower bouquets out of a stand at the end of her driveway. For every bouquet she sold, she donated one to a nursing home in honor of her grandmother who could not receive visitors. She donated 201 bouquets,

and the couple gathered 25 subscribers for the following year.

But in December 2020, Josh died of a heart attack while exercising on his lunch break. It was just two days after their daughter Vidalia’s 3rd birthday. The day after Fiedler buried Josh, she found out she was pregnant with their second child, Davie.

Fiedler was at a loss.

In the weeks to follow, Fiedler debated calling the subscribers and

returning their money, walking away from the flowers she knew brought people joy. But then, she received an email from one of the owners of Hilltop Health Care Center, a company operating assisted living facilities, asking her to create 200 Easter bouquets for its residents.

It created a spark.

At first, Fiedler told the owner she could not possibly make Easter bouquets as she did not have a floral inventory.

“He asked if I could figure it out,” she said.

Fiedler asked existing customers if they had an interest in Easter bouquets and had to cut off orders at 100. Then, she called Daisy A Day Floral & Gift, of St. Joseph, and asked if she could order wholesale through the store. She went on to create 300 bouquets in her heated shop on the farm. Then, with the help of the Hilltop Health Care Center owner and a friend, she hand-delivered each of the 200 bouquets and staffed a day where sub-

scribers could pick up their bouquets from the farm.

“It was one of the first things that had made me smile or hopeful in months,”

Fiedler said. “I just thought, ‘OK, I’m going to do this.’ It gave me a project.”

Fiedler prides herself on creating asymmetrical styles of bouquets with 12 to 15 stems and 10 types of flowers in the same bouquet.

“They’re more whimsical and wildflower looking,” she said.

Fiedler grows 11,000 tulips and has 500 peony bushes. She raises roughly 12,000 zinnias, dahlias, lisianthus, sunflowers, stock, straw flowers and cosmos.

Fiedler page 29

PHOTOS COURTESY OF OH SNAPPY DAYS PHOTOGRAPHY

Liz Fiedler, of Sunny Mary Meadow, fills the back of an old pickup truck with colorful blooms. Fiedler allows professional photographers to take photos on-site using the truck.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Josh Fiedler, Vidalia Fiedler and Liz Fiedler take a family photo during the summer of 2020 just months before Josh died of a heart attack while exercising on his lunch break.

“I see it as a way to stay connected to him and have more time with my kids on the weekends.”

- Liz Fiedler

Liz Fiedler, owner of Sunny Mary Meadow, sits among pails of fresh cut flowers she uses to create bouquets.

Fiedler

from page 26

Though Fiedler said she sometimes wonders if people think she is crazy for changing careers and growing flowers since Josh died, she sees potential for the business and has scaled back to one day a week working as a nurse practitioner.

“I see it as a way to stay connected to him and have more time with my kids on the weekends,” she said. “It’s more of a passion project.” Fiedler said she is striving to have a deeper connection with her subscription holders.

“They know the work that goes into it, and they appreciate that,” she said. “It’s a different kind of flower than you can typically buy.”

Fiedler page 30

PHOTO COURTESY OF HEATHER FROST PHOTOGRAPHY Brent Mergen, Davie Fiedler, Liz Fiedler, Vidalia Fiedler and dog Merle pose for a family photo at Sunny Mary Meadow in Stearns County.

PHOTO SU B MITTED

(Left) Flower subscription bouquets from Sunny Mary Meadow sit ready for pick up by customers.

from page 29

As Fiedler, who is newly engaged to Brent Mergen and is planning an October wedding, looks to the future, she is adding more flower events to her schedule. She has hosted create-your-own bouquet events at the nostalgic 1888 farm and at local businesses. She does plan to host pickyour-own bouquet dates in her cut flower gardens, and she offers bouquets for sale on her website. And, though she does not have business hours open to the public at the farm site, it has become popular with photographers who make a reservation.

If there is one thing Fiedler said she has

learned from the experience, it is this.

“We can’t control the

season or timing of things and just have to adjust and be patient,” she said.

Liz Fiedler picks stems from her fresh cut flower garden at Sunny Mary Meadow in Stearns County. Fiedler grows 11,000 tulips and has 500 peony bushes.

Fiedler