ountry C Friday, January 15, 2021
cres A Focusing on Today’s Rural Environment
Volume 8, Edition 18
Monty's mix
of farming and fun
Krosch farms historic property in summer, races in winter BY DIANE LEUKAM STAFF WRITER
LITCHFIELD – It was one ne of those foggy, frosty January mornings and Monty Krosch looked oked over his small herd of 30 Black Angus steers on Oakwood Farm south outh of Litchfield. “They are more of a hobby,”” he said. “You always gotta have cattle attle around.” The young animals gathered ed toward the back of the fenced-in pen, much happier outsidee than in the barn. Nearby, Mackk and Murphy wandered, sniffing the ground as they nosed around. round. Leaving the pen and walkingg toward the farm shop, Krosch explained ined the dogs were 4-year-old brothers of a rare French pointer hunting breed,, Braque d’Auvergne. With a look that resembles esembles a cross between German Shorthaired orthaired Pointer and Bloodhounds, the animals are intelligent and friendly, but quiet – kind of like Krosch himself. Krosch is a grain farmer who has also been a professional snowmobile racer for nearly 30 years. The two endeavors have lent themselves well to one another. Oakwood Farm Having grown up on the 1,400-acre property, Krosch’s connection to Oakwood Farm began when his grandfather purchased it years ago. But, for the sake
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Publications bli ti The newspaper of today is the history of tomorrow.
PHOTOS BY DIANE LEUKAM
While working in his shop, Monty Krosch has the companionship of his Braque d’Auvergne hunting dogs, Murphy (left) and Mack. (Top) Krosch checks on his Black Angus steers on the foggy, frosty morning of Jan. 5 on his farm south of Litchfield
of history and intrigue, one must go back to the 1870s, when a colorful character on the Minnesota political landscape owned the land. “There were three farms in Meeker County that were settled first and this was one of them,” Krosch said. Oakwood Farm was owned then by Col. William S. King and at one entrance to the property, the original gateposts still stand. King had a storied history and many interests as a leading
This month in the
COUNTRY
Shorthorn, Ayrshire and Jersey breeder; involvement with the NorthrupKing Seed Company; the railroad; was a newspaper man helping to found the Minneapolis Tribune and Pioneer Press; and founded King’s Fair, which was later the Minnesota State Fair. He was also a U.S. representative for Minnesota, and as such was considered corrupt. “He was in politics, and there were stories through the years,” Krosch said. “They threw political parties here.”
There was a beautiful house on the farm, a large barn that housed elite cattle, and other buildings. By the time Krosch’s grandparents, Maynard and Mabel, bought it, there were different owners. Next, Krosch’s parents, Merlyn and Marilyn, farmed the land, and now, Monty farms with his wife, Patty. They have two children, Jaden, who with her husband, Nick Rudie, lives in one home on the farm, and Mitchel, who is currently finishing up in trade school in St. Cloud. Monty and Merlyn farmed together until 2012, when Merlyn passed away at the age of 76. Even now, Monty often thinks of their time working together on the farm. Every morning they would go down to the shop and discuss what they were going to do for the day. They farmed, went hunting and fishing together, and later, motorcycled in the area. “My father and I were very close,” he said. “It was tough to lose him, somebody that you grew up with and did so much with. He’s my father but was probably my best friend, too.” Drag-racing farmer “Dad was a big snowmobiler,” Krosch said. “He would do chores in the morning and snowmobile in the afternoon with neighbors. They used to have a snowmobile club. Neighbors, all within 15-20 miles of here, would get together, then take off and end up at someone’s place at night. They were always planning evening trips.” Krosch snowmobiled a lot with his father, starting at age 5 on an Arctic Cat Cheetah 399. The snowmobile club put on rodeo-type events for kids, with barrels and pole racing. By his late teens he began drag racing, which is what he has continued to this day. When he was younger, he would
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Family, farming, 4-H Clontarf
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Recreating masterpieces Rice
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Comedy in the country
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Call me when the weather gets bad Diane Leukam column
15 A new way of life Litchfield 20 A wildlife haven in the backyard Sauk Centre
Krosch page 2 21 Country cooking Willmar, Starbuck 24 What’s this? 27 Animals we love
