Deadlines: Country Acres will be published the first Saturdays of April, May, June, September, October and November, and the third Saturday of every month. Deadline for news and advertising is the Friday a week before publication.
ISSN: Print 2834-6440 Online 2834-6459
Karstens from front
“We tried so many doctors and medications, and nothing worked,” Karstens said. “We had to try something else, and I mean we tried everything.”
They took Clara to an herbalist in Minneapolis and came home with several different tinctures made from plants as remedies.
“I was pretty skeptical,” Karstens said. “I just thought, ‘I’ve tried everything else. I might as well give this a try.’”
After a few months of using the herbal remedies, Clara was back to being a normal, healthy child. Karstens was intrigued and impressed by the effectiveness of the herbal medicine and began formal training.
“There are so many healing properties of the plants growing in our backyard,” Karstens said. “Our whole vision was to empower health and wellness from our farm to the consumer, so how is this any different?”
Over the years, Karstens dove into alternative medicine and homeopathic remedies. She took courses, did research and began her own practice.
Today, The Lamb Shoppe offers a plethora
of essential oils, non-toxic products, skin care products, herbs and spices and natural foods. The storefront still sells lamb from the farm as well as other locally raised meats. Organic fruits, vegetables, honey and coffee from local farms are a few of the options available at the store.
“We want to offer really good, high-quality products,” Karstens said. “We also try to support local farms and businesses as much as we can.”
The business offers a variety of holistic services through their wellness center, including psychotherapy, Reiki, thermography and myofascial release — a practice similar to massage therapy that focuses strictly on myofascia, or the connective tissue in muscles. There are nine providers at The Lamb Shoppe that each offer a unique skill set and individualized practice.
Karstens performs wellness consultations for patients where she examines their overall health, recommends nutritional or lifestyle changes and provides herbal medicine supplements.
Clara performs holistic nutrition and health education consultations. She offers her patients insight as to how they can improve their daily lifestyles to feel
“My daughter, Clara, and son-in-law, Noah (Osley), both work here with me,” Karstens said. “The other six providers come on certain days of the week and we all share spaces.”
better and how they can use herbal medicine.
R T Publications bli ti “The newspaper of today is the history of tomorrow.”
Noah provides muscle and myofascial release therapies as well as the EMMETT Technique, which uses light touch to trigger points throughout the body. Karstens and Rathke’s older daughter, Kata,
Karstens page 3
PHOTOS BY RAE LANZRATH
Connie Karstens organizes bags of tea Feb. 17 at The Lamb Shoppe near Cedar Mills. Karstens has owned The Lamb Shoppe with her husband, Doug Rathke, since 1996.
The sun shines on the farm Feb. 17 at The Lamb Shoppe near Cedar Mills. The farm store was once a U.S. Department of Agricultureinspected butcher shop.
from page 2
worked as an accountant before transitioning to being a stay-at-home mom. Now, Kata works for The Lamb Shoppe along with her mom and sister.
Karstens also teaches many courses through the business. Several times a month, she offers courses on becoming an herbalist, botanist and several other options.
“People are able to take multi-level courses as well as online courses,” Karstens said.
Karstens and Rathke continue to raise sheep and sell them for butchering. On average, they have around 250 head, Karstens said. Rathke also teaches courses on sheep shearing through The Lamb Shoppe.
The Lamb Shoppe not only offers products and therapies for their customers but also the resources and foundation to learn about holistic health, Karstens said.
“I want people to understand the importance of using the plants around us to improve our overall health,” Karstens said. “It’s all about balance.”
PHOTO SU B MITTED
(Top) Herbs grow August 2024 at The Lamb Shoppe near Cedar Mills. Most of the products owner Connie Karstens uses are made from herbs or plants she grows herself.
PHOTO BY RAE LANZRATH (Bottom) Bulk spices are stored Feb. 17 at The Lamb Shoppe near Cedar Mills. The Lamb Shoppe has a variety of groceries, makeup and pet products.
Erdahl
from page 5
out,” Erdahl said. Erdahl began cleaning out the barn and tossing hay out of the loft. She completely emptied, cleaned and renovated the space, and, in the fall, the guests had somewhere to stay.
“I used a pitchfork to toss the hay out, now (the pitchfork is) hanging as a decoration in the barn,” Erdahl said.
The 70-year-old barn was given the ultimate facelift and given a new purpose. While construction went on, the Erdahls made sure to remember what they began with. Original fixtures such as beams and wood have been repurposed in the barn.
“You can’t fake those original pieces,” Erdahl said. “No matter what you do to new lumber, you can always tell it’s new.”
The wood from the barn was used for trim and made into doors. The beams on the first floor were cleaned and still stand today, supporting the building. The original hog pens were sandblasted and finished and are now
found along the stairway.
Once the barn became an Airbnb, the couple decided to expand the business to include weddings or larger events for their guests.
When weddings take place at The Boar’s Abode, the upper level is typically used for the bride and bridesmaids to get ready. There are three makeup stations with well-lit mirrors. The lower level is usually used as a space for the groom and his groomsmen to hang out before the wedding.
There is a 48- by 64-foot building that opens on all four sides during warmer months for wedding receptions. The building is large enough for many tables to be set up and can hold up to 250 guests.
Erdahl page 9
PHOTO SU B MITTED The event center is set up in the fall of 2024 at The Boar’s Abode near Donnelly. The wedding venue can hold up to 250 guests.
PHOTO BY RAE LANZRATH (Below) A mural is displayed Feb. 3 at The Boar’s Abode near Donnelly. The mural was hand-painted by Kayla Erdahl.
My cheerleader
As spring rolls around, my kids and I are excited to spend more time outside. We love playing outside, taking walks and going for tractor rides. In the winter, with a 4 and 3-year-old and an infant and the lack of snow and the bitterly cold temperatures this winter has brought, we did not play outside a ton.
A couple of weeks ago, we finally got a string of beautiful winter days above zero, several inches of snow and sunshine. So, one day while our 10-month-old took her nap, I went outside to do some barn chores and let my daughter, Allison, and son, Carson, play in the snow. They both eagerly got all their snow gear on and marched outside. Allison, an independent 4-year-old, quickly climbed up a snow pile and was in her own little winter wonderland playing in the fresh powder. Carson, who has not had as much experience with snow, since the last two winters were dry and warm, was a little hesitant with snow. He likes being outside but is not into jumping in every snow pile in our yard like his sister.
on, but how much it made me smile and enjoy the task at hand. Nobody likes pitching out pens by hand, but, when you are doing it with someone else and they are encouraging you and cheering you on, it is so much more enjoyable. He didn’t help me physically by getting another pitchfork and shoveling manure. At 3 years old, I am not sure he could lift the empty fork off the ground, but he helped me mentally by cheering me on. It does not happen very often that I am smiling while pitching out pens, but I did that day.
By Tiffany Klaphake
Once I finished, we went outside, and I pulled the kids in the sled around the yard and helped them make a snowman as best we could with the fluffy snow before I had to go in the house to make dinner.
The experience got me thinking — so often, as parents, we are cheering on our kids. Whether it is potty training, eating all their vegetables, using their manners or at a sports game, we want them to do their best and know that we are here for them. As adults, we forget to cheer on each other, too.
I gave him the choice to play outside with his sister or go in the barn with me. I was not at all surprised when he chose the latter. So, he patiently waited in the barn with me while I did some chores. I needed to go in the barn and pitch out manure in the pens in the back of our stanchion barn and put fresh bedding in them. I turned on our gutter system and scraped behind the cows and the walkway and then got to work on the pens. As he watched me pitch forkfuls of manure, he would sometimes say to me, “Good job, Mommy,” if I made the big scoop of manure in the gutter. If some of it landed on the walkway he would say, “Oh I got it, Mommy,” and then use his boot to kick the bits of straw into the gutter for me.
It took me by surprise — not that he cheered me
Whether you work with family or employees, giving a little cheer or words of encouragement can go a long way. Imagine every time you got done milking cows, feeding calves, planting corn or folding laundry, someone told you, “Good job” or “Thank you.” How much would that make your day better? How much would you enjoy your daily tasks?
Maybe it is because one of my love languages is words of affirmation. I know I like being told when I do a good job, partly because it makes me feel good but, also, then I know what doing a good job looks like if I am doing something new or with a new group of people. Again, it does not have to be anything amazing or groundbreaking, but expressing gratitude even for the little things in life can leave a big impact.
Faith, family, farming
Town: Kimball | Grade: 12
Parents: Shawn and Tracy Theis Kimball FFA Chapter
What is your involvement in FFA? I’ve been in FFA since seventh grade. I am currently serving as the chapter president but have also been the vice president and secretary. I have competed and made it to state in the veterinary science and fish and wildlife competitions since joining. I also have competed at the national level in the food science competition, placing 20th individually and 11th with my team. I love to play in the state FFA band and have for the past two years.
What has FFA taught you so far? FFA has taught me to go outside of my comfort zones. It has pushed me to become better at talking to people I don’t know, speaking in front of large audiences and leading my chapter with efficiency.
How do you intend to stay involved in agriculture after your FFA career? I plan on continuing my education at Bemidji State University, where I will major in wildlife biology. My long-term goal is to work for the Department of Natural Resources and help learn more about species in our state. I would also like to be part of the Kimball FFA alumni program.
What are you involved in outside of FFA? I participate in cross country, basketball, track and field, knowledge bowl, National Honor Society, theater, band and choir. I also work at a diner on the weekends.
What is something people need to know about agriculture? I think it is important to understand that agriculture and FFA aren’t just for farmers. Many careers can be related to agriculture, and there is something for everyone in FFA. My chapter would love for more people to try it out and is more than willing to help find something that suits anyone’s interests.
Erdahl
from page 6
“We don’t have a commercial kitchen, so people can bring their own food or cater food,” Erdahl said.
There have been a few weddings at The Boar’s Abode, with plans for more in the future.
Even though the farm does not have animals anymore, the Erdahls still grow around 300 acres of corn and soybeans. Aaron is an agronomist for Hefty Seed in Hancock, and Kayla works for the Hancock Public School
District as a special education teacher.
Between both working full-time jobs, running The Boar’s Abode and raising three young sons, Kayla and Aaron’s schedules are usually jam packed. Their sons — Bruce, Royce and Randy — are involved in baseball, basketball, wrestling and football. The boys are also avid hunters and fishermen. When they are not doing extracurriculars, the boys help around the farm and the event space. Erdahl said they enjoy riding on the tractor and working outside.
“They’d zoom around on their hoverboards or scooters in here,” Erdahl said. “So, I’d give them the
Swiffer, and they’d clean the floors for me.”
The family has used the building as a barn, a gathering space and now a source of income. The Erdahls hope to continue providing a space for visitors to stay and host events for years to come.
“We’re hoping this is our retirement plan,” Erdahl said. “We enjoy this, and we want to do it for a long time.”
Great Plains keeps raising the bar when it comes to seeding performance in a box drill. The legendary BD7600 features an industry-leading box capacity, a durable, field-tested design, and the innovative Great Plains Metering System for greater accuracy across all seed types, from traditional to cover crops.
The kitchen is fully stocked Feb. 3 at The Boar’s Abode near Donnelly. The Airbnb offers a hot tub, pool, basketball and sand volleyball courts for guests.
PHOTOS BY RAE
The loft waits for guests Feb. 3 at The Boar’s Abode near Donnelly. The upper level was once used as a hay loft.
BY RAE LANZRATH | STAFF WRITER
Conservationists of the Year
Les and Marilyn Anderson
Tell us about your operation. For my entire adult life, I (Les) farmed with my brother, Elwood. We grow wheat and soybeans, and we used to do feed crops for dairy and feeder cattle. We used to do over 200 acres, but, as we’ve gotten older, we have sold off some land, and we’re down to 80 acres.
How do you practice conservation on your farm? We installed water control basins, and the last one was installed in 2023. The basins control water flow to prevent erosion. We also did buffer strips and residue and tillage management.
Why is conservation important to you? I’ve looked back at history, and, since the 1800s, this land has been farmed and produced for the local economy and provided crops. I feel that we have an obligation to maintain the land and take care of it. We can’t just use it nonstop and then abandon it, especially after all that it’s done for us.
How did receiving this award make you feel? What does it mean to you? I was surprised and honored. When you’re doing this stuff, you’re not doing it for the purpose of receiving an award.
Do you have any future plans or goals for further conservation on your farm? We’re taking it year by year as we get older. As long as we’re healthy and able, we’ll keep dabbling in it.
When did you start focusing on conservation on your farm, and what lead to that decision? It’s always been something I’ve noticed. I remember as a kid, I’d see the ground washing away, and I’d think, “That can’t be good.” Once we started farming on our own, it was just something I paid attention to.
Who has helped you through this process? We’ve worked with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. They help with the more technical and planning part. They’ve been really helpful on the layout of the basins. We’ve also received funding from them.
Pommier family
Each year, local Soil and Water Conservation Districts recognize conservationists who go above and beyond in their conservation efforts. Whether it be planting cover crops or installing drainage tiles, conservation looks different on different farms. The following families received Outstanding Conservationist of the Year for their respective counties in 2024.
Tell us about your operation. The farm and property are a multi-generational effort. We purchased the property in October 2021. It is 77 acres and a mixture of Conservation Reserve Program land and pasture. We’ve restored wetlands in the CRP area and added tiling and fixed the embankment. We have beef cattle and hogs that we hope to begin rotationally grazing. We also have goats that help in managing buckthorn. My wife, Miranda, and daughters, Hannah and Lydia, all work on the farm to care for the animals and get the farmwork done. Leann, my mom, helps with tending flowers, mowing the lawn, making the property look nice and is always prepared with cookies or other sweets when chores are done. Harley, my dad, is the “work horse” of the operation. Since his retirement, he spends as much time outside as he can. None of the farm would be possible without Harley’s dedication to the mission of providing a great home for livestock and wildlife.
How do you practice conservation on your farm? Everything we do is centered around conservation, from the goats to restoring the CRP land. We don’t do anything unless it’s going to benefit the land, the animals and the environment.
Why is conservation important to you? Doing what’s best for the land that God has given us, we have to take care of it and be good and responsible stewards. We have to take the best care of it that we know how, and everyone’s version of that is different.
How did receiving this award make you feel? What does it mean to you? Humbled and honored. When I worked in the U.S. Department of Agriculture office, I nominated other families throughout the years, so to be compared to those people is very humbling to even be considered.
Do you have any future plans or goals for further conservation on your farm? Continue restoring the land back to its natural state, prior to settling. Utilizing animals and tools we have to restore the land. Managing CRP with grazing — not many people are doing it, but we want to use cattle and goats to control and manage that land.
When did you start focusing on conservation on your farm, and what lead to that decision? I work for Pheasants Forever, so conservation has been my whole life for a long time. Since we bought that property, we’ve worked on it and focused on conservation. In 2007, I started with my first prairie company, so it’s been a long time coming.
Who has helped you through this process? I began working with Pheasants Forever in 2013, so I’ve learned a lot from them over the years. National Resources Conservation Service has been a huge factor learning the job standards. Grazing specialists have taught me a lot as well as district conservationists bouncing ideas off each other in the office. Department of Natural Resources foresters have also given me a lot of good information, specifically on the Oak Savanna restoration perspective.
D OUGLAS C OUNTY
M EEKER COUNT Y
PHOTO BY RAE LANZRATH
Les and Marilyn Anderson smile Feb. 20 at their home in rural Douglas County. Les spent his adult years farming with his brother, Elwood.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Harley (front, from left), Leann, Hannah, Lydia, Miranda and (back) Josh Pommier gather in the fall of 2024 at the Pommier farm near Dassel. The Pommier family raises cattle, pigs, goats and chickens.
Tell us about your operation. We are a fifth-generation dairy farm just outside of Little Falls. We milk 240 cows in a double 12 parlor and raise all our own replacement heifers. We grow around 480 acres of corn and alfalfa. My wife, Betty, and my four children — Joe, Josh, Scott and Taylor — all help on the farm every day.
How do you practice conservation on your farm? We installed a covered stacking slab for our solid manure, so there’s no runoff from that. We use a vertical tillage disc in the fields to reduce aggressive tilling and are slowly moving towards growing conventional corn. We are trying to limit the number of pesticides and herbicides we spray, and we’re doing cover crops now, too. Prior to the stacking slab, we installed buffer strips to reduce runoff
Why is conservation important to you? It’s better for the farm and the animals. In the long run, the crops will be healthier, the soil will be healthier, and the animals will get fed better quality feed and, as a result, be better producing. We have to take care of the land we have so it can take care of us.
How did receiving this award make you feel? What does it mean to you? It was an honor, but it was very surprising. There are so many other people who are doing this type of work, too, and we feel
like we’ve got more we want to do. We’ve come a long way and have done a lot of work, but we’re just getting started.
Do you have any future plans or goals for further conservation on your farm? We’re hoping to continue reducing spraying in the fields and move to fully conventional corn. It’s a domino effect, so, once you do one thing, then more and more come up, so we’ll just keep doing whatever is right and makes sense.
When did you start focusing on conservation on your farm, and what lead to that decision? In 2018, we bought the disc — that was the first step. For a few years before that, we had been doing research on it, but that’s when we actually bought it. We had noticed that the ground always seemed to have little structure. After listening to some podcasts and looking online, we kept seeing that people who did minimal tillage or no-till practices were saying that helped with the mud.
Who has helped you through this process? We do a lot of research ourselves; we listen to podcasts and watch YouTube videos. The Soil and Water Conservation District and National Resources Conservation Service have helped us with what we need to do, too.
Czech Family Udermann Family
Tell us about your operation. We are a fifth generation family farm owned and operated by John, Mary Lou, Alex, Kirsten, Jake and Sam Udermann. We have 1,000 acres of corn, soybeans, small grains and alfalfa, which are all 100% no-till. We milk 80 cows and have 300 feeder steers. We custom haul liquid and solid manure, do custom no-till, plant corn and soybeans and custom seed cover crops. We also sell grass fed quarter beef, steak bundles and individual beef items directly to consumers from our farm.
circle system. We must do our part as farmers to take care of the land the best we can to create a healthy ecosystem full of life in the soil to grow health crops to eventually produce nutrient dense milk, meat and grains for consumers to purchase and to feed to their families.
How did receiving this award make you feel? What does it mean to you?
How do you practice conservation on your farm? Our farm is 100% notill, and we plant cover crops. We’ve implemented a nutrient and manure management plan and installed a weather station and soil moisture probe on an irrigated field. We are Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality certified with all five state endorsements: climate smart, integrated pest management, irrigation management, soil health and wildlife. We plant multi-species legume cover crops after small grains and a rye/oat mix after soybean and corn harvest. We’ve restored 100 acres back to natural wetlands and extended buffer strips to 50 feet along streamline.
Why is conservation important to you? Understanding all five soil health principles, and, after implementing all five, we have reduced commercial fertilizers and herbicides. Our soil has begun to improve, and we are seeing a difference in our crops and the health of our livestock. We believe food is medicine and how we care for the soil effects how our crops are grown and how our livestock react to eating harvested crops. Conservation is a full
Receiving this award means a lot to our family. The last decade has been a roller coaster of emotions and a lot of work for our family to implement all these new practices into our farming operation. Most have come with ease, but some have come with difficult challenges to overcome or to learn how to implement. It is truly an honor to be recognized outside of our farm and that other people and organizations can see what our family has accomplished. We hope our story of our transition to regenerative farming will be an inspiration to those who read this to give it a try on their farm or to support the farmer who is producing healthier products and purchase directly from them.
Do you have any future plans or goals for further conservation on your farm? Regenerative farming is not a destination; it is a journey with no official guided plan or end in sight. We will continue to keep implementing new practices and improving our farm every year. Our goals remain the same: doing everything we can to have high functioning healthy soils full of life; to reduce any harmful runoff from erosion or leaching; improve water and air quality in our community;
Udermann Family page 13
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Shannon Wettstein (front, from left), Taylor Witt, Dave Czech, Betty Czech and Bill Faber; (back, from left) Tom Brutscher, Scott Czech, Joe Czech and Dale Scholl gather Jan. 24 at the Morrison County Government Center in Little Falls. Czech dairy has been operating in Morrison County for nearly 140 years.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Dennis Fuchs (from left), Alex Udermann, Krissy Udermann holding Lexi, Mary Lou Udermann, John Udermann, Ken Schefers, Justine Meyer, Arlyn Lawrenz and Tom Gregory gather Dec. 4, 2024, at the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts banquet in Bloomington. The Udermanns own and operate Meadowbrook Dairy in rural Stearns County.
Redden Family
Tell us about your operation. Derek and Carrie Redden own and operate Twelve Tails Family Farm. They purchased the farm in 2013 and raise beef cattle and crops. The farm operated as a dairy from 2018 until 2023, milking around 80 cows. The farm is certified organic, with all 320 acres of crop land in a permanent vegetative cover. The Reddens have two children: Dorothy and Elvin.
How do you practice conservation on your farm?
The animals are grazed on a rotational grazing system in pastures that were once row crop acres. They worked with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to develop a plan to convert the tillable acres into pastureland. In 2018, the Reddens planted 400 redosier dogwood shrubs and 70 black hill spruce trees along their property line. This created a 30-foot organic buffer zone that covers half an acre. The farm is certified organic, and all the ground is being used as pasture, hay fields or native prairie.
receive this award, and they appreciate the recognition for their efforts.
Do you have any future plans or goals for further conservation on your farm? Twelve Tails Family Farm will continue to raise beef on their pastures. The goal is to optimize soil health and productivity.
Why is conservation important to you? Conservation is important to the Reddens because they want to protect their resources for future generations. They’ve always liked the saying, “We don’t inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”
How did receiving this award make you feel? What does it mean to you? The Reddens said it was an honor to
When did you start focusing on conservation on your farm, and what lead to that decision? In 2015, after two years of conventional farming, Derek and Carrie decided to change the farm. They attended field days, workshops and trainings to learn more about conservation.
Who has helped you through the process? NRCS, the Conservation Stewardship Program, Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality, and Stevens County Soil and Water Conservation District.
Udermann Family from
and be a source other producers and consumers can trust and rely on to educate and grow healthy crops, milk, meat and grains. We are working on composting to increase fungal activity in our fields. We want to mimic the forest floor in our row crops. We also would like to start inter-seeding cover crops in season to capture more benefits of covers. Our farm has been selling beef direct to consumers for over 10 years, and we would want to sell more beef direct and rebrand it as regenerative raised beef and create a niche market for our farm to sell healthier meats.
When did you start focusing on conservation on your farm and what lead to that decision? In 2016-2020, we started with no-tilling our soybeans, no fall tillage and one light spring disc pass only on our corn acres. In 2021, we began doing everything as 100% no-till with cover crops on most of our acres, weather permitting. We got started based off the economics of no-till farming, which takes way less equipment, labor, money, etc. After three years, we realized that there was much more to it than to just save money. We started seeing the soil change and heal. Then,
page 12
we knew there was life in the soil that we really needed to keep improving our practices and fully adapt to no-till and introduce cover crops to really start improving our soil. It has become a new normal on our farm to invest money into cover crops and education to keep improving our soil.
Who has helped you through the process? My family and I did a lot of learning through on-farm research and just doing it. We use Facebook pages, YouTube videos and Google to search educational information. We’ve done field days and attended conferences hosted by the Soil and Water Conservation District, Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Minnesota Soil Health Coalition. We’ve used Stearns County SWCD funding and education, Stearns County NRCS both at the county and state levels for funding, the Minnesota Soil Health Coalition has given us education and mentorship, Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality certification has given us funding and education, Practical Farmers of Iowa for their cover crop cost share and fellow no-till or cover-crop farmers in Minnesota for education and help.
PHOTO SU B MITTED
Dorothy (from left), Derek, Carrie and Elvin Redden smile in the summer of 2024 at Twelve Tails Family Farm in rural Stevens County. Twelve Tails Family Farm was purchased by the Reddens in 2013.
Thompson Family
Tell us about your operation. We have around 2,000 acres of corn and soybeans. This is a family farm. My great-great-grandfather homesteaded here in 1876. My son, Kevin, helps as well.
How do you practice conservation on your farm? We put in a 2,100-foot waterway. There were gullies, and the waterway goes straight into the Chippewa River, so it stops sediment. We did basins — nine basins, tile and a dam over it, so the water comes up to the dam, and the water goes down the tile slowly instead of across the land.
Why is conservation important to you? Save the soil, keep the soil from going into the river.
How did receiving this award make you feel? What does it mean to you? It made me proud of what we’ve done.
Do you have any future plans or goals for further conservation on your farm? We’re working on getting a water quality assessment grant on the farm. We’ve cut back of tillage in the fall and are doing more basins for erosion and whatnot.
When did you start focusing on conservation on your farm, and what lead to that decision? We’ve been doing minimum tillage for quite a few years; 1985 was the first year of terraces to control erosion, with more minimum tillage since then. Working with soil and water was the next step in erosion control. In 1976, dad was working with soil and water.
Who has helped you through this process? Andy with the Swift County Soil and Water Conservation District.
Tell us about your operation. We raise corn, soybeans, wheat, rye and mixed alfalfa grass hay. We have 100 beef cows, raise our own replacements and finish out the steers. My dad, Jim, helps whenever I ask. He helps with field work, vaccinates the cattle and other projects. Riley and Tucker are old enough that they help with some cattle chores and field work also. Danielle helps as much as she can while working full time as a marriage and family therapist/parent educator. Danielle’s cousin, Jack Engle, and her brother, Nathan Reynolds, have both helped us a lot, too.
How do you practice conservation on your farm? We do minimum tillage, try to no-till when possible and plant grass waterways to avoid soil erosion. We plant some cover crops that can be utilized to graze the cows. The pasture is divided to make it easier to rotate the cattle to different areas to better utilize the grass and also to help control any erosion caused by overgrazing. The cows are usually wintered on corn stalks or some other crop residue. We have a feedlot with a manure stacking slab and a water retention area that catches all the runoff from the feedlot and stacking slab. The runoff is then funneled through a grass treatment area.
Why is conservation important to you? Conservation is very important to us. We depend on the land to provide for our family and others. In order for our children and future generations to have the same resources we do, we want to leave the land better than we found it.
Kreemer Family page 15
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Mike and Tamara Thompson stand in the summer of 2024 at their home in rural Swift County. The Thompsons’ son, Kevin, helps on the farm as well.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Tucker (front, from left), Jaxon and Aliyah; (middle, from left) Riley and Danielle; (back) and Jason Kreemer gather in the fall of 2024 at their home in rural Todd County. The Kreemer family raises beef cattle and crops.
Kreemer Family from page 14
How did receiving this award make you feel? What does it mean to you? We feel honored to receive this award, and, although acknowledgement isn’t necessary, it is nice to know that people notice what we are doing to be good stewards of the land.
Do you have any future plans or goals for further conservation on your farm? We plan to continue with the practices we already use. Strip tillage is something that we are currently researching and would like to implement in the future.
When did you start focusing on conservation on your farm, and what lead to that decision? My grandfather always tried to do what was best for the land and leave it better than he found it. Our first major project was building the feed lot along with the stack slab and water treatment area. That decision was made after meeting with the local feedlot officer, Deja Anton. We were growing the cattle numbers and wanted to do it in the right away and focus on water quality.
Who has helped you through this process? We have worked with our local feedlot officers, the Todd County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Todd County Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Red Pine Pastures uses regenerative practices
BY RAE LANZRATH STAFF WRITER
LITTLE FALLS — Change can be exciting, challenging and scary. Eric and Steph Haakonson embrace change and the challenges that may come with it to reach their goals.
In 2018, the Haakonsons moved to their farm in rural Little Falls to breathe new life into an old property and make it their own.
“We had been searching for the ideal farm for quite some time,” Steph Haakonson said. “When we walked through for the first time, it was the dead of winter and under a foot of snow, but we knew it was perfect.”
The 75-acre farm is a mix of pastures and woods containing red pine trees, hence the farm name Red Pine Pastures. Currently, the farm offers pastured poultry, pork and goat milk soap and the Haakonsons plan to offer beef and lamb in the future. All the animals on the farm are raised in a regenerative way, with their health as well as the lands’ health in mind.
The first year the Haakonsons owned the farm, they ventured into pasture-raised
BIG A cres C ountr y ountry
B
Section dreams SMALL FARM,
poultry, raising meat chickens, egg-laying hens and turkeys in mobile coops.
“Raising poultry this way benefits both the birds and the soil,” Haakonson said. “They’re moved daily, allowing them access to pasture grasses and bugs. They’re depositing manure in a new spot every day which saves us the work of coming back to spread it later.”
The family raises heritage breed hogs like their poultry, with rotational grazing. The hogs
are typically in an area for a week, Haakonson said. They get moved to a new field, and the ground gets a rest period before the hogs are rotated back through.
“There are a lot of benefits to raising hogs this way; lots of fresh air, warm sunshine and room to stretch their legs all while consuming a corn- and soy-free diet, which all contributes to a truly unique flavor profile,” Haakonson said. “We really pride ourselves on our pork, and our customers seem to agree. Repeat customers make up the majority of our pork sales each year.”
In 2022, Haakonson purchased a starter flock of Katahdin ewes. She was ex-
cited at the idea of sheep because they are small enough to work and rotate by herself, with her young children in tow. She said it is important for her two young daughters to be safe because they are right alongside her every day.
Along with the sheep, the Haakonsons invested in a small herd of Dexter cattle. The dual-purpose breed is smaller in size and known for its ability to produce high quality meat on a grass-fed diet, Haakonson said.
All of the animals are rotationally grazed to reduce stress on the land
Haakonson page 2B
PHOTO SUBMITTED Lindy (from left), Steph and Eric holding Josie Haakonson smile
Sept. 29, 2024, at Red Pine Pastures in rural Little Falls. The Haakonsons purchased the farm in 2018.
PHOTO BY RAE LANZRATH
Soap is displayed Feb. 5 at Red Pine Pastures in rural Little Falls. Steph Haakonson makes soap using goat milk from her own herd.
• 1 1/2 cups flour
Skillet donutSausage and potato soup
• 3/4 cup sugar
• Pinch of salt
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1/4 cup melted lard (can substitute butter)
• 3/4 cup milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. Mix wet ingredients in separate bowl. Whisk ingredients into one bowl until combined. Pour in cast-iron skillet and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden around the edges. Rub with butter and top with cinnamon sugar.
Applesauce cake
• 1/2 cups butter, room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups applesauce
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• Small amount of heavy cream or milk
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs; beat well. Add sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and allspice and beat well. Add applesauce. Pour into a buttered, 9- by 13-inch pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Let cool.
Add milk, powdered sugar and vanilla into a separate bowl and whisk together until desired glaze consistency. Top cake with glaze just prior to serving.
• 1 pound seasoned sausage
• 1 whole onion, diced
• 4 stalks of celery, diced
• 1-2 whole carrots, grated
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2-3 medium sized potatoes
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 quart broth or stock
• Salt, pepper, thyme, sage and smoked paprika to taste
Brown ground sausage and pour grease into separate pan. Sautee onions and celery in grease until softened. Add garlic; be careful not to burn it. Add broth and bring to a simmer. Add carrots and potatoes and simmer until soft. Add browned sausage and seasonings. Remove from heat and stir in heavy cream.
Perfect roasted chicken
• 1 whole chicken
• Salt
• Pepper
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Rinse thawed whole chicken. Place chicken breast-up in a cast-iron skillet. Salt the chicken with a heavy hand. Add pepper. Roast until internal temperature is 165 degrees (about an hour for a 4-pound chicken). The salt and high heat will give you a crisp skin yet keep the skin moist.
Abbi Ogdahl
Long Prairie | Todd County
Tell us about yourself. I grew up on a small Red Angus cattle farm in New London with three younger siblings. We had what I would describe as a near-perfect childhood — running around the farm, playing in the mud and learning the hard way not to touch the electric fence. I knew from a young age after going with my dad to work at Leedstone and visiting dairies that I wanted a career in the agriculture industry.
Throughout high school, I was very involved in FFA, and I attribute much of who I am today to the organization and the great advisers who guided me. I then attended the University of Minnesota, majoring in animal science and minoring in agronomy. During my junior year of college, I landed an internship in the leadership development department at American Foods Group. Through this internship, I spent the summer at Long Prairie Packing and quickly discovered that I loved it. I decided to stay on as an intern throughout my senior year, and, after graduation, I was offered a full-time job as an assistant operations manager. In this position, I gained extensive knowledge about plant operations and developed a solid understanding of how everything functions. After a year, I was promoted and currently serve as the training supervisor.
Why did you choose this profession? If you had asked me as a kid what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer was always, “A vet.” Like many others, however, I quickly realized in college that eight years of school was too long for me. I started exploring other opportunities and talking to my professors about potential career paths. One of my professors told me about an internship at American Foods Group that he thought would be a great fit — and I guess he was right. I love the family feel of the company and the constant opportunities for growth.
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be and why? To be the best at whatever you do. It doesn’t matter if you’re a waitress, a student or an accountant — just work to be the best.
What is your biggest agriculture related accomplishment so far? Serving as a role model for my siblings and other girls and women who aspire to have a career in the industry.
What is the biggest challenge/struggle that you’ve faced in the agriculture industry and how did you overcome that? The biggest challenge I’ve faced in
Elaina Knott
Osakis | Douglas County
Tell us about yourself. I grew up outside of Thief River Falls on a small hobby farm with 320 acres of swampland, where my family and I focused heavily on wildlife, forest and wetland management. Through my experiences in FFA, 4-H and agriculture education courses in high school, I grew to have a deep passion for the outdoors and agriculture sciences. I then attended the University of Minnesota Crookston for agricultural education and graduated in 2023. I now get to work with the next generation of agriculturists every day in my classroom and FFA chapter at Osakis High School.
Why did you choose this profession? Like most people in agriculture, I had a fantastic role model. In high school, I knew I wanted to help and work with people, but I was also very excited about content areas like plant science, animal science, crop production and wildlife management. I was well on my way to picking one career that fit into one of those areas when I realized that my high school agriculture teacher, Katie Shaw, was doing everything above and more. I instantly found my fit in the teaching profession and felt incredibly connected to the vast subject areas that I get to expose students to every single day.
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be and why? Say yes. Say yes to the opportunities given to you. Say yes to the folks that support and cheer you on. Say yes, even to the things that are hard and take extra time and effort. Looking back, my best memories were from trips and opportunities that my ag teacher and 4-H leaders brought up. I wish I had taken the opportunity to attend more of those events and made more connections. As a teacher and FFA adviser now, I prioritize getting my students out to leadership, networking and career development events to help build those fantastic memories and skills that I was given.
the A c r o s s Acres cres
the ag industry is simply being given the chance. Being a woman in agriculture means having to prove that you can do the job. Proving myself has never been the issue, but I’ve often had to fight for the opportunity to show that I’m capable.
Who has been your biggest influence/motivator in your life and why? They say it takes a village to raise a child, and wow — do I have a village. When I think about my biggest motivators and influences, a long list of people comes to mind from various stages of my life.
My dad, Jake Moline, was my biggest influence as a kid and still is today — he taught me the value of hard work; growing up, I wanted to be just like him. My FFA advisers, Mr. Gabrielson and Mr. Tebben, encouraged me to pursue my dreams and kept me on track. My uncle, Matt Hass, gave me confidence during my first internship, telling me I had what it took to make it in a male-dominated industry. And my current boss, Lyle Meyer, challenges me to learn new things and strive for excellence every day.
What do you enjoy most about being involved in agriculture? The people. You won’t find a harder-working, more compassionate or more honest group of individuals than those in the ag industry. These people have grit, and I admire them all so much.
What is your biggest agriculture related accomplishment so far? Explain. I think the biggest accomplishment has been seeing my students earn accomplishments that they have worked so hard for. Seeing the kid that runs a 1,000-acre custom hay/silage operation on his own earning a trip to state FFA. Seeing our fish and wildlife FFA team earn fourth place at state FFA after hours of practice. Seeing the kid that puts in the extra time and effort into making an engine run in class after it had been “trashed.” The feeling I have when one of my students is recognized for their hard work and determination is much more meaningful than any plaque, medal or certificate I have sitting in a tote in a closet that will never see the light of day again.
What is the biggest challenge/struggle that you’ve faced in the agriculture industry and how did you overcome that? The one really fantastic thing about agriculture is that it is ever-changing. It seems like every day there is a new piece of equipment, a new chemical and a new best practice. In my position, we are tasked with equipping students with the most up-to-date information and technical skills for careers they might have in the future. We communicate with our industry partners and try our best to get the technology, equipment and lab space to give our students the most meaningful, industry-specific education and skills. When I can’t offer that new technology or skills to students, I struggle knowing it’s not the best they could have. However, I know that we are doing the best for our students with what we do have.
Who has been your biggest influence/motivator in your life and why? I’d say my parents. They supported my crazy schedule with ag classes and FFA meetings that eventually led to my passion falling into place. Then, the second influence was of course my high school ag teacher, who still cheers me on every day and helps to teach me the ins and outs of advising FFA and teaching.
What do you enjoy most about being involved in agriculture? I love learning. Agriculture is jam-packed with exciting new knowledge and usually even more exciting old traditional knowledge. I have the privilege of teaching a wide variety of classes like small gas engines, agronomy, home repair, floriculture, wildlife and our work-based learning program. I get to come to work each day and learn something new about agriculture, and then I get to share it with students that are going to take that information and run with it into their future careers. That in itself is the most enjoyable part about being involved with agriculture.
Steph Haakonson milks a goat Aug. 27, 2023, at Red Pine Pastures in rural Little Falls. Haakonson milks her herd of Nubian and Alpine goats by hand every day during their milking season.
Haakonson from 2B
fragrance free, but Haakonson found that most of her customers wanted scented soaps. She developed soaps with essential oils such as patchouli as well as phthalate- and paraben-free fragrance soaps. Some scents are difficult to achieve through essential oils, like her Christmas blend, which is where the fragrances come into play.
“I take a lot of pride in my soaps,” Haakonson said. “I spend a lot of time formulating my ingredients into a unique recipe, and I really enjoy curating interesting soaps.”
While making soap, Haakonson will often infuse oils from herbs that she has grown in her own garden. She said she always has jars of oils infusing to use for soap. Rosemary, sage, calendula, chamomile, peppermint and lavender are a few of the herbs she has grown and used in soaps.
“You just can’t buy this level of quality and attention to detail from the big box stores,” Haakonson said.
Right now, pork and soap sales make up most of their farm sales, but they hope to see that change in the next several years. Haakonson said their goal is not to be the biggest
pork, beef or lamb producer on the map. Instead, their goal is to be a transparent source for those who seek an alternative to conventionally raised food.
Another way they are branching out is by beginning to plant trees. For several years, Eric has been focusing on planting Fraser firs, Canaan firs and white pines with the intention of selling Christmas trees in the future.
“It takes 8-10 years for Christmas trees to reach the ideal size,” Haakonson said. “But they’re well underway and will be another unique product and experience offered on our farm.”
While Red Pine Pastures is ever evolving, the Haakonsons continue to prioritize their land, customers and family.
“We started years ago with a vision,” Haakonson said. “It’s rewarding to see the results of our hard work.”
Pigs eat May 30, 2024, at Red Pine Pastures in rural Little Falls. The pigs are rotationally grazed on the
More than 25 years More than 25 years
of renewed service
Volunteers help keep history alive at Old Log Church
BY RAE LANZRATH | STAFF WRITER
SUNBURG — The settlement of America — and Minnesota — is often taught in schools. However, the history of local areas can sometimes be forgotten over time. The Norway Lake Lutheran Historical Association works tirelessly to remember their ancestors and the settle-
ment of rural Kandiyohi County. Twenty-five years ago, the Old Log Church was re-constructed by the association near Norway Lake. The church is a replica of a log church that once stood in the same location.
Old Log Church page 9B
25 years ago.
PHOTOS BY RAE LANZRATH
(Above) Charles Shuck (from left), James Henjum and John Hanson gather Feb. 14 at the East Norway Lake Lutheran Church in rural Sunburg. The men all serve on the Norway Lake Lutheran Historical Association.
(Left) Snow covers the Old Log Church Feb. 14 in rural Sunburg. The church was reconstructed
