Country Acres - July 15, 2023

Brad Benrud makes a sharp turn while flying above farmland. He said ideal application height from the top of the crop canopy is about 8 feet.

Benrud Aviation: A bird’s-eye view on aerial application

BY HANS LAMMEMAN STAFF WRITER

STAPLES – During peak growing season, Brad Benrud often flies over central Minnesota crops for up to 15 hours a day as music echoes within the cockpit of his Thrush 510 airplane.

For Benrud, a career treating crops from the sky is a profession foreshadowed by an early childhood memory from growing up on a farm near Goodhue.

“My earliest memory is from a scar that I have on my hand,” Benrud said, running fingers over a mark on his right hand. “I was 4 years old at daycare, running around with my arms out, pretending I was flying. I fell and landed where a pipe was cut off in the ground and cut my hand open.”

While his memory on the playground ended with a crash landing, Benrud’s career with aerial application tells a more uplifting story of helping

farmers from his Staples-based business. When he’s not lending a hand on his 1,200-acre soybean and corn family farm in Goodhue, he spends seven days a week during the spring and summer spraying fields with fertilizer, fungicide and insecticides.

“For a couple of months of the year, this job takes the work-life balance right out of the equation – there is no balance; it is just work,” Benrud said. “The last two weeks in July and the first two weeks in August, the plan is to be in the airplane every hour that it is even remotely bright outside.”

After graduating from high school, Benrud temporarily put his pilot aspirations aside for a warehouse job to save money for flight training. Complications in receiving his medical certificate to be cleared for flying, due to a medication he was once prescribed as a child, delayed him from getting his pilot’s license for several years. Although he

Benrud page 2

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Benrud from front

was not yet approved to take to the sky in the cockpit, Benrud found alternative ways to soar through the skies.

“In the meantime, while I was waiting for my medical, I skydived all of my 20s,” Benrud said. “I did over 1,000 skydives. Towards the end, I was an instructor for that in Baldwin, Wisconsin.”

Despite the medical complications plaguing his career goals, he tried to obtain his medical certification for a second time five years later. Again, he was unsuccessful. Undeterred, he remained focused on achieving his dream of becoming a licensed pilot and tried a third and final time with a different strategy.

“The last time I started my flight training, I studied on my own and took my written test before I even had my medical approved just to stay focused and motivated,” Benrud said. “I said I would do whatever it takes. I promised myself that if I passed, I would pursue (flying) as a career.”

With his third attempt successful, Benrud dove headfirst into trying to make a career out of his passion. He worked at the factory, doing tandem skydiving, farming and accruing flight hours while closing in on his commercial pilot’s license in 2018.

“I sold my truck and boat to finance buying a (Citabria) airplane,” Benrud said.

“While I was working in the factory, I flew as much as pos-

sible to build my time. By that next summer, I had my first job lined up for spring.”

He worked as an aerial applicator in 2019 and part of the 2020 growing season in Hutchinson before moving to a similar position in Iowa with larger, faster planes. In 2021, he connected with Ken Peterson, who operated an aerial application business in Staples for several decades.

“(Peterson) had wanted to retire here for a couple of years,” Benrud said. “He had an ad out looking for a pilot one year and looking for someone interested in buying the business.”

He flew for Peterson for a year before offering to purchase the business, finalizing a deal at the start of 2022. One of the most attractive factors of Peterson’s clientele was the abundance of potato farms in the Staples, Browerville and Parkers Prairie areas.

Benrud said he views him-

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ISSN: Print 2834-6440 Online 2834-6459

Publications bliti

“Committed to being the eyes and ears of our communities.”

Brad Benrud checks the oil of his Thrush 510 airplane June 13 at the Staples Municipal Airport in Staples. Benrud, an aerial applicator, also employs three seasonal workers in loader positions at Benrud Aviation.

PHOTOS BY HANS LAMMEMAN

Brad Benrud sits in the cockpit of his Thrush 510 airplane June 13 at the Staples Municipal Airport in Staples. He works as an aerial applicator throughout the Midwest during growing season.

June

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self as an applicator first; flying an airplane is simply part of the process.

“I am an agriculture person; this is honestly one of the most fun agriculture jobs there is,” Benrud said. “There are a lot of crappy jobs on the farm, and this is not one of them.”

He has put a hold on skydiving since opting for full-time work at Benrud Aviation in Staples, saying that he spends enough time in the air. He puts pressure on himself to perform the job to the best of his ability, as farmers rely on his work for their yields.

“You have to do well to keep your job,” Benrud said. “They are not going to pay for an airplane to come if the airplane is not doing a perfect job.”

The Staples-based pilot occasionally works in other parts of Minnesota and the Midwest when caught up on work near his home base. While he has aspirations of eventually growing the business, he takes it one day at a time, focusing on cementing a positive reputation for his business one farmer at a time.

PHOTO BY HANS LAMMEMAN

Brad Benrud points at photos of himself piloting airplanes that are hung in his office

13 at Staples Municipal Airport in Staples. Benrud spends much of the winter at agriculture aviation conventions and doing maintenance work on his airplane.

Value in

Avon Hills Folk School prepares for growth

BY HANS LAMMEMAN | STAFF WRITER

AVON – Tucked beneath the canopy of rolling wooded hills, a few short miles south of I-94 near Avon, sits a growing school that aims to reconnect its students with traditional skills, crafts and art, building and enriching community in the process. Avon Hills Folk School provides educational experiences unlike anything else in central Minnesota. Since 2018, students of all ages have ditched their electronics for hands-on lessons in traditional drum making, black ash pack basket weaving,

timber framing and much more among the school’s ever-expanding list of classes.

Executive Director Chris Schellinger said the folk school saw a dramatic increase in interest from students and teachers in the past two years, frequently leading to sold-out classes and waitlists for the first time. He said students typically drive from within a 90-mile radius, but recent courses drew attendees from various parts of Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Texas.

“We have had so much interest, support and opportunity in the last 12 to 18 months; it is getting to be a full-time job,” Schellinger said. “Our longterm vision is that the folk school ends up owning all (64 acres of this) property. That is really important from a growth standpoint.”

He said the school is nearing an expansion stage in response to recent success and is in the

planning stages for a capital campaign to support growth plans through 2027.

“It is to raise the funds to support our strategic imperatives over the next four years, which include improvements to facilities and grounds, adding staff, people and programming,” Schellinger said. “We’ve always wanted to grow to a point where (the folk school) is self-sustaining — in other words, a critical mass to support a reasonable staff, instructors and artists.”

The school welcomed Tom Wicks as a program coordinator about two years ago, who brought 34 years of experience with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota. Avon Hills has seen so much success with youth programming Schellinger said, earning the school a reputation.

PHOTO SUBMITTED Chris Schellinger rings a bell at an event at Avon Hills Folk School in Avon. The school offers a variety of classes for visitors of all ages.

PHOTO BY HANS LAMMEMAN Avon Hills Folk School

Executive Director Chris Schellinger points at a map displaying future growth plans for the campus June 23 at Avon Hills Folk School south of Avon. An upcoming capital campaign aims to bring in funding for future parking, additional structures and other growth initiatives.

Avon Hills page 10

Avon Hills

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“Many folk schools do not have the robust youth programming that we are developing,” Schellinger said. “But, we want to be careful that people don’t take a quick glance and say this is for kids; it is not exclusively.”

Schellinger said Avon Hills stands out from other folk schools because of its rural setting with relative proximity to the Twin Cities metro area.

Avon Hills Folk School also offers TimberNook – an opportunity for youth to play and be creative outdoors with minimal intervention from adults. Schellinger said the program consists of only two primary rules: always be within sight of an adult and be kind.

“You see incredible growth in social-emotional confidence, creative confidence, physical confidence, collaboration and communication skills,” Schellinger said. “There is a lot of conflict resolution that happens between them. We don’t step in. We let them figure it out. For some kids, it is their first real introduction to a life-long relationship with nature.”

He said the nonprofit organization is about two-thirds of the way through working with the Minnesota Land Trust to put a conservation easement on 59 of the 64 acres on the

property. The easement would permanently limit the land use and protect most of the campus's land.

The school is offering a new course this summer that will send attendees exploring the land’s wilderness to find beauty and food within the woods. Wild mushroom foraging, the first class personally led by Schellinger, covers the fundamentals of fungus hunting and provides attendees opportunities to put their skills to the test with supervision.

“It is almost like treasure hunting, frankly,” Schellinger

Avon Hills page 11

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PHOTOS BY HANS LAMMEMAN

Chris Schellinger crosses a bridge over Spunk Creek June 23 on the Avon Hills Folk School campus south of Avon. His parents, Francis and Karen Schellinger, moved to the property in 1974.

The Bouja Shelter at Avon Hills Folk School overlooks the driveway June 23 south of Avon. Much of the buildings and structures on the property were constructed by Francis Schellinger.

Avon Hills from page 10

said. “I got this bug from my dad when I was younger. I think there's just something almost addictive about the idea that I can go out and literally find something of great value just lying there.”

Schellinger estimated that he had more than four decades of experience in the craft, starting with his father when he was just 10 years old. While students will undoubtedly stumble across various mushrooms while foraging, the class will primarily seek Chanterelles, Hen of the Woods, Chicken of the Woods and Noble Boletes.

No matter the program, Avon

Hills Folk School allows its visitors to simply enjoy some time away from the bright screens and busyness of everyday life.

“At a minimum, it’s a break,” Schellinger said. “It’s a time to break away from (everyday responsibilities), make something, be in nature and be in community with people. After all, folk schools originated with the primary goal of building community.”

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Jay Lyons and Doug Cox check timber that will become part of the Avon Hills Folk School Outdoor Pavilion during the Introduction to Timber Framing class June 2022 in Avon. The pavilion is one of several structures the school is adding as part of a growth effort.

A welcome sign stands at the driveway of Avon Hills Folk School off of Kalla Lake Road June 23 south of Avon. The folk school attracts students from Minnesota and other states.

PHOTOS BY HANS LAMMEMAN

An Avon Hills Folk School sign welcomes visitors on Kalla Lake Road June 23 south of Avon. The folk school was incorporated as a 501C3 nonprofit in 2017.

berries The Branches’ The

A tradition at the Alexandria Farmers Market

BY ALEX CHRISTEN | STAFF INTERN

ALEXANDRIA – Ron and Ann Branch have served customers from six different continents and countless countries with fresh products from Berry Ridge Farm near Alexandria.

They can be found in their booth at the Alexandria Farmers Market throughout the summer, surrounded by bins stacked full of blueberries, strawberries, tomatoes, raspberries, squash, cucumbers, sweet corn, assorted flowers and a variety of other fresh offerings.

Ron and Ann have been growing blueberries at their farm since 1986 and officially opened the farm in 1988.

The farm consists of 11 acres, with blueberries accounting for half an acre.

The farmers market is important to the Branches because it is a way to connect farmers to consumers.

“Local produce coming from the farmers market has a much longer shelf life than what you can buy at a grocery store,” Ron Branch said. “It is fresher.”

Branch said he has high standards for the products they produce for their customers. The couple does not use any herbicides, pesticides or other chemicals on their farm although Branch admitted it would probably be easier than weeding the fields by hand.

“Our responsibility is to keep the produce safe and clean for the customers we serve,” Branch said. “We know many of them on a personal level, and we want to make sure we have healthy plants and healthy people.”

The Branches serve customers both right on the farm as well as at the Alexandria

Farmers Market. In all, the couple figures they serve between 500 and 600 customers from a 75-mile radius throughout the year.

“The farmers market allows for opportunities to connect with people who appreciate good food,” Branch said. At the market, Branch says the vendors are all very friendly and work together to ensure the customers are provided with the products that meet their needs.

Branches page 16

Ann Branch pulls weeds from among rows of carrots June 27 at Berry Ridge Farm near Alexandria. The Branches do not use any chemicals on their plants; instead they choose to weed by hand and use other natural methods to manage weeds and pests.

Branches from page 15

“It’s not a competition among the vendors,” Branch said. “It is a very positive environment.”

The market season runs from May through October, operating one day a week May through June and opening up for two additional days per week for the remainder of the season to allow vendors to keep their produce as fresh as possible.

“Opening for more days a week also helps to accommodate those who maybe can only make it on certain days a week,” Branch said.

As produce farmers, the Branches have seen

peak years as well as years with challenges. This year, the farm has faced new challenges.

The Branches are working to overcome the heat throughout this summer, the drought and the pota-

to bugs.

“We have been picking them (potato bugs) off of the plants by hand,” Branch said. “The defoliation they have caused is worse than usual.”

They also have seen the plants germinate unevenly, which affects the yield as well.

“You have good years and you have bad years,” Branch said.

“You just work through it.”

Branch grew up on a beef farm and was an active member of his FFA chapter. His first experiences growing fruits and vegetables were in the garden while growing up.

Branches page 17

PHOTO BY ALEX C HRISTEN

Ron Branch uses his favorite hoe to weed rows of peas June 27 on Berry Ridge Farm near Alexandria. The Branches manage their 11 acres with help from their employee, Ben Scholten.

PHOTO BY ALEX C HRISTEN

Ron Branch shows off a cluster of blueberries June 27 near Alexandria. The heat this year has caused the blueberries to ripen unevenly.

PHOTO SU B MITTED

Blueberries sit in containers ready to head to market in 2021 near Alexandria. Blueberries, tomatoes and raspberries are three of the main produce options Ron and Ann the Branch sell at market.

A crafter’s

Kotshevar family operates K Bar Ranch House

BY ALEX CHRISTEN STAFF INTERN

ST. MARTIN –

Nestled into the countryside among the lakes, fields and forests near St. Martin sits a ranch house that is a popular destination among quilting and crafting groups from all over. Guests are greeted by plots of wildflowers as they make their way down the winding driveway.

The ranch house, named K Bar Ranch, is owned by Tony and Jennifer Kotshevar, and they, along with their four children – Mason, Myra, Mitchell and Maverick – operate it as a space for crafting retreats.

The house itself is set up with a crafting room in what used to be the garage, with bedrooms throughout the one-level home to accommodate

up to 12 crafters.

“A lot of the guests really like the setup,”

K Bar Ranch page 20

PHOTOS SUBMITTED

The K Bar Ranch House sits in the countryside in May of 2021 between St. Martin and Farming. The house has been operated by Tony and Jennifer Kotshevar since 2019 as a space for crafting retreats.

Tony and Jennifer Kotshevar stand outside the ranch house at K Bar Ranch in September of 2018 near St. Martin. The couple purchased the house from Tony’s parents in 2018.

K Bar Ranch from 18

Tony said. “It allows space for quiet if someone wants to get away from the crafting room for a bit.”

Although the busy season for the retreat is generally from October to April, Jennifer said they’re beginning to see an uptick of reservations happening throughout the summer as well. “We are starting to

even get more guests to come in June (through) August, just because they want to come here (but) we are full the rest of the year,” Jennifer said.

The retreat attracts many guests from the local area, but the couple has seen some from as far away as Arkansas. Quite a few guests, Tony said, drive from the metro area and don’t often see rural sights such as the dairy operation across the road from the retreat house.

“They feel (like it’s a peaceful getaway) because it is such a long drive and it is out in the country,” Tony said. “A

lot of (guests) didn’t even know what the neighbor’s farm was for, but they still loved it.” The woodwork and design of the house are popular topics of conversation among retreat guests. They are often intrigued by the wildlife and wildflower plots for the bees. The property has four acres of wildflower plots, and the family recently put

K Bar Ranch page 23

PHOTO SUBMITTED

(Left) Myra Kotshevar crafts with her grandma, Betty Larson, in July 2020 in the crafting room of K Bar Ranch House near St. Martin. The ranch accommodates many different types of crafters, including painters and quilters.

PHOTO BY ALEX CHRISTEN (Top) Quilts made by Tony Kotshevar’s grandmother are displayed on beds June 19 at K Bar Ranch House near St. Martin. The house is equipped with four bedrooms and can comfortably accommodate up to 12 guests.

RECIPES SUBMITTED BY EDNA FERN MILLER | Bertha, Todd County

Homemade granola

• 7 cups quick-cooking

oatmeal

• 1 1/2 cups wheat

germ

• 2 1/2 cups coconut

(fine)

• 1 cup slivered

almonds

Homemade marshmallow crème Eggnog drink

• 4 cups Cheerios

• 5 cups crispy rice cereal

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract

• 1/2 tablespoon maple flavor

Mix dry ingredients. Then mix together melted butter, vanilla, maple flavor and salt. Pour over cereal and mix well. Toast in slow oven at 200 degrees for one hour or until crunchy (stir once while in oven).

• 3 egg whites

• 2 cups light Karo syrup

• 2 cups confectioners’ sugar

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

In a large bowl, beat egg whites until fluffy. Add Karo syrup and salt; beat 10 minutes until thick. Add confectioners’ sugar and vanilla and beat until blended.

RECIPES SUBMITTED BY BECKY CHRISTEN Sauk Centre, Stearns County

Chocolate zucchini cake

Cake:

• 1/2 cup butter

• 2 cups zucchini

• 1/2 cup oil

• 1 1/3 cup sugar

• 2 eggs

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 1/2 cup sour cream

• 2 1/2 cups flour

• 4 tablespoons cocoa powder

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon

baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Topping:

• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

• 1/4 cup brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-13 pan and set aside. Mix all cake ingredients together. Pour into pan and bake for 10 minutes. While that is baking, mix chocolate chips and brown sugar together for the topping. After cake has baked for 10 minutes, sprinkle the topping evenly on top of cake and bake for an additional 15 to 20 minutes.

Rhubarb dump cake

• 1 pound rhubarb cut into 1/4-inch pieces (3-4 cups)

• 1 cup white sugar

• 1 3-ounce package of strawberry Jell-o

• 1 package yellow cake mix

• 1 cup of water

• 1/4 cup melted butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9-by-13 baking pan. Spread rhubarb evenly on the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle sugar over rhubarb, followed by Jell-o and then the cake mix. Pour water and melted butter over the top. Do not stir. Bake for 45 minutes or until rhubarb is tender.

• 2 eggs

• 1 cup sugar

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

• 2 quarts cold milk

• 1 teaspoon vanilla flavor

Beat eggs well. Add sugar, salt, nutmeg and vanilla. Mix well and stir into cold milk for a cold drink.

Raspberry chiffon pie

• 1 pie crust

• 10 ounces frozen raspberries or strawberries

• 3-ounce package raspberry or strawberry Jell-o

• 3/4 cup boiling water

• 2 teaspoons lemon juice

• 2/3 cup fruit-juice water

• Dash of salt

• 2 egg whites

• 1/4 cup sugar

Bake pie crust according to package directions. Thaw and drain the raspberries or strawberries, saving the fruit juices for later. Combine the Jell-o and boiling water; stir until dissolved. Add lemon juice and fruit-juice water to the Jell-o; stir gently to combine. Chill until partially set. Remove from refrigerator and beat until soft peaks form. Then fold in drained berries. In a separate bowl, combine dash of salt and egg whites. Beat until soft peaks form, slowly adding in 1/4 cup sugar. Continue beating until stiff peaks form. Fold into berry mixture. Pour into cooled pie crust and chill until ready to serve.

K Bar Ranch from 20

65 acres of their land into the Sauk River Watershed Easement Program.

“Most really enjoy it,” Tony said. “They say that it’s just so peaceful because it is off the beaten path quite a way and there is a mix of everything here.”

Jennifer said the retreat property is also home to a horse named Cassy and a donkey named Sven.

“The guests love Sven,” Jennifer said. “He is known as the mascot of the retreat.”

The Kotshevars were inspired to start the retreat house when Tony’s parents moved to South Dakota in 2018 from their home adjacent to Tony and Jennifer’s. The couple jumped at the opportunity to keep the nearby house in the family. However, with both of them working their full-time jobs, they knew they needed

to make use of the house in some capacity that fit into their schedules.

“We started brainstorming what we could do with it since otherwise we couldn’t afford to just buy it,” Jennifer said. “After a lot of different thoughts of what we could do, we came up with having a crafting and retreat house.”

The Kotshevars have now been operating K Bar Ranch House as a space for crafting retreats since October of 2019.

“Our kids love coming over here too and helping out,” Jennifer said. “If Tony and I can’t clean one weekend, they’ve picked up and helped clean. It’s a family deal.”

Although the house acts as a magnet for those die-hard crafting fans, Tony and Jennifer said they personally are not active crafters.

“It’s something I would like to do down the road because all of the people have a great time here,” Jennifer said. “A lot of memories and really beautiful quilts come out of here.”

The couple does have family members who are heavily involved in crafting, which is where some of the ideas for the crafting retreat came from. Jennifer’s mother does jewelry making and scrapbooking. To-

ny’s grandmother does a lot of quilting and has made many of the quilts that are placed in the retreat house.

Tony said they have a neighbor who does a lot of crafting too.

“We had her come over and actually go through things with us,” Tony said. “She gave us pointers and suggestions as to how we could make it look better or more friendly for people to use too.”

In the future, the Kotshevars said they are hoping one of the kids will eventually want to buy into the business. The couple said they could also see continuing the retreat into their retirement because they enjoy treating visitors to a getaway.

“It’s interaction with people,” Tony said.

Jennifer said they have received positive feedback from those who have attended retreats at the K Bar Ranch. The Kotshevars’ attention to detail rarely goes unnoticed by their guests, and the family often receives thank-you notes for their hospitality.

“It’s been great,” Jennifer said. “Most of the guests that we have here are returners. They kind of get to be friends of ours too. It’s fun to see them come back.”

PHOTO BY ALEX CHRISTEN

Sven, the mascot for K Bar Ranch House, sunbathes June 19 at his home near St. Martin. In addition to Sven, the retreat property is also home to a horse named Cassy.

A Massey man Herzog had a heart for farming, family

BY CAROL MOORMAN STAFF WRITER

Donald Herzog received a letter in April of 1997 informing him a McCormick-Deering threshing machine was available from a farmer in Twin Valley, near Ada. A year before, Donald, a driving-around-the-countryside guy, spotted that threshing machine, offering to purchase it if the farmer was ever ready to sell it.

Donald hightailed up to Twin Valley that April day, with cash in hand, to secure the threshing machine that had only been used twice.

“That was the fastest that truck ever went north,” said Dave Herzog, Donald’s son.

Dave, of Osakis, talked about that memorable day while sitting around a table June 25 with his seven siblings –Fred of Randall, Gary of Swanville, Allen of Freeport, Dennis of Burtrum, Shirley Winkels of Avon, Janet Christen of Albany and Janel Marstein of Bowlus. They gathered

at what was Donald and wife Betty (Arceneau)

Herzog’s rural St. Francis home, a short distance from their fourth-generation farm.

The threshing machine, used for three threshing bees

on the Herzog farm, was on the farm’s auction June 23, along with other farm equipment, including 15 tractors, some of them Massey Harris that Donald restored.

The Herzog siblings agreed, if their mild-man-

nered, farm-loving dad were still alive, he would have bought the machinery back.

“All that stuff would have been right back here (in the shed),” said Fred, the oldest.

Donald kept every-

thing, even oodles of grocery receipts and the manual for the threshing machinery, Shirley said, but his pride and joy were the tractors he restored, and it made him happy when they shined.

“He’s been collect-

ing his whole life,” Gary said.

Herzog page 25

PHOTO BY CAROL MOORMAN

The Herzog siblings – Dennis (from left), Allen, Janet Christen and Janel Marstein; (back, from left) Shirley Winkels, Dave, Gary and Fred – gather around a Massey Harris 20 tractor June 23 before the start of the family’s farm auction in rural St. Francis. Their dad, Donald, enjoyed restoring tractors, including Massey Harris Pacer and Pony tractors.

Herzog

from page 24

Fred remembers his dad trading only one tractor in his life, a 44 Massey Harris for a 70 John Deere.

“He said that was the biggest mistake he made,” Dave said.

Donald kept most everything he ever farmed with. Just how much their father had kept, the family found out after Donald, 84, passed away July 15, 2022, joining Betty who died Oct. 9, 1997. Donald was raised on a farm near St. Rosa, the son of Fred and Rose (Schreier) Herzog, and a sibling to two sisters, before they moved to what would become the Herzog family farm. Donald and Betty homesteaded the family farm in 1964, moving into their new house on Herzog land in 1991 after Allen and wife Diane took over

the farm. In 2022, Allen and Diane transitioned the farm to their son, Matt and

wife Anna, making them the fourth generation on the farm. Almost every weekend since January, the family prepared for the

auction, unpacking sheds filled with items Donald collected, prompting memories about life on the farm, just to the south; like the old corn planter.

“When the corn started coming up, for the corn that didn’t come up, we used the hand planter,” Dave said. It is a farm where Donald and Betty raised

nine children, now ages 59-46. Son Duane “Whitey” passed away Feb. 28, 2017.

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