Country Acres South - August 19, 2023

BY AMY KYLLO | STAFF WRITER

KENYON – Every couple of months, viewers of Twin Cities Live can see Mike Patterson share his family’s pork recipes. For many, one of these segments would be their first and last 15 seconds of fame, but for Mike, these interviews are a few of many he has done to promote the pork industry.

Mike and his wife Rebekah Patterson, and their daughters, nish 10,000 pigs each year on their farm near Kenyon.

The media interviews all started in 2020 when the Pattersons were informed that their processing plant was closing indefinitely.

With pigs continually coming into the barns and no place to send them, the Pattersons were in a bind.

“When you’re drinking from a firehose, ... we just tried to do the next right

thing,” Mike said.

Together, the couple began trying to sell their pigs one or two at a time. Mike still has the planner filled with hundreds of names they connected with. They booked up as many spots at local butchers as they could and ended up selling 600 pigs.

They also partnered with the University of Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin-River Falls to use their meat labs to process pigs and send the meat to Second Harvest Heartland.

During this time, the Minnesota Pork Board asked Mike to do media interviews because the Pattersons’ farm was directly impacted by the closure of the packing plant.

“We were telling our story, but we were also really telling the story of what producers all over the U.S., and pretty heavily in Minnesota, were going through,” Mike said.

Mike ended up being inter-

viewed by CNN, PBS NewsHour, Reuters, SharkFarmer TV, MSNBC News, Timeline, National Geographic — which did not publish the story — the Daily Mirror and local television stations FOX 9, KAAL-TV and KTTC News.

This year, the Pattersons, who are also active in their local FFA chapter and the community, are being honored as the Goodhue County Farm Family of the Year.

“(It is) definitely humbling that our peers saw us as being ... fit for that honor,” Mike said. ... “I know there’s lots of other farms out there. They’re working hard every day and doing great, awesome things.”

Mike grew up on a farrow-to-finish operation and at a young age wanted to stay involved in the pork industry. Mike said he remembers writing a letter to himself for FFA saying where he hoped to be in the future.

PHOTO BY AMY KYLLO

The Patterson family – Leia (front); (back, from left) Mike, Rebekah, Julia and Belle – smile Aug. 1 on their pig farm near Kenyon. The Pattersons finish 10,000 pigs each year on their farm. Not pictured is the Pattersons’ daughter Maddie.

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PHOTO BY AMY KYLLO Pigs relax Aug. 1 on the Patterson farm near Kenyon. Mike Patterson did many media interviews during the coronavirus pandemic as a farmer affected by processing plant shutdowns.

PHOTO BY AMY KYLLO

A pig sticks its nose through the gate Aug. 1 on the Patterson farm near Kenyon. Mike Patterson began his career as a pig farmer in 1995 at 18 when he bought into the sow co-op his parents helped start.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Belle Patterson shows a boar in March at the National Swine Registry Southwest Type Conference in Belton, Texas. The Patterson girls attend 10 to 12 shows each year in Minnesota and across the nation. Pattersons page 3

SOUTH

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155 feet of adventure

Amy Kyllo

As I edged my heals off the roof of a 155-foot building, I once again fooled the world that I was brave. The last weekend in July was the second time in my life my feet have been poised on the precipice as I prepared to safely dangle myself off the side of a 14-story hotel. Twice I have descended slowly to safety.

The event was Down for the Challenge which is an urban rappelling event hosted by The Salvation Army Northern Division. Each rappeler raised money that went to fight homelessness in the Twin Cities and then got to rappel the 14-story Omni Viking Lakes hotel which looks over Interstate 494 next to the Minnesota Vikings practice facility. Whether the rappelling is a reward or punishment at the end of fundraising is up to you to decide.

Not wanting to do it alone, like the loving little sister I am, I also convinced my older sister — who does not like heights — to go with me.

ST RBefore you think I’m an idiot for even considering rappelling down a building, let me

just say that, going down the side, I was so well strapped in that it almost felt like sitting in a lawn chair. The staff checked and rechecked harnesses and had double ropes. With a lot of people who knew what they were doing, I felt pretty safe.

The real beauty of the rappelling system was that if I didn’t do anything, I just sat in the air in my harness enjoying the view or having a momentary feeling of panic. The more I

pulled the handle of the rappelling gear toward myself, the faster I went, but as rappelers, we were reassured that if we were having too much fun — going too fast — the gear would stop. I felt like the system was foolproof which is exactly what my weak stomach needs.

I wanted to be part of the event because last year I was a marketing intern for Down for the Challenge. I managed dozens of rappelers, with weekly contacts over phone or email assisting them to prepare for the event and helping them with fundraising.

I will never forget last year. Once I had gotten past the sheer terror of getting off of a perfectly good building and began descending the wall, I had feelings of elation and reward as the hundreds of calls and emails I had made somehow all felt worth it.

Before any of you

think I am a daredevil or something crazy, I am not usually all that daring. Riding the roller coasters at Valleyfair is usually about as adventurous as I get.

In fact, the most daring thing I can even think of is that I have gone winter camping in a tent Feb. 1, 2019, at Jay Cooke State Park near Duluth. The weather for Minneapolis that day was a high of 9 and a low of 6 degrees below zero, but somehow, I stayed warm all night.

With all this information, just know that if you play the game “Never have I ever” with me, I generally have a good shot of winning. But, if you want to get beyond party games to adventure, like the daredevil I am, I dare you to also descend the wall with me next summer on one of the few adventures I’ve got the guts to complete.

Sunshine & Flowers by

PHOTO BY SALVATION ARMY NORTHERN DIVISION

Amy Kyllo leans off the roof July 29 at the Omni Viking Lakes Hotel in Eagan. Kyllo was participating in Down for the Challenge, an urban rappelling fundraiser done by The Salvation Army Northern Division to raise money to fight homelessness in the Twin Cities.

Pattersons from front

pigs. The farrowing and nursing facilities are jointly owned which helps co-op members take advantage of economies of scale on the farrowing end of the operation and also helps with disease cycles while each farm maintains ownership of their finishing pigs.

Mike and Rebekah met through FFA and said they started as a “fair fling” and ended up married. FFA has played a big part in their entire family’s lives.

One way the Pattersons are involved with FFA is growing pumpkins on a small piece of land next to one of their pig barns as a benefit for the chapter. The low profile of the pumpkin vines allows for good ventilation through the pig barns while still making use of the land. Mike said they have made as much as $2,000 in one year through the pumpkins.

ing barns. Rebekah said part of their operation’s success has been connected to their work ethic and mindset.

“When Mike and I first got married, we had little or nothing besides a lot of love and a lot of debt,” she said. “But, we had a lot of dreams, and we did a lot of work.”

The whole family is involved working with the pigs. Mike’s sister Beth Helgeson also helps with chores, and they own 2,000 pigs with her and her husband, Aaron.

Because the farm only offered a limited amount of work for the Patterson children, around 10 years ago the Pattersons started Country Girls Showpigs, which the Patterson girls manage.

“We wanted them to

be involved in agriculture,” Mike said.

The girls attend 10 to 12 shows each year in Minnesota and across the nation. Mike said the venture has given them the chance to see pigs from farrow to finish, something they cannot do on the family farm. The girls also have the opportunity to learn business.

The Pattersons are not sure what the future of their farm is.

“We’re waiting to see how things pan out for the girls,” Mike said. “If they’re interested in diving into agriculture more, we definitely want to help them, and we’re ready to help them get that figured out. And if that’s not the path, then we maybe continue the operation more as is.”

“One of the letters to myself, ... I decided I wanted to be a farm credit loan officer, and I wanted to be involved in the pig business,” he said. “I guess here I am living the dream.”

Mike works for

“I

Mike began his career as a pig farmer in 1995 at 18 when he bought into the sow co-op his parents helped start.

Each sow co-op member buys shares and in turn receives their share’s worth of 50-pound

The Pattersons’ home site was comprised of trees and undergrowth when Mike started there as a young man. Now, over the years, the couple has made it into green lawns, a nice home and three curtain-ventilated finish-

PHOTO BY AMY KYLLO

A finishing barn is nestled on the Patterson farm Aug. 1 near Kenyon. The Pattersons do not know what the future of their farm is, but if any of their daughters are interested in running the farm, they want to help them accomplish that.

PHOTO BY AMY KYLLO

Chickens stand Aug. 1 in their pen at the Patterson farm near Kenyon. Mike and Rebekah Patterson describe their relationship as a “fair fling,” which eventually let to their marriage.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Leia Patterson shows a pig at the 2022 Minnesota State Fair. Because the farm only offered a limited amount of work for the Patterson children, the Pattersons started Country Girls Showpigs, which the girls manage.

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Farm Family

Adam and Sarah Mellgren were raised on dairy farms and active in 4-H. To this day, they are adult 4-H volunteers and lease dairy animals to area youth. The family works together to help others who want to learn about showing dairy cattle.

This year, the Mellgrens have been named the Wabasha County Farm Family of the Year.

The couple began their farming journey together in 2005, with the purchase of Adam’s family farm. Soon thereafter, they started dairy farming.

Youngstock were kept at home while the cows were kept at Sarah’s parents, Vince and Sheri Sexton’s farm. The couple farmed with the Sextons until 2012 when they built a freestall barn and a double-6 parlor and moved the cows home.

The Mellgrens’ children, Ashley, Emily and Roger, are the third generation of the family to milk cows on the current farm.

Today, the family milks 70 cows and raise their replacements. Their herd are all registered Holsteins, including a few Red and White. The kids help with daily chores,

including calf feeding and milking.

They have 275 acres of owned and rented land where they grow alfalfa, corn and soybeans. Ashley and Emily have started a partnership, own animals, and help make sire selections and mating decisions for the family’s herd. The farm also includes a small herd of Boer goats. All three Mellgren kids are active in 4-H and after-school activities.

Adam works on the farm full time while Sarah works off the farm in addition to her on-farm responsibilities. Additionally, Adam and Sarah have served as chaperones for Wabasha County 4-H at the Minnesota

PHOTO BY AMY KYLLO

Adam (from left), Emily, Roger, Ashley and Sarah Mellgren smile Aug. 4 at their dairy farm near Zumbro Falls. The Mellgrens show their dairy cows and lease the cows to others who do the same.

State Fair. Sarah is a member of the Wabasha County Fair Board and serves on the Wabasha County Farm Service Agency committee. The Mellgrens are members of Trinity Lutheran Church.

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Farm Family

Jim and Patty Schieber raise hogs in a farrow-to-finish practice and grow no-till corn and soybeans, a conservation practice they started in 1993. This year, the family was named the Houston County Farm Family of the Year.

The Schieber farmstead is a multi-generational

one. The current farm was purchased from Jim Schieber’s grandparents, Joe and Ruth Schieber, by Joe and Carol Schieber in 1971.

Jim joined the farming operation in 1989, and he and Patty were married in 1991. They raised three children: Katie, Joseph and Maria. Years later, in 2018, Joseph officially joined the operation. Jim, Patty and Joseph were all active in 4-H and FFA during their respective high school years.

Joseph married Victoria and stayed to work on the farm while his siblings took on other roles. Katie, a neuroscience nurse, married Dayne Heintz, and they dairy farm in Badger Valley. Maria is a cardio/pulmonary nurse and resides in Caledonia.

Joseph’s grandfather, Joe, is retired but does fieldwork and helps feed sows. Jim and Joseph handle daily chores, including the feeding, mixing of rations, ordering supplies and marketing.

The various generations on the farm have learned from one another. Patty learned how to castrate and take care of the piglets from her mother-in-law, Carol, who died in 2007. Patty also drives grain truck during harvest and fills in whenever she can. Now, the tradition of passing along knowledge continues as Joseph’s wife, Victoria, learns about farm life and helps Patty with the piglets. After Carol’s death, Joe went on to find happiness again and married Lorrie DeWitt.

Outside of the farm, Jim and Patty volunteer at their church in leadership roles and have served as

adult 4-H leaders. Patty has served on the local library board, been an election judge and serves on the Wilmington Mutual Insurance Company board of directors. Jim and Joseph are members of FarmHouse Fraternity at the University of Minnesota, which they both attended, and Joseph has served as the Caledonia Township clerk.

Farm Family

The Franke farm in southern Minnesota’s Olmsted County is a third-generation family farm and has been named this year’s Olmsted County Farm Family of the Year.

Jim Franke’s grandparents, Rudolph and Amanda Franke, were the first generation of the family on the land. His parents, Clarence and Janet, then purchased the farm. They milked cows, farrowed pigs, raised chicken and had beef cows. They also grew corn, oats, soybeans and hay.

Jim and Deb purchased the farm from Jim’s parents and today raise 80 beef cow-calf pairs, 20 replacement heifers and a few pigs. The Frankes also grow corn, soybeans and hay. Clarence remained involved in

the farm until his passing in 2020.

Jim and Deb work full time off the farm, and the extended family plays an active role in farm life. Janet is retired but continues to check on everything around the farm every day. Jim’s brother, Bob, helps with planting. The Frankes’ son, Brian, helps with fieldwork, baling and with the cows. Their son, Kevin, helps with fieldwork and baling, and his wife, Tracy, helps wherever needed. Jim and Deb’s daughter, Ashley, also helps with the cows and wherever else she can as does Ashley’s husband, Jim. Jim also assists with chopping.

All Franke family members have been involved in their local 4-H beef project.

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PHOTO SUBMITTED

The Franke family — Memphis Franke (front, from left), Rhett Laures and Mabel Franke; (back, from left) Adrianna Franke holding Georgia Franke, Jim Franke, Deb Franke and Hallie Laures holding Brooklyn Franke — gathers for a photo at the 2023 Olmsted County Fair in Rochester. The Frankes raise 80 beef cow-calf pairs, 20 replacement heifers and a few pigs as well as corn, soybeans and hay on their farm.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Jim and Patty Schieber smile Aug. 8 on their farm near Caledonia. The Schiebers have been practicing no-till on their farm since 1993.

Farm Family

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Currently, the farm consists of 350 acres of corn and alfalfa. The Metzes’ children remain involved in agriculture whether through crop farming, raising sheep, goats and cattle or staying involved with the local American Dairy Association board.

Jeff Metz started milking a herd of 24 cows in a rented barn in June 1983. The farm has seen many changes since then and is being honored as this year’s Winona County Farm Family of the Year.

In 1985, he married his wife Mariann, and they now have four children: Alicia, Courtney, Brittany and Nathan.

Together, they grew the farming operation from its original 24 cows to 245 in 2020.

In 2013, after three years of planning, the family constructed a creamery facility to process the milk produced on the farm into cheese and gelato. Jeff, Mariann and Courtney operated the creamery while Alicia managed their social media and herd records. Nathan and Brittany’s husband, Nick Agrimson, ran the dairy farm and took care of the crops.

This past January, the Metzes discontinued the creamery operation and sold the dairy herd and re-fo-

All of the Metzses’ children are married. Alicia married Ben Anderson in 2019, and they have two girls, Clara and Callie. Courtney married Jordan Kalbarzyck in 2018 and welcomed a son, Wylder. Brittany wed Nick Agrimson in 2012, and they have four children: Dominick, Dawson, Avianna and Archer. Nathan married Shelby Boldt in 2019, and they are parents to Easton and Onyx.

Through the years, various Metz family members have served at their church in various roles. They have also been members of the Winona County America Dairy Association board and Winona County Dairy Herd Improvement Association board and have enjoyed hosting farm tours and other special events on their farm.

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PHOTO SUBMITTED

The Metz family — Mariann Metz (front, from left), holding Dawson Agrimson, Jeff Metz, Ramona Metz and Domnick Agrimson; (back, from left) Ben Anderson holding Clara Anderson, Alicia Anderson holding Callie Anderson, Courtney Kalbarczyk holding Wylder Kalbarczyk, Jordan Kalbarczyk, Shelby Metz holding Onyx Metz, Nathan Metz holding Easton Metz, Brittany Agrimson holding Archer Agrimson and Nick Agrimson holding Aviana Agrimson — gathers Jan. 1 at the home of Jeff and Mariann Metz near Rushford. The Metz family recently transitioned their farm from dairy cows and an on-farm creamery to crops.

State fair

aficionados

Lofquists camp all 12 days at the Great Minnesota Get-Together

BY AMY KYLLO STAFF WRITER

BYRON – Not many people can claim they camp at and attend the Minnesota State

Fair for all 12 days each year, but for Jon and Carol Lofquist of rural Byron, they have owned that distinction for more than a decade.

“Once you start

going to the fair, ... it becomes a tradition,”

Carol Lofquist said.

“It’s something that you’re going to do. You make a lot of memories; you make a lot of friends. You get to do a lot of things, and there’s something new ... at the fair every single year.”

Each year, the Lofquists apply for a campsite on the fairgrounds where they stay in a camper. Though, for many years, they stayed in a tent. Getting a campsite each year is no easy endeavor.

The fair has the process timed down to a partial second because of the number of applications, so securing one means waiting at a computer to click submit.

The first year they had a campsite, Lofquist was working for Kemps LLC. The office building was nearby so each day Lofquist would walk to a corporate office then return to the fair for the evening, and Jon would come on weekends. Now that they are both retired, they enjoy the full experience.

“It’s a stress free 12 days, because it’s vacation,” Lofquist said.

Lofquist said they often get asked how it works to eat fair food for 12 days. She said they start at the fair on the first day at around 7 a.m. at the About A Foot Long Hot Dog concession stand for hot dogs with onions. After the first morning though,

PHOTO SUBMITTED Minnesota State Fair Foundation volunteers

Carol and Jon Lofquist smile during the parade at the Minnesota State Fair. The Lofquists spend part of their 12 days at the Great Minnesota Get-Together volunteering.

they usually have oatmeal or cereal for breakfast at the camper, and then later in the day, they visit their favorite food stands, many of which offer fresh options without the deep fryer.

Lofquist said because they attend the fair for all 12 days, they are able to slow down the experience. A break at the camper is a short walk away, the water tower offers bathrooms and showers, and they do not fight traffic to get there in the first place.

“We don’t feel the pressure of running from one thing to the next because we have to do it all in one day,” Lofquist said. “We get to take our time and map out what we want to do every day.”

For entertainment

at the fair, they enjoy attending the many concerts on stages across the fairgrounds and use the Minnesota State Fair app to help plan. One of their favorite shows is the Minnesota National Guard’s 34th Infantry

Division “Red Bull” Band. They also appreciate the Minnesota Historical Society’s History On-A-Schtick held at the Schell’s Stage at the Schilling Amphitheater.

Lofquists page 11

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Carol Lofquist climbs the DNR Fire Tower alongside Minnesota State Fair mascot Fairborne. The Lofquists, who attend all 12 days of the Minnesota State Fair, said that friends will come to visit them at the fair almost as if they were at a cabin.

PHOTO SUBMITTED Jon Lofquist chums with with Minnesota State Fair mascot Fairborne at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell Stage. The Lofquists enjoy attending the many concerts on stages across the fairgrounds and use the Minnesota State Fair app to help plan.

t ter in the heir favorite s, many of r s

Lofquists from page 10

Carol Lofquist’s Minnesota State Fair food recommendations

– Charcoal Hut: Fresh tomato stuffed with chicken salad, chicken and turkey legs cooked over charcoal. Located between the International Bazaar and the J.V. Bailey House.

– Hansen’s Foods: Eggs and breakfast food. Located near the Christensen Pavilion.

– About A Foot Long Hot Dog: Footlong hot dogs with onions. Located near Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum.

– Poncho Dog Corn Dogs: Poncho dogs. Located near the Ball Park Café.

– Patinella’s Chicken Grill: Chicken and rice bowls. Located on Chambers Street near the grandstand stage.

– Manny’s Tortas: Fresh pineapples with or without a drink inside. Located in the Food Building.

– Nordic Waffles: A choice for finding fresh food. Located on West Dan Patch Avenue in the West End Market.

– Que Viet Concessions: Giant egg roll on a stick or garlic cream cheese wontons on a stick. Located on Cooper Street near Dan Patch Avenue.

– Giggles’ Campfire Grill: Northwoods Salad on a Stick, aka caprese salad. Located at the southeast corner of Lee Avenue and Cooper Street at the North Woods.

Lofquists page 12

PREPAY SEASON IS COMING!

UPCOMING AUCTIONS

MONDAY 8:00 am Overnight market cows/bulls

10:00 am Fed cattle, followed by day-delivered market cows & bulls

1:00 pm Dairy cattle, stock cows & breeding bulls followed by feeder cattle

4:00 pm Baby calves, arena 2

TUESDAY 8:00 am Sheep and goats

11:00 am Feeder pigs

WEDNESDAY 10:00 am Hog/Sow/Boar Auction

2:00 pm Fed cattle, followed by market cows and bulls

THURSDAY

10:00 am Special feeder cattle auctions, September - April

FRIDAY

Closed Office open 8:00 am – Noon

YARD HOURS

Sunday Noon – 10pm

Monday 6am – 10pm

Tuesday 6am – 10pm

Wednesday 6am – 4pm (Open until 10pm, preceding special Thursday sales ONLY)

Thursday 6am – 4pm

Friday 6am – Noon

Saturday By Appointment

A honey-themed quilt hangs July 24 at Carol Lofquist’s home near Byron. Some of Lofquist’s projects come from patterns, while others she creates herself.

fr

PHOTOS BY AMY KYLLO

A collection of Carol Lofquist’s quilts on a stick lie assembled July 24 at her home near Byron. Lofquist has received a ribbon five of the six years she has competed.

Each year, they attend seminars at the state fair – something that perhaps not all fairgoers even know exist – at the Agriculture Horticulture Building and in the Progress Center.

“Because we’ve been there so often, ... we know the free stuff,” Lofquist said.

One of their first stops at the fair on the first day is to see how Lofquist’s quilt entries were judged. She brings different sizes and types of quilts, but one of her specialties is the state fair’s quilt on a stick category. This competition has quilters create a small 8-inch by 9-inch quilt placed on a paint stir stick. Each year, the quilts compete on a theme. In her six years of competing, Lofquist has won blue twice, placed third twice, plus earned a fourth-place finish.

One of Lofquist’s favorite memories is walking into the Creative Activities Building in 2018 and seeing blue next to her entry. She said her reaction was what everyone who gets a blue ribbon feels.

“They’re like, ‘Aaaah! Wow, this is so cool; this is amazing,’” Lofquist said. “My husband was super proud of me, and he’d tell everybody, ‘That’s my wife’s.’”

Lofquist’s Minnesota Up North themed winning quilt features a collage scene with Paul Bunyan, a moose, pine trees and more arranged in a circular pattern of the North Star. In the center, a small compass hand rotates around the northern scenes powered by its hidden clock mechanism.

As volunteers, the Lofquists take several shifts at the Minnesota State Fair Foundation helping sell the Blue Ribbon Bargain Book and can also be found keeping an eye on John Deere pedal tractors at the Kemps Little Farm Hands exhibit. There, they make sure kids riding are the correct height – measured in number of chickens tall.

Outside the Great Minnesota Get-Together, Lofquist and her husband live at a quiet, rural home. Upstairs in the sewing room, Lofquist makes quilting magic. Some projects come from patterns, while others she creates herself. For Lofquist, quilting is an artform not just a hobby.

“The way people use fabric to interpret anything from a still life to a landscape to an animal to anything is pretty amazing,” she said.

Living in a rural area, Lofquist has an appreciation for how the state fair is an agriculture organization and its impact on the community.

“I do think that the fair is trying to make sure that piece of our history and our life in Minne-

sota is still represented,” she said.

This summer, the Lofquists will again be enjoying the fair, bringing quilting projects and seeing friends.

“People go up north to their cabins, and they have friends visit them,” Lofquist said. “We go to the state fair, and we have friends visit us.”

PHOTOS BY AMY KYLLO

Carol Lofquist sews July 24 at her home near Byron. Lofquist views quilting as an artform and said she is amazed by how quilters use fabric to interpret anything from a still life to a landscape or animal.

Carol Lofquist’s Minnesota Up North quilt on a stick rests July 24 on her sewing table at her home near Byron. This quilt won a blue ribbon at the 2018 Minnesota State Fair.

TOM & SUZIE KJEER FARM RETIREMENT

LIVE/ONLINE · Aug. 26th, 2023

SELLING NICE LINE-UP OF LOW HOUR JOHN DEERE TRACTORS & FARM MACHINERY Bidding Opens: Fri, August 18th @ 10 a.m.

Sat, August 26th @ 10:30 a.m.

Location: 77328 190th St. Ostrander, MN 55961

with Starfire ITC Globe, One Owner, 2004 John Deere 8120 MFD Tractor, 2,100 Hours, Powershift Trans, 480/80R46 Tires and Duals, 4 Hyds, 3 pt, Quick Hitch, JD Active Seat, Buddy Seat, Deluxe Cab, HID Lighting. Green Star Ready, One Owner  1951 Oliver 66 Row Crop Tractor, Gas, NF, 10-38’’ Tires, 540 PTO, Fenders

FARM MACHINERY: 2012 Riteway Roller, 46ft, Dual Rear Tires, Acre Counter, John Deere 980 Field Cultivator, 44 1/2 ft 3 Bar Harrow, Single Point Depth Control, Knock-On Sweeps , 1996 John Deere 714 Conserv-Till, 13 Shank, Hyd Front Gang, Rear Levelers, Single Point Depth Control, 2nd Owner, Case IH 496 Disc 24ft 3-Bar Harrow, Hay Rack & Gear w/ 1600-gal Poly Tank, 300-gal Fuel Tank & Stand, Noble 6 Section Spike Tooth Drag, Mel-Cam Rock Picker, International 55 3pt. Chisel Plow, w/NH3 Kit, 19 Shank, Demco HT Pull-Type Sprayer 1,000-gal Tank, 60 ft Booms, Ravens Controls & Monitor, Adjustable Axles, Walking Tandems, Rinse Tank & Hyd. Pump, 200-gal Poly Tank

GPS EQUIPMENT: John Deere 6000 Globe, SF1 Unlock, John Deere 3000 Globe, SF1 Unlock WAGONS & AUGERS: (2) Brent 540 Wagons & Gear, Lights & Brakes, Nu-Bilt 250 bu. Wagon & Gear, Hyd. Brush Auger, (2) Custom Made Center Dump Wagons 200 bu., Agri-speed Wagon Hitches - 2 - Large Pins Wagon Hitches, 3 - Small Pins Wagon Hitches, 1- Tractor Receiver, Rock Wagon & Gear, Hyd. Hoist, Rock Wagon & Gear, w/1,100gal Poly Tank & 3.5 hp Cast Iron Pump, 4’’x18ft Electric Auger, Feterl Swing Hopper PTO Drive, Feterl 8’’x 66ft Auger

PTO Drive, Mayrath 6’’x 27ft Auger, Westfield 8’’x56’ Electric Drive Auger, 10hp, Single Phase, Westfield 10’’x71ft PTO Drive, Westfield 10’’x 71 PTO Drive, w/6ft Extension, Inductor & Hose

130 State Hwy. 16 Dexter, MN 55926 (507) 584-0133

Rotts from page 13

Melissa appreciates the life lessons taught through showing.

“As a parent, what I appreciate is that they have to get up and work with those animals,” she said. “Then you get to see the progress that you make with animals that aren’t used to being necessarily worked with that closely.”

Outside the fair, the Rotts dairy farmed for many years and are now custom dairy heifer raisers. They raise 400 heifers ages 5 months up to 30 to 60 days pre-calving. They also farm 330 acres of corn, oat and alfalfa to put up their own feed.

Bruce is the main worker in the barn with the cattle as Melissa works full time as a nurse at Mayo Clinic. Lauren and Anna help with vaccinations but mainly focus on raising their fair calves.

While the young adults and teens have enjoyed showing animals throughout the years, they have also

enjoyed doing static projects.

The girls do sewing projects including quilting with their grandma, Marilyn Sheehan. This year, Anna sewed a pair of blue, flowy, casual dress pants which she won grand champion with in fashion revue for the clothes you make category.

“I’ll usually have a free day where I can just go over and do a one-or two-day project with my grandma,” Anna said.

Besides sewing, a static project for the Rott girls in the past was food revue. Another arena for Anna is painting for the fine arts category.

“It gets you involved in those things when you’re young,” she said. “When you think about it, not ... necessarily very many people do that.”

Isaac, who currently is a student at the University of Minnesota and interning at Gar-Lin Dairy LLC this summer, used to make large K’NEX static projects.

Rotts page 14

AUCTIONEERS:

WWW.HAMILTONAUCTIONCOMPANY.COM

PHOTOS BY AMY KYLLO

Three show calves eat grain June 26 at Badger Bluff Farm near Elgin. The Rotts choose their fair animals in May.

Light gleams off winning ribbons June 26 at Badger Bluff Farm near Elgin. The Rotts have participated at the Olmsted County Fair for many years, going back to when Bruce and Melissa were children.

Andrew Hamilton, Bill Hilton; Sales Associates: Jeff Thorsen, Bob Grass; CLERK: Hamilton Auction Co.

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International Harvester Co. Gold Demonstrator tractors crown Van Wyhes’ collection

BY AMY KYLLO STAFF WRITER

PINE ISLAND –

Inside the walls of Randy and Terri Van Wyhe’s steel building, fully restored, antique tractors gleam as implements on giant shelves reach toward the ceiling. The display is an unusual collection that includes 13 rare International Harvester Co. Gold Demonstrator tractors.

The Van Wyhes, from Pine Island, purchased their first Gold Demonstrator tractor just over a decade ago. The tractors were part of a marketing plan by International Harvester Co. in 1970. Randy said the plan was to promote the hydrostatic transmissions as their 66 series rolled out.

The Gold Demonstrator promotion

allowed each dealer to order one of five tractor models. The tractor, which was painted partially gold, was available for tryout among the local farmers. At the end of the season, the Gold Demonstrators were painted red and sold at a discount.

While there’s no official tracking of the number, Randy said that approximately 1,000 Gold Demonstrators were made, and approximately 750 have been recovered by collectors. Some of the Gold Demonstrators disappeared after they were sold, lost under their coat of red paint. To authenticate the tractors, buyers can check serial numbers, inspect for distinctive black paint around the dash and look for gold paint under the hoods where it did not get painted over before being sold to farmers.

Great for Ag Buildings & Pole Sheds

“When we’re looking for a Gold Demonstrator, we want to make sure it was an authentic Gold Demonstrator,” Randy said. “There are people that will paint on gold, and they never were that originally.”

For the Van Wyhes, their collection is about much more than rare tractors.

“The whole thing is more of a tribute to our past, our parents, but also to the former generation that built a great lifestyle that we enjoyed growing up in,” Randy said. “That’s really what it’s

about.”

The Gold Demonstrator tractor promotion was the third and final time that International Harvester Co. used gold paint for a promotion. The first time was 13 years earlier

in 1957 when they used gold paint to celebrate the 50th year of their truck division with an A100 Golden Jubilee pickup.

PHOTO BY AMY KYLLO

Four Gold Demonstrator International Harvester 544s stand side by side June 22 in the Van Wyhes’ building in Pine Island. These Gold Demonstrators show several of the iterations of the 544 that were available for dealers to choose from.

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