Country Acres South - July 15, 2023

ABC Drones aims to transform aerial application in Minnesota

BY HANS LAMMEMAN |

Y N MA M H A STAFF W T

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Sarah, her sisters Rebekah Hart and Rachel Encinias, and brother-inlaw Joseph Encinias are among Minnesota’s

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hover over crops at the Hart family farm near Elgin, spraying thousands of acres of corn and soybeans while the pilot watches from afar. This is what the future of precision agriculture looks like for Sarah Hart and her family at ABC Drones.

LGIN Six- by six-foot dron es o sprayinggtouthousands acre w ans f s what the future of precirecisio oks like for Sarah Hart and her kslikeforSarahHartandher Drones arah, Ha achel and brother-in oseph Encinias are Min ’s first wave of Federal Aviati nistration drone drones to seed, mi-

nes quietly farm near f corn and from afar. n r tion operators. fd

Administration licensed spray drone operators. Last growing season, the team of four used Hylio drones to apply seed, fungicide, micronutrients and fertilizer to more than 4,000 acres of farmland between their family and early clients.

Sarah first familiarized herself with drones in 2020 after her senior year at Ashland University in Ohio was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. Before long, she put the aircraft to agricultural use by mapping her family’s corn fields after a hail storm and securing an insurance claim check with the findings.

United over a belief in the technology’s potential, the family formed ABC Drones in

Hylio AG-116

PHOTOS SUBMITTED Joseph Encinias refills a Hylio AG-122 tank in summer 2022. The AG-122 model measures 6 feet by 6 feet with a maximum takeoff weight greater than 120 pounds.

December 2020, selling and operating American-made Hylio Drones. In 2021, while waiting to receive their FAA license, they hosted spray demonstrations for their neighbors at the farm.

“When it’s something new, it takes a little while for people to understand because they’re so used to the helicopters, airplanes and ground rigs that have been doing it for years,” Sarah said. “We held a lot of demonstrations at our own farm to try to get the neighbors’ wheels turning.”

The four family members and business partners aim to introduce drone technology to

Minnesota farmers to help optimize yields and usher in the next phase of aerial application.

December 2020, and Ameri- Minnesota farmers to and

Rachel said they view themselves as farmers wanting to help other farmers improve their practices.

“I feel like we’re farmers first because we want to fit the drone to the farmers’ needs,” Rachel said. “Whether they get the biggest drone or the smallest, we want them to be happy and successful.”

ABC Drones page 2

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ABC Drones from front

Rachel said the most significant advantage of drones compared to traditional aerial application is safety. She referenced a helicopter fatality near Elgin in 2021 as an example of the dangers associated with established methods of caring for crops from the air.

The optimal drone flight speed while spraying is 10-12 mph, which allows for the potential of a more thorough application than airplanes and helicopters, she said. Additionally, she said, drones can navigate rugged terrain and focus on a small patch of crops with more precision than previously possible through aerial application.

PHOTOS SUBMITTED

Rachel Encinias overlooks Joesph Encinias inspecting a drone August 2021 at Minnesota Farmfest in Morgan. ABC Drones consists of four partners.

ABC Drones page 3

Joseph Encinias is a drone pilot and mechanic with ABC Drones.

Sarah Hart serves as an ABC Drones sales specialist and pilot.

Rebekah Hart is the media and graphics specialist at ABC Drones.

Rachel Encinias serves as an administrative assistant and drone pilot at ABC Drones.

JosephEnciniasisadrone

SarahHartservesasan

RebekahHartisthemedia

RachelEnciniasservesasan

ABC Drones

from page 2

Sarah reported single-handedly completing 170 acres with a 2-gallon per acre rate at three fields on one of her more productive days in 2022.

“Some of our drones sprayed a cow pass pasture for a client that was very hilly and very rocky,” Rachel said. “He had used (traditional) aerial applicators before and was extremely pleased – just blown away – by how well we were able to knock out his pasture. There were a lot of trees in the pasture, so the aerial applicator couldn’t get down far enough at times – especially with the hills.”

While the idea of safer application methods appears promising, Rachel said drone technology is not without challenges in the agricultural industry. The primary issues, she said, are battery life and legislation difficulties.

c d c o e o le fe d lo

Although Hylio drones have swarming capabilities that allow one pilot to control several aircraft simultaneously, Rachel said current legislation prohibits the feature from being used in fields. Additionally, drones must be in the pilot’s line of sight, limiting the technology’s potential mobility advantages.

For ABC Drones, Rachel said the drones typically fly for about 10 minutes while emptying their load, then return to the pilot for a refill and

battery change.

“I know that drones could get bigger, and we could carry more if we figured out a gas engine or hydrogen – something different than batteries because we have 16 batteries for a drone to fly all day,” Rachel said.

Hylio drone models advertised prices range from just over $32,000 to about $106,000. Newer, larger models like the AG-272 have a carrying capacity of up to 68 liters,

a 40-foot swath width and a coverage speed of 50 acres per hour at a 2-gallon per acre application rate.

For the Harts and Enciniases, drones represent a future full of possibilities and innovation in agriculture. ABC Drones allows the four young entrepreneurs to work together while pioneering a path forward in aerial application.

“I love working with my family,” Sarah said.

“It’s also great because my dad has always been the one in charge of the farm, but to have a business just for us – the next generation coming up – is really special to me.”

The family plans to focus operations primarily on the Hart farm near Elgin this growing season. They are testing their technology to combat tar spot in thousands of acres of corn fields, requiring up to three fungicide passes in the coming months.

“We’ve been in (the industry) for three years,” Sarah said. “I hope that people can come to us as the area experts. We hope to be a great place for maintenance and repairs or questions about drones.”

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Rachel Encinias pilots a drone demonstration in August 2021 at Minnesota Farmfest in Morgan. ABC Drones treated more than 4,000 acres of crops during the 2022 growing season.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

A Hylio AG-122 sprays a crop field June 2021. ABC Drones held demonstrations at the Hart family farm near Elgin during the summers of 2020 and 2021.

in su li

Loving, losing

A few days ago, I was at my parents’ house when my mom walked over and mutely showed me a text message that said my great-uncle Bill had died.

Lord Alfred Tennyson wrote, “Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”

That saying is on my mind lately.

Often, great uncles are just another member of your extended family, but in Bill’s case, he was like another grandfather to me.

As a child, Uncle Bill would always come and work for us during the growing season to help with fieldwork. We would all eat meals together, and I got along with him swimmingly. He loved to tease, and later, he fondly remembered asking me back when I was a little girl whether I had to put sugar on top of sweet potatoes in order to make them sweet when I planted them.

Out in the fields, Uncle Bill would help during chopping season and somehow could drive faster and unload quicker than any of the rest of Dad’s chopping crew. He was occasionally helped by unsafe tricks like stepping over a running power takeoff shaft if the guard wasn’t also moving, but all in all, he was just plain good at what he did.

Uncle Bill lived a long, good life, and at 90 years old, I know it is unreasonable to think he should live longer. Yet, as the youngest in my family, it is easy to feel resentment when it feels like you always get cut short on knowing people you love. My grandparents ha-

Sunshine

Flowers by Amy Kyllo

ven’t been alive for quite a few years, and now to lose Bill too is hard. To have never known or loved any of them would have been worse still.

Growing up on the farm, you become acutely aware of the cycle of life and death. Working with a calf to stand up for the very first time and holding the halter as a cow takes its last breath are both part of my story. Experiences like that ground you.

Grief and pain can make us tempted to shut down, to shut out anything that has the potential to hurt us. The song “The Rose” written by Amanda McBroom says, “It’s the heart, afraid of breaking that never learns to dance.”

Recently, I visited with a friend who was afraid of just that. Afraid as they began a new relationship that they might lose the partner they already cared for so deeply.

Afraid that they wouldn’t love well. Afraid they will cause themselves or their partner pain. Yet for me, I guess I am young and naïve enough to think that it is better to love and lose than never love at all.

In my life, I want to learn to live at peace with the possibility of losing and yet full of joy at the moments and people in front of me.

As a person of faith, as I take a moment to grieve, I remember that blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted (Matthew 5:4). Just the words alone bring a smile to my face and my heart. Already I have seen God reach through the people around me to give the love and support that my spirit needed.

Pain brings growth. I have lived an incredibly blessed and happy life, yet the times I have hurt are the times where I have changed for the better. Though the magnitude of growth often does not match the magnitude of pain, growth brings redemption to that pain.

Grief looks different to each person. Take time to remember the good days, and do not let the regrets of what wasn’t swallow up the good that was.

&

in Chatfield Paw-ty

Fireside Pet Lodge offers rural lodging, training

BY HANS LAMMEMAN | STAFF WRITER

CHATFIELD – Just south of Rochester on Highway 52 lies a one-ofa-kind getaway consisting of nearly 200 acres dotted with ponds, private luxury cabin suites and a salon and spa staffed with experienced professionals. However, this is no retreat for people; it is a

lodge and training facility for award-winning dogs. Since early 2021, Chatfield has been a destination for dog owners looking to treat their canine companions to grooming, obedience training and boarding at Fireside Pet Lodge by Next Generation.

Co-owner Adam Levy and his partners at the rural facility bring more than 60 years of combined experience in dog training and care to every four-legged guest that comes through their doors.

PHOTOS SUBMITTED

Fireside Pet Lodge peeks out from the snow near Chatfield. The facility trains dogs from around the globe with a reputation for producing award-winning canines.

(Below) A pet owner hugs her puppy at Fireside Pet Lodge near Chatfield. Prior to opening the lodge, the owners operated Next Generation Gun Dog training at the property for about 10 years.

Fireside Pet Lodge page 7

Fireside

Pet Lodge

from page 6

“When you drop your dog off somewhere, when you’re going on vacation or to be trained, you have to feel comfortable when you leave the place,” Levy said. “We’re not just somebody that knows a few things about dogs; we’re all professionals here.”

Levy, fellow co-owners – Andrew Barbouche, Casey Stickfort and Kelly Bromelkamp – Levy and staff oversee up to 100 dogs at a time at their facility in the southeast Minnesota countryside.

“I like that country aspect to (Fireside); it’s more relaxing and enjoyable to the dogs,” Levy said. “We have close to 200 acres here between the three different properties that we own. (The dogs) get to really enjoy going on nature walks, going through that offleash obedience and being able to just be a dog.”

Prior to opening their business for lodging and grooming, the Chatfield-based trainers operated Next Generation Gundog Training on the property for a decade. The partners developed the plan for boarding and additional services in response to high demand from clients.

Fireside places an emphasis on canine comfort for the visitors at the lodge. Levy said each space contains raised beds, cleaning with non-toxic products, consistent potty breaks,

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heated floors and optional house music. The facility also includes cat condos for feline friends with private litter spaces.

Levy said he has grown and evolved as a trainer with each additional year of experience, constantly researching and adopting new methods. He said working with dogs is fulfilling, witnessing firsthand as they overcome challenges and improve their skills.

“I always feel like a trained dog is a more confident dog,” Levy said. “Being able to watch a dog walk in here dragging their owner in on a leash and then walk out of the facility completely off-leash trained is definitely a highlight for us.”

Dogs from around the globe visit Chatfield for hands-on training with proven results. Levy said the business has benefitted from grassroots advertising, with satisfied clients spreading their praise on social media and by word of mouth. Next Generation is known for breeding and producing champion Chesapeake Bay retrievers and Labrador retrievers.

“We had three dogs, one in Belgium, one in the UK and one in Switzerland, that won in the show ring (in June),” Levy said. “That same weekend, we had dogs winning in Idaho and Minnesota.

Fireside Pet Lodge page 8

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Dog owners work with their pets at a training session at Fireside Pet Lodge near Chatfield. The lodge is situated on nearly 200 acres.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

A dog groomer kisses a golden retriever on the nose at Fireside Pet Lodge near Chatfield. The lodge can house

to 100 canines at a time.

A walk down

Little Log House Pioneer Village shares Minnesota’s history one building at a time

BY HANS LAMMEMAN STAFF WRITER

HASTINGS – Steve Bauer and a neighbor were tearing down a home near Hastings in 1987 when they uncovered old logs from a cabin dating back to the mid-1850s with a deed signed by Abraham Lincoln.

Recognizing the significance of the finding, Bauer relocated the build-

ing to his land in Marshan Township to restore it. Looking back on that time, Bauer said he never would have anticipated his collection of historic structures to grow to what it is today.

“There’s nothing normal about it,” Bauer said of the Little Log House Pioneer Village, a 160-acre plot of land with 54 restored structures.

Pioneer Village page 15

PHOTOS BY HANS LAMMEMAN The

Pioneer Village

from page 14

Bauer’s knack for relocating and renovating buildings, paired with his wife Sylvia’s talents in design and landscaping, provides visitors with a unique glance into Minnesota history. The village offers a literal walk down Memory Lane and other roads on the property to view former town halls, shops, a post office, a saloon and much more.

A retired farmer now running businesses in the water well and center-pivot irrigation industries, Bauer said the collection of antique buildings grew naturally

over the decades without a specific vision as the end goal. He said he was not much of a history buff until adulthood, instead focused on getting to work in the fields.

“I came off a family farm (with) a high school education,” Bauer said. “I inherited a work ethic from my dad. My experience can be described in two words: common sense. You have just got to take a look and think outside the box to see how you can accomplish something without spending tens of thousands of dollars.”

Despite Bauer’s words, his accomplishments are anything but common. A few of the structures dotting the village are the historic St. Boniface Church that

served its congregation in Hastings from 1892 until 1996, the Federal Dam Depot built in 1908 by the Soo Line Railroad and the Four Corners Saloon that gave locals near Hastings a place to socialize from the 1920s through the 1960s.

“All this stuff is what really took place in the last 100 years or thereabouts in this local Minnesota area,” Bauer said.

Among his favorite structures on the property is a 250-foot spiral bridge that spanned the Mississippi River in Hastings beginning in 1895.

Pioneer Village page 17

PHOTO BY HANS LAMMEMAN

A 250-foot spiral bridge built in 1895 spans a body of water on the west end of the Little Log House Pioneer Village June 15 near Hastings. The bridge once crossed the Mississippi River from Dakota County into Washington County.

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Familynight

An educational evening of festivities

2023 on the Farm

August 3, 2023 at 4-8 PM

This family-friendly event celebrates the economic importance of the agriculture industry to Winona County. Winona County is the third largest dairy producing county in Minnesota and provides thousands of direct and indirect jobs.

Nelsons to host Family Night on the Farm event

BY SARAH COLBURN STAFF WRITER

ALTURA – Nelson’s Organic Dairy LLC has hosted two Minnesota governors and as many as 10 on-thefarm events for the public. Now, Ross and Tiffany Nelson, along with Ross’ parents, LaVerne and Arlene, are set to open their doors once again.

“It’s pretty crucial that (people) know where their food comes from and how it’s made and how it’s produced and how the animals are treated,” Ross Nelson said. “It’s important to get out to the farm and see it firsthand.”

While the Nelsons’ other events have been aimed at farmers looking to learn more about the organic process, this Family Night on the Farm event is open to the public and held in cooperation with the Winona Area Chamber of Commerce. The Nelsons said they have been told to expect as many as 1,200 for the evening meal and thousands for the tours and events.

The evening includes a meal, live music, hayrides, activities for kids, a petting zoo, bounce house, kids wagon train rides, root beer floats and farm tours.

The meal will be catered in from the chamber. Organic Valley, the cooperative to which the Nelsons supply their milk, will be on hand serving milk. Agriculture professionals will be on-site to answer questions and provide education.

“It’s a lot of simple things we might take for granted, but if you didn’t grow up with it, you probably just don’t know,” Nelson said.

Nelson said the event is also a time for area farmers to connect.

“It’s good for the farmers to get together, get the neighborhood together, kind of keep the community together – we get so busy that it’s hard to do,” he said. “It’s also a chance for town people to talk to the farmers directly.”

The Nelsons’ farm has been in the family since 1958 when it was purchased by Nelson’s grandfather. Today, the couple operates the farm with LaVerne and Arlene as well as their own children – Caleb, Mariah and Leah. Outside of the family, high school students assist with evening chores.

The Nelsons began working with Organic Valley in 2001. When the couple first joined the ranks of the operation, they expanded from 50 cows to 80. Today, they milk around 100. The decision to become certified organic fit with the rotational grazing they were already doing on the farm.

“(It offered) a stable milk price, (and) we kind of farmed that way anyway,” Nelson said. “Higher prices meant we didn’t have to get bigger; we could do it on a smaller scale and still be sustainable.”

Their home farm totals 365 acres, and they purchased another 140 acres. They also rent 70 acres where they have 45 grass-fed South Poll beef cattle. Organic farming came naturally to the family because of the topography of the land. The Nelsons already had permanent pasture, land Nelson describes as rough but appropriate for rotational grazing.

The site, Nelson said, is a good one for people who want to see what farming is truly like.

“We’re hoping there’s a good connection and education for the public as to where food comes from,” Nelson said. “There seems to be such a disconnect between the grocery store and the farm.”

COURTESY OF JONNA GUNNARSON PHOTOGRAPHY

Mariah (from left), Leah, Ross, Tiffany and Caleb Nelson own and operate Nelson Organic Dairy Farm near Altura. The Nelsons milk 100 cows at their farm.

Leah Nelson takes a break under the sunset after hauling in round bales. The Nelson children all help with chores on the farm.

Arlene and LaVerne Nelson operate Nelson Organic Dairy Farm along with their son Ross and his family. The Nelson family has hosted 10 on-the-farm events that are open to the public .

LaVerne (from left), Leah and Arlene Nelson participate in a pasture walk at Nelson Organic Dairy Farm near Altura. The farm hosts a number of on-farm events open to area farmers and the public to learn more about their operation.

Four businesses,

One Family

In 1988, our founder, Linda Horihan began working in the insurance business. She later branched off and became an independent agent creating Linda Horihan Insurance of Rushford. Following a battle with breast cancer Linda unfortunately passed away. Linda’s sons Creighton and Charles joined the agency and have grown the family business. Today, our agency has six locations and a staff who continue to provide prompt, professional customer service with the same dedication as our founder, Linda Horihan.

(888) 600-9002 • www.horihan.com

We are an independent Pioneer seed agency. Our reps are dedicated and enjoy attending trainings to keep up on the latest developments in agriculture. Recently, we have begun to sell agriculture equipment. We have a wide range of equipment and livestock trailers on hand.

Rushford, MN • (507) 864-4400 • www.bluffag.com

In addition to running an insurance agency in Rushford the Horihan family also owned Rushford Floor Coverings where they supplied flooring to the local area. In 2012 they merged with Lyle’s Flooring America in Winona, MN, which was a family owned and operated business since the 1960’s.Today, the Horihan family continue to run Lyle’s Flooring America supplying an even greater area with their floor covering, and window treatment needs.

(507) 454-3105 • www.lylesfa.com

At the end of the day we are family. We have an extensive background in agriculture owning a family farm near Lanesboro. On our farm we grow corn and soybeans and background steers. We are thankful for our lifestyle, having a multifamily farm, and are happy to see the next generation of Horihans enjoying our family traditions.