Country Acres South - May 20, 2023

MARINE A dairy farmer

Griffin remembers service in 1970s Japan

BY AMY KYLLO | STAFF WRITER

ROCHESTER – The year is 1971. That year 94,092 men were drafted into the military according to the Selective Service System. That same year, a young dairy farm boy from Rochester, who had never been farther from home than South Dakota, enlisted with the United States Marine Corp.

This dairy farmer was Dan Griffin, and he was ready to see the world. Newly graduated from high school, he knew he wanted to dairy farm, but first, he told his dad he wanted to travel.

“He understood that part of it,” Griffin said. “He went through eight years of school here at the schoolhouse and that was his entire (education) and then he started farming as a 14-year-old with his dad.”

Now, years later, Griffin said he wonders how his parents felt about his decision. Shortly before he enlisted one of his cousins stepped on a land mine and almost died, not a positive endorsement for enlisting in the military.

By October 1971, Griffin was whisked away to basic training in San Diego, California alongside his friend Dennis O’Neill, who had enlisted with him as part of the buddy program. The buddy program guaranteed enlistees they would be sent with their friend to basic training.

At basic training, the Marines determined Griffin was to become a “Remington Raider,” slang for an office clerk.

After additional training at Camp Pendleton, also in California, Griffin was sent to a base in Iwakuni, Japan.

Griffin said approximately 305 people were stationed at Iwakuni. He lived in Block 8, an old prison, where he shared a room with seven other men. During the day, he worked as a files and mail clerk, drove the colonel and did other administrative work.

The Iwakuni base was an area originally purchased

by the Japanese government in 1938 and became an air base for training and defense in 1940. The base changed hands after World War II. During the Korean War it served as a processing center for troops entering Korea and jets stationed there supported front line troops daily. It became a solely US base in the early 1950s, and in 1956, the base was enlarged.

Though Griffin was in the Marines during the Vietnam war, he did not face combat. His only contact with Vietnam was doing courier mail runs in a C130 airplane to Vietnam and processing military members who were leaving Vietnam.

“You check them back in and shift them back home or whatever,” Griffin said.

“I saw a lot of messed up guys there.”

Griffin was awarded several honors at Iwakuni. There, he qualified as an expert rifle, the highest shooting and marksmanship level he could reach.

He also was recognized as Marine of the month twice during his stint, an honor he modestly attributes to the fact he was working directly with Colonel Donald J. “DJ” McCarthy, a man who would eventually command the entire Iwakuni base from 1983 to 1986.

As a reward for being named marine of the month, he received two rest and relaxation trips to Korea.

Griffin was promoted to corporal in August of 1973, less than two years after going through basic training.

In the town of Iwakuni, Griffin found his personal choice for the best BLT sandwiches in the world. On one of the narrow streets filled with the stench of the raw sewage which ran down the roadway, he found an unassuming little restaurant.

Griffin page 2

(Left) Dan Griffin enlisted in the Marines in 1971 and was stationed in Japan.

Dan Griffin’s promotion letter rests May 11 at his home near Rochester. Griffin was promoted to corporal less than two years after going through basic training.

PHOTOS BY AMY KYLLO

(Above) Dan Griffin’s Marine of the month letters of recognition rest May 11 at his home near Rochester. Griffin was named Marine of the month twice and was rewarded two rest and relaxation trips to Korea for those honors.

(Below) Dan Griffin’s last dairy heifer sniffs him May 11 on the Griffin farm near Rochester. Griffin’s grandchildren will show her this summer at the county fair.

Dan Griffin holds out the Marine flag May 11 on his farm near Rochester. Griffin dairy farmed for 35 years after his time in the Marines.

SOUTH

Published by Star Publications

Copyright 2014

522 Sinclair Lewis Ave. Sauk Centre, MN 56378

Phone: 320-352-6577 | Fax: 320-352-5647

NEWS STAFF

Mark Klaphake, Editor, mark.k@dairystar.com

Sarah Colburn, Editor, sarah.c@star-pub.com

Amy Kyllo, Writer, amy.k@star-pub.com

Tiffany Klaphake, Writer, tiffany.k@dairystar.com

Jan Lefebvre, Writer, jan.l@star-pub.com

Ben Sonnek, Writer, ben.s@saukherald.com

Story ideas send to: sarah.c@star-pub.com, mark.k@dairystar.com

SALES STAFF

Laura Seljan, 507-350-2217, laura.s@dairystar.com

Julia Mullenbach, 507-438-7739, julia.m@star-pub.com

Missy Traeger, 320-291-9899, missy@saukherald.com

Tim Vos, 320-492-6987, tim.v@star-pub.com

Mike Schafer, 320-894-7825, mike.s@dairystar.com

Warren Stone, 320-249-9182, warren@star-pub.com

Jaime Ostendorf, 320-309-1988, Jaime@star-pub.com

Bob Leukam, 320-260-1248, bob.l@star-pub.com

PRODUCTION STAFF

Pat Turner | Amanda Thooft | Nancy Powell

Maddy Peterson | Cheyenne Carlson

Karen Knoblach | Annika Gunderson

ISSN Print: 2834-6491 | Online: 2834-6505

Deadlines:

Country Acres will be published the first and third Saturday of every month. Deadline for news and advertising is the Thursday before publication.

STR

Publications bli ti

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

Inside, the shop was dark, with seating for about 10. At the counter, he would order giant takeout BLT’s for him and his friends back at the base. After living in Japan, he still craves fried rice and fried rice omelets.

The Iwakuni base was located approximately 25 miles southwest of Hiroshima, so Griffin had the opportunity to visit. It still looked war torn, as less than 30 years had passed since the atomic bomb. Skeletons of buildings and destruction stood as a reminder of the world-changing event.

“Even at the time while I was there, I didn’t feel like it was comfortable to be an American in Japan,” Griffin said.

On the base, the farm boy was always keeping himself busy above and beyond his full-time work. He served as a waiter in an on-base restaurant, and he also often took a duty shift

in exchange for cash from a Marine who wanted to have a night on the town.

“I wished I would have gone a lot more places,” Griffin said. “Instead of taking somebody else’s duty I wish I would have gone and done something myself.”

After being honorably discharged in late 1973 Griffin began dairy farming again, while attending college at Rochester Community College – now Rochester Community and Technical College – for

auto mechanics. He met his wife Faye through college and they married in 1975.

In the late 1970s into the 1980s, the couple began to establish themselves as they slowly developed and bought into the Griffin family farm.

Being a young dairy farmer in the 1980s was not easy.

“We were paying … 22% interest, on a operating note,” Griffin said. “How I did it I’ll never know.”

The Griffins did not go on vacation for about 10 years. For their 10th wedding anniversary, they spent 24 hours in the Twin Cities as their celebration.

The Griffins prevailed over the hard times and kept on dairy farming, carrying on the legacy of their family farm which has been in existence since 1883.

In 2007, their son Kevin joined the farm and in 2019, they sold the milk

cows and moved to crop farming, beef, goats and chickens.

Today, a Marine flag flies off of Griffin’s porch and the farm looks a little different. Together with Kevin, Griffin farms around 500 acres of corn, soybeans and alfalfa. Kevin has meat and dairy goats, chickens and grass-fed, red angus beef. Griffin also owns several red angus and has one heifer calf, a descendant of his dairy herd which the grandkids will show at the fair this year.

As a veteran, Griffin has seen a switch over time in popular sentiment towards veterans.

“There was an awful lot of, you know, people that never went in the military that weren’t happy with Vietnam era veterans,” he said.

Today, he sees all veterans being celebrated for their time in the military.

PHOTO BY AMY KYLLO

Three red angus beef relax on a rainy day May 11 on the Griffin farm near Rochester. The red angus are grass fed.

CZMay20-1B-JM

Ron Sheridan, Dr. Square Foot

Dr. Square Foot auctions will show you lots of homes, buildings, land by ACRE - YARD - !

Real Estate Auctions & Certified Appraisals

A FLORAL

love language

Seelhammers grow blueberries, flowers, agritourism

BY AMY KYLLO | STAFF WRITER

CHATFIELD – The sun shines onto floppy straw hats as young women in sundresses stand amongst the flowers at Berry and Bloom Farm. The soft twitter of bird song blends with the happy sounds of giggling as a child says, “Hey mom, look at this!” Multi-colored bouquets form as u-pickers create their own floral artistry. Across the driveway, fresh blueberries drop into mouths and buckets as other farm guests pluck their way through the acres of blueberries.

Troy and Rhonda Seelhammer own Berry and Bloom Farm near Chatfield, a serene farm escape where they want their guests to feel at home.

“We want people to come and just genuinely feel like they’re in their own flower field and cutting and picking flowers,” Rhonda said.

be in their sphere, but they share the same heart.

Rhonda’s heart is in the flowers.

“It’s a love language all its own,” Rhonda said. “I don’t have to necessarily find the right words, but to look into a beautiful flower and a beautiful bouquet, and give it to somebody says something I can never say.”

Their farm journey began in 2013 when Troy, who works in real estate, found a dilapidated acreage with a lot of potential but also a whole collection of old outbuildings and an abandoned trailer home.

Rhonda also instantly saw its potential. What began as a sketch of a house she drew on a napkin at Dunn Brothers, blossomed into a long gravel driveway lined with young yet stately trees leading to a classic, tall white house with hints of Amish architecture and a backyard that slopes down into winding creek beds and rolling hills.

vacation that took them around Lake Michigan. Everyone in the family had something on their bucket list to do or see and on Rhonda’s list was a visit to a blueberry farm.

“I loved everything about it,” Rhonda said. “Just seeing people, they were so happy. … I love welcoming people and gathering people.”

The couple said founding Berry and Bloom Farm was a natural way to share God’s beautiful creation with people.

“God has been so good to us and we are so, so grateful,” Rhonda said. “None of this would have happened without him.”

Troy and Rhonda said their farm has been all about finding their people. These people may not Seelhammers page 5

The inspiration for blueberries came from a

PHOTOS SUBMITTED

(Above) Dried flowers grace a shed at Berry and Bloom Farm near Chatfield. Berry and Bloom Farm offers online booking for guests to reserve time for photoshoots.

(Left) Fresh blueberries rest in a bag at Berry and Bloom Farm near Chatfield. Blueberries are challenging to grow, and die randomly even with excellent weeding, pruning and fertilizing.

PHOTO BY AMY KYLLO Troy and Rhonda Seelhammer smile May 10 on their farm near Chatfield. A vacation to a bluebery farm near Lake Michigan inspired the couple to start Berry and Bloom Farm.

We have MONTHLY SPECIALS!

Get in touch with Dave Puppe to see what we have this month

507-732-7860 or email dpuppe@centrallivestock.com

44326 County 6 Blvd | PO Box 185 | Zumbrota, MN 55992

507.732.7860 | dpuppe@centrallivestock.com

I love the smell of cow poop in the morning.

That is what my gift for Christmas this last December was. My mom found a mug on Etsy and the cup said “I love the smell of cow poop in the morning.”

There really is nothing better than a fresh breath of farm air on a crisp spring morning in May after an evening thunderstorm set water droplets across the pastures and the trees are finally blossoming amidst the smell of fresh-turned soil, accompanied by the “sweet” smell of cow pies.

My family has gone through much change and challenge with our farm and even as a kid I remember the tough years. Never once do I remember my dad saying “I want to quit.” Quitting isn’t an option around here. If something is broke, you fix it. In the years to come I will be faced with volatile markets, droughts, floods, family growth and new concepts in farming, among a million other variables.

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

I’ve visited many farms over the last year and every time I walk into a barn, each farm has its own scent. I love my farm’s scent the most though, but I might be biased.

On mornings when I’m chipper and jump out of bed before the birds, I can watch the sun stretch its rays over the meadows and shine warmth through the barn doors as I enjoy my Pop-Tart and cup of black coffee. It’s captivating this time of year especially. I often pause and let the sun hit my face before grabbing the next group of cows for milking.

Since December, when I moved back to the farm, I’ve grown an appreciation for the sunrise and the sunsets. Previously, I maybe felt too busy or chaotic to stop and appreciate the simple things in life.

God puts everyone on earth for a reason. I’ve found mine among cows, the crops, the smell of diesel engines and family.

It’s easy to take advantage of something that you grew up around but I genuinely know that my opportunity at Jeurissen Family Farm is a calling. I feel natural at the farm and it’s a blessing with every sunrise and sunset I get to watch over our land.

I highly recommend you take a few minutes to listen to the song, “Farmer” by Lee Brice. In the song he states, the only thing tougher than the farm – is the farmer. That statement reigns true around here and, despite all challenges, I am about to be the fifth generation of Jeurissens to farm.

Since December I have been writing for Country Acres part-time and farming. With spring finally making its appearance after a prolonged winter and many projects and goals on the agenda for the remainder of the year, my attention needs to turn solely to the farm.

I have loved learning about the people in the Country Acres area. I appreciate the kind words of admiration our little paper receives on a weekly basis and all of the story ideas that find their way into my inbox.

This will be my last column as editor of Country Acres, but I assure you the team we have behind the pages now has already impressed me with their innate story-finding skills.

In the next issue you will become acquainted with a new face for column writing and she, like myself, has plenty of farm stories and experience to share.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have an “I love the smell of cow poop in the morning” mug filled with coffee waiting for me in the barn.

Touch of Grace by Grace Jeurissen

Seelhammers from page 5

For the couple, their farm not only grows flowers and blueberries, it also grows interactions and relationships.

“I never anticipated that growing something would give back to me,” Rhonda said.

They are anxiously anticipating visits with their regulars, as well as welcoming new guests this season, to hear and see what has changed in their life since they last visited. One of their favorite things is when a guest brings a homebound grandma or grandpa to sit and enjoy the farm.

Troy appreciates these moments with their senior guests.

“Usually if I’m around I grab a chair and go sit next to them,” he said.

Their farm hosts a few events each year. Their sunflower fest in the fall draws several thousand attendees over a weekend and each year they host a comedy show with all the proceeds benefitting Samaritan’s Purse. For the future, the couple bubble with ideas, but most of all they desire to keep focused on being a family-friendly, serene experience for people to visit again and again.

“Let us sell for you”

May online auction

Starting Sunday, May 21 at 6 am

Closing Sunday, May 28 at 6 pm mandmauctions.hibid.com

Call Today to Consign!

Taking consignments until Saturday, May 20 at 4 pm

Lot is open daily for viewing. Office hours are Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10am - 4pm

Location: Lot Below Cowpokes Western Shop 19747 596th St., Kellogg, MN Contact MartyMurphy at 507-951-1964 mmurphy@wabasha.net

Recycling & Disposal Lake City

PHOTO SUBMITTED Flowers burst with color at Berry and Bloom Farm near Chatfield. The Seelhammers have one acre of flowers dedicated to u-pick.

W9, 1951 Farmall MD #30 Loader, 1951 Farmall MD –Project, 1952 Farmall Super C, 1955 Farmall 400, 1958 Farmall 340, 1959

International 660, 1963 International Cub Lo-Boy, 1970 Farmall 1456, 1975 Farmall

766, International TD14 Crawler, Case Tera Trac Crawler, 1954 Case A6 Combine, COLLECTOR LAWN & GARDEN TRACTORS - 1962 Cub Cadet, Original, 1962 Cub Cadet, Original, 1964 Cub Cadet 70, 1964 Cub Cadet 100, 1966 Cub Cadet 71, 1970 Cub Cadet 107, 1971 Cub Cadet 147, 1974 Cub Cadet 169, 1978 Cub Cadet 1100, 1978 Cub Cadet 1250, 1979 Cub Cadet 1450, 1980 Cub Cadet 482, 1980 Cub Cadet 582, Cadet 55, Cadet 60, Cadet 85, 1977 Allis Chalmers 712, Mower Decks, Snow Blower for Cub, Tiller for Cub Cub, ANTIQUE FARM MACHINERY- International #70 4 Bottom Plow, International 1pt. Sub Soiler on Steel Wheels, 3pt 60” Brush Cutter, New Idea No. 17 Ground Driven Spreader, 2 Bottom Pull-Type Plow, McCormick Deering #8 Plow, IH 2pt Mounted 3 Bottom Plow, (3) Sections of Land Roller, New Holland Drop Seeder, McCormick Deering Corn Thrasher, 70 5 Bottom Pull-Type Plow, 72” 3pt Brush Cutter, Dump Rake, New Idea Side Rake, 5 Bottom Plow, Pull-Type Digger, Hay Rake, 1964 IH 46 Square Baler, 1 Owner, Bush Hog 60” 3pt Brush Mower, 7ft Pull-Type Rotary Hoe, IH Mounted 7ft Sickle Mower, Bale Spear, 2 Row Mounted Cultivator for IH Super C, 7ft 3pt Digger, 3pt Mounted Post Hole Digger, IH 11ft Grain Drill, Double Disc, Grass Seed, Glencoe 18ft Field Cultivator w/Spring Harrow, IH #57 12ft Disc, (2) 3 Bottom Pull-Type Plows, 2 Bottom Pull-Type Plow, McCormick Mo.1-PR Corn Picker, Wood Splitter w/Honda Motor, Ariens Tiller w/Honda Motor, Trencher w/Skid Loader Mount, Wood Chipper, Like New, McCormick International #70 Molboard 3 Bottom Pull-Type Plow, New Idea Transplanter, 2 Row 38” Antique Planter, 15ft Pull-Type Drag, 3 Section, 7ft PullType Disc on Steel Wheels, 9ft Pull-Type Digger, 7ft 2pt Sickle Mower, 6ft Mounted Digger, Dixon Zeeter 424 11hp Mower, IH Real Wheel Weights, IH Split Rear Wheel Weights, (2) 54” Cub Cadet Decks, Gates, Round Bale Feeder, Miller Loader #12, Loftness 8ft Snow Blower, 540 PTO, Round Bale Feeder, McCormick Grain Drill, Double Disc Opener, McCormick Grain Drill, Single Disc Opener, Mule Drive – Narrow, Mule Drive – Wide, 1 Bottom Plow for IH Cub, IH Wheel Weights, Garden Disc, (2) Garden Diggers, 10ft Case Disc, IH Manure Spreader. FROM THE BARNEY & SHIRLEY WINFIELD ESTATE - ANTIQUE TRACTORS- 1956 900 Ford w/Kelley Loader, 1953 Ford Golden Jubilee w/6ft Finishing Mower w/Turf Tires & 3pt Hitch, 1953 Ford Golden Jubilee w/New 12.4×38 Tires & Push Guard, 3pt Hitch, 1948 Ford 8N w/New 12.4×28 Tires, 3pt Hitch, 1962 Ford 961 Powermaster, 42hp, 14.9×28 Tires, All Original, 3pt Hitch, Live PTO (wrong decal on tractor), Oliver 60, New 9.5×32 Tires, Older Restoration, 1958 Oliver Super 66, New Firestone Tires 13.6×38, New Holland Boomer 3050 Series II, only 118 hours, Cab, Heat, Air, 1 Hyd. w/250TL Loader, Allied 6ft Snowblower (sold separately), 1961 Ford 2000 Industrial w/Loader & Blade, 1967 John Deere 2510 w/Loader & Blade, WF, Gas, 2,645 actual hours, 3pt, PTO, 3rd Link, Synchro Range Trans., Wayne Pump Company Gas Pump, VEHICLES- 2011 Ford F-150 Lariat, Crew Cab, 4×4, V-6 Eco Boost, 39,500 Miles, Loaded, Heated Leather Seats, 2012 Honda Odyssey Mini Van, 82,800 Miles, Loaded, Heated Leather Seats, RECREATIONAL/LAWN GARDEN - 2011 Lowe FM165 16.5ft Fishing Boat, Side Console, 60 hours, Mercury EF1 4 Stroke, Lowrance Depth Finder, Swivel Seat, Power Anchor, Minn Kota #55 Trolling Motor w/Lowe Trailer, 2006 Bentley 200 Fishing Pontoon w/50hp 4-Stroke Mercury Engine, Tandem Axle Bentley Trailer, 6ft x 10ft Utility Trailer, 2014 Bad Boy Elite Lawn Mower, 60” Deck, Kawasaki FS730V, 2003 Kawasaki Mule, 4WD, 906 Hours. LOCAL CONSIGNORS - TILLAGE - Krause/Kuhn 8005 Excelerator, DMI Tiger Mate SMS, DMI Rear Crumbler, Wil-Rich 957D Ripper, Wil-Rich 24ft Field Cultivator, 2011 Yetter 41ft Rotary Hoe (like new), IH #70 3-16 Plow, IH #60 3-16 Plow, John Deere 825 8 Row 30” Cultivator w/Shields, John Deere RM 8 Row 30” Cultivator w/Shields, John Deere 875 12 Row 30” Cultivator, John Deere 418 Plow 1350/1450, FARM

MACHINERY- Blu-Jet Liquid Applicator 828, DMI 3250 Liquid Applicator Bar, Kinze Liquid Applicator, Kinze 2700 24 Row 30” Planter, John Deere 7000 8 Row 30” Corn Planter, IH 10ft Dummy Head off 1680 or 2388, IH 844 Corn Head, (24) Units off Smart Box Insecticide Applicator, 20ft Grain Leg, HMDE 32ft Header Trailer, 7” x 7” 30ft Tool Bar, M&M 10ft Grain Drill, John Deere High Clearance Kit for JD 4730 & 4830 Sprayers, Dagelmen Rock Picker, White 5100 4 Row Air Planter, Yetter All-Wheel Steer Cart, Grapple for JD 158 Loader, ANTIQUE FARM MACHINERY - 16ft Single Gang Disc, Allis Chalmers 2 Bottom 3pt Plow, John Deere 3 Bottom Pull-Type Plow, 2 Bottom Pull-Type Plow, 8ft Di gger, 3 Bottom PullType Plow, 8ft Disc, 2 Row Cultivator, Allis Chalmers 3 Bottom Plow w/Snap Coupler, (2) 10ft Diggers, Loader for Tractor, Hay Loader, (2) Allis Chalmers Snap Coupler 3 Bottom Plows, TRACTORS - 1989 John Deere 4555 MFD, 1991 John Deere 4955 MFD, John Deere 8300 MFD, John Deere 2510, Allis Chalmers 7030 Tractor w/A.C. 470 Loader, 1955 Allis Chalmers WD45, 1941 Farmall B, 1953 John Deere Model “70”, SPRAYERS - 1999 Ag-Chem 854 Rogator, Top Air 1,000-gal 60ft Sprayer, Redball 670 Sprayer, Demco 1,000-gal Sprayer, Hardi 1000 Sprayer, Top-Air TA600 3pt Boom Sprayer, TRAILERS-2016 Big Tex 5th Wheel Trl, 2001 Road Boss Car Trl, XL Specialize 70 Step Deck Trl , 1998 Utility 53ft Van Body Trailer, 2012 PJ 20ft Tilt Deck Trl, 7,000lbs Axles, 2008 Load Trail Skid Loader Trl, 2012 HMDE 500-gal Fuel Tank & Trl w/Electric Pump & Hose Reel, 2012 Great Dane 53’ Air Ride Reefer Trl, 1984 East End Dump, Aluma 6812 Aluminum Trailer, 1991 Featherlite Aluminum 7ftx24ft Livestock Trl, 1986 Belshe 24ft Deckover Tag Trailer, 2006 Interstate Trailer, GRAIN TRUCKS/SEMIS/TRUCKS - 1992 Chevy Kodiak Tri Axle, 1980 Chevy Dump Truck, 1997 Mack RD Quint Axle, 1975 International Fire Truck, 2006 International 9400i, 1987 International S2500, 1985 International S1900 Tender Truck, 1997 International 4700, 1998 International 9000, 1998 International 9000, Cummins, HAY EQUIPMENT- John Deere 2320 Swather, John Deere 936 Moco 12ft Impeller, John Deere 820 Moco 9ft Haybine, John Deere 1209 Haybine, New Holland 499 Hydra Swing 12ft Haybine, John Deere 535 Round Baler w/JD Monitor & Book, Twine Only, John Deere 328 Baler w/Kicker, New Holland 315 Small Square Baler, New Idea Cut/Ditioner, Hesston 1091 Mower Conditioner, New Idea 5408 Disc Mower, Vermeer 605K Round Baler, New Holland Model 70 Kicker, Heston 30 Stack Mover, Z Panel Hay Feeder, LIVESTOCKEQUIPMENT - Late 90’s Balzer 6350 Liquid Manure Spreader w/Hyd. Drive, Cattle Squeeze Chute, H & S 235 Manure Spreader, Kuhn SL110 Slinger-Spreader, Gehl Grinder/Mixer Mill, John Deere Chuck Wagon, (10) 1/2 Barrel Feeders, 1-Ton HMDE Feeder, (4) Stainless Steel Hog Feeders, Lamb Hay Feeder, Horse Round Pen, Double Sided Creep Feeder, Creep Feeder w/Gates, Agromatic Feed Cart, LB White Heater, Honey Wagon 1,500-gal Manure Tank, Custom Heavy Duty 8ftX8ft Hay Feeder, EZ Trail Round Bale Feeder, Round Bale Feeder, 3-Ton Bulk Bin, 4-Ton Bulk Bin, Powder River Cattle Chute w/Head Gate, 20ft Feedline Bunk, (3) S.S. Double Sided Hog Feeders, Alberts Loading Chute, Generac Standby Generator, WAGONS - Meyer 4518 18’ Forage Box on Meyer X1506 Tandem Gear, Meyer TSS 500 16’ Forage Box on Meyer 1200 Tandem Gear, Meyer TSS 600 16’ Forage Box on Meyer X1206 Tandem Gear, Meyer TSS 500 18’ Forage Box on Meyer 1250 Single Axle Gear, J&M Gravity Box, M&W Little Red Wagon 300# Double Door Gravity Box, Brent 520 Grain Cart w/Scale, Parker 2500 Gravity Wagon on Westendorf 8-Ton Running Gear, J&M 225bu Wagon on J&M Gear, AUGERS - Wesco 10”x71ft Hyd Drive Hopper, Westfield MK-131-80 PLUS Swing Hopper w/Reverse Hyd Lift, Farm Faster Auger Hopper, DMC 8”x75ft Auger, MOWERS - Woods 15ft Batwing Mower – 1,000 PTO, Land Pride RCM 5515 15ft Batwing Mower, Woods 72 Brushbull, Frontier GM1072E 3pt Finish Mower, Woods Batwing Mower, FARM MISC. - Box Anhydrous Applicator Row Closers – Long Armed, (2) Boxes Anhydrous Applicator Row Closers – Short Armed, 1,000-gal water/fert tank on trl, 1,000-gal water/fert tank on trl, (2) Rear JD Tractor Tires & Rims 4x34, (2) Front JD Tractor Tires & Rims 00x15, 3” Hose Reel, 3pt Quick Hitch, (5) Rock Boxes, Pallet Forks, Shaver Post Driver, 4 AGRI Wagon Quick Hitches, 2 AGRI Tractor Quick Hitches, 1500-gal Elliptical Tank w/Saddle, 200-gal Milk Tank on Farm Trailer, 1,000 bu. Portable Holding Bin, Hydraulic Tile Stringer Cart, 1,200-gal Fertilizer/water tank, IH 4th Step, John Deere 490 Planter Parts & (2) Boxes Chuck Heads, Loader Bucket, Complete, VEHICLES - 2001 Ford F-450 Service Truck, 2010 Chevy 1500 LT, 2001 Buick Regal, 2010 Dodge Ram 2500, 2002 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE, 2010 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor, 2011 Ford F-150 Crew Cab, 2010 Ford F-250, 1996 Ford F-47 (Bridge Truck), 2003 Ford F-550, 1967 Lincoln Continental, RECREATIONAL - 2014 Kubota RTV900, 2016 Polaris Ranger 570, 2015 Can AM 800 XT Commander, 1985 Four Winns 16ft Boat & EZ Load Trailer, 2004 Polaris Ranger 6×6, 1990 Layton 5th Wheel Camping Trl, 1990 Crestliner 16ft Boat w/60hp Merc., John Deere Gator, CONSTRUCTION/SKID LOADER - 2015 Cat 257D Track Loader, Kubota SSV65 Skid Loader, Bobcat 873 Turbo, JD Backhoe, (2) AGT Industrial QH12 Mini Excavators, AGT Industrial DY14 Mini Excavator, AGT Industrial L12 Mini Excavator, SKID STEER ATTACHMENTS - Vibratory Plate Compactor, Grader, Landscape Rake, Hay Accumulator Grapple, Double Discharge Concrete Mixer, Digger Backhoe, Articulating Brush Cutter, Tree Puller, Power Rake, Root Rake, Ice Scraper, Bale Spear, Edge Bale Squeezer (like new), Skid Loader Mount, HLA 6ft Skid Loader Bucket, AGT 72” Skid Loader Mount Brush Cutter, AGT 72” Skid Loader Mount Finish Mower, Top Cat 80” Skid Loader Mount Disc Heavy Duty Brush Cutter, AGT 75” Skid Loader Mount Soil Conditioner, AGT 36” Skid Loader Mount Trencher, Top Cat 72” Skid Loader Mount Grader, Top Cat 72” Skid Loader Mount Grader, AGT 72” 3pt Skid Loader Mount Tiller, AGT 72” 3pt Skid Loader Mount Vibrating Roller, 16-21 gal/min flow, Skid Steer Bale Grapple – 10 Bales, Skid Steer 72”Wide Vibrating Packer, LAWN & GARDEN - Yard Machine 5 1/2hp 12”Tiller, Stihl MM55 Tiller, Weed eater, Rake, Post Hole Digger, Push Mower, Toro Ground Master 322D Lawn Mower, 72” Deck, Gravely Pro Turn 260 Zero Turn Lawn Mower, 60” Deck, Estate Rake, Hustler Super Z XR-7 60” Zero Turn Riding Lawn Mower, Dixon ZTR 428, Swisher 50” 22HP, Runs, JD 445 AWS 60” Deck, King Kutter II 6ft Rototiller, John Deere 318 Tractor, John Deere 318 Tractor w/48” Deck, John Deere 47” Snowblower, Cub 1440 Lawn Mower, Husky Garden Tiller, Toro Ground Master 120 Lawn Mower, MISC. - (4) 40ft Shipping Containers, AMP Trinity 9700RES Gas Powered Generator/Air Compressor & Welder, AMP Kohler Series Air Compressor – Kohler sh265 engine, cast iron dual head pump, 10ft x 30ft Plus 5ft x 7ft Camper Deck, 18ft x 7ft Ideal Insulated Garage Door w/Hardware, (2) Chamberlain 1/2hp Garage Door Openers, (20) 18” Plastic Pipe – 20ft, (10) 15” Plastic Pipe – 20ft, B&W Companion 5th Wheel Hitch, (40) Wine/Beer Fermentation Bottles, (5) Boxes of Hitachi Coil Nails & Assorted Fasteners, Air Hose & Drain Snake, Coleman Propane Lantern & Camp Stove, Industrias America Hyd. & Tilt Angle 3pt Blade, Farm King 3pt Snow Blower, New/Unused 55-gal Barrel of Castrol Synthetic Gear Oil, Aluminum Headache Rack, Ingersol Rand Air Compressor on Trl, Runs, (2) Hobart Tig Welder, (2) Reddy Heater 5500’s, 1990s Ford Pickup Hard Top Tonneau Cover, 1X8 Tongue & Groove Knotty Pine, (3) 5ft X 16ft Custom Heavy-Duty Gates, (2) 5ftX12FT Custom HD Gates, Steel Skid Loader Tracks, 25,000 LB Gooseneck Coupler, Case Agri King Restored Pedal Tractor, Snap-On 3/8” Torque Wrench, Porter Cable 6500-Watt Electric Generator, 30ft Heavy Duty Extension Ladder, 20ft Heavy Duty Extension Ladder, 10ft Heavy Duty Extension Ladder, Tweco Mig Gun, 20ft, (2) 3ft x 2ft Heavy Duty Metal Containers w/Handles, Keller 1/2-ton Air Hoist, (2) A Frame Hoists, (5) New/Unused AGT Industrial WD-80 Gasoline Engine Water Pumps, (2) 8ft x 10ft Garage Doors w/Openers.

CZMay20-1B-BL

A bull munches grass May 2 in a pasture near St. Charles. Cows eat approximately 2% of their body weight every day.

2 in a field near St. Charles. Farmers continue toward getting crops planted as much as the warmth and moisture allow.

Kendell Lumber Winona

115 Franklin St. Winona, MN 55987

507-454-3120

Kendell Lumber Rollingstone

111 Elm St. Rollingstone, MN 55969

Wouldn’t you love to work outside today?

Kendell Lumber is hiring delivery drivers/yard people.

Must be 18 years old with a valid driver’s license, working in all elements is a must and be able to lift at least 50 pounds. A CDL is preferred, but not required. Stop in to either Kendell location to pick up an application or drop off resume.

Good jobs right here, right now!

Crest will train you for any of the listed positions and pay you a decent living wage. If you are willing to work, and want to learn, this is the perfect team to join as the precast industry is a growing career opportunity!

• Manufacturing positions (includes assembling forms, rebar placement & pouring concrete)

• Delivery position (for swing boom crane in safe modern equipment, CDL required)

• Ready Mix Driver (Class A or B license) joan@crestprecastconcrete.com

507-689-2125 Hope

Call Greg Backes at 507-689-2125, e-mail gregbackes@hotmail.com or message us on Facebook with questions or interest.

LOADERS WHEEL LOADERS

AN ORGANIC heartbeet

The Schwen’s raise vegetables, family

BY AMY KYLLO | STAFF WRITER

ZUMBRO FALLS – A Disney playlist blasts as the skeleton of a rusty Allis Chalmers G tractor putters through rows of zucchinis, powered solely by a battery and directed by four-year-old Abel Schwen.

In the cool morning air, the rest of the Schwen family is picking zucchini into a little wooden trailer, clothed in sweatshirts against the short-lived chill.

Joe and Rebecca Schwen own and operate Heartbeet Farm, an organic vegetable farm with six acres dedicated to their vegetable abundance.

The Schwens live an integrated lifestyle of work and family. Their kids can be found swinging on a giant rope swing, climbing trees, chasing rabbits or spending time with the animals, all melded into the rhythm of work on the farm and their homeschool education.

Joe has grown vegetables his entire life and living in Minnesota for most of it. After Joe and Rebecca married, they managed a 5-acre CSA vegetable farm in New York. In 2008, they purchased their current farm sight unseen. Once they made the move from New York to Minnesota they began selling vegetables the next year off their new farm. Joe’s dad’s reputation was helpful as they got established, Rebecca said.

“We had somewhat of a market to step into,” she said. “That was a huge help, and even our first year we used a little of your dad’s infrastructure, because we didn’t really have anything,”

They farmed with horses at first, because Joe’s dad had some horse-powered vegetable equipment.

They did not have a lot of equipment or money those first years. Rebecca remembers washing potatoes by hand or digging them in slushy, icy snow because they could not operate the horse equipment in the muddy conditions.

“We prefer to not go into debt,” she said. “That was a leading directive for us personally. It wasn’t worth it to go into debt to buy a huge piece of equipment before we could afford it.”

In New York, when they were running a vegetable CSA as newlyweds, they spent a summer living in a tent in the greenhouse to help save money for the farm they have today. When they bought their farm, they chose to live in the onsite farm house for nine years – a house that was considered essentially worthless when they purchased the farm. But, they made it work in order to save money and focus on growing their business without a lot of debt.

Joe said one of the advantages of vegetables is they can be farmed without big startup costs.

Tub

Grain Grinders

‘It’s about how much sweat you want to offer,” Joe said. “You can do everything by hand. That’s pretty cheap equipment.”

Through the years Joe has led the farming side of their operation while Rebecca has taken the lead on homeschooling, running the house, doing business bookwork, being the point of contact for their business and helping with the vegetables. They also have a seasonal employee during the growing season.

Rebecca appreciates the approach her husband brings to vegetable farming.

“Joe is an excellent example of someone who learns by doing and in a refined

Woodgrain forces its way through a stenciled, heart-shaped beet May 3 on Heartbeet Farm near Zumbro Falls. In the past, Heartbeet Farm sold around 40 different vegetables, and they have streamlined.

way,” Rebecca said. “Not only does he learn how to do it, he refines it by doing.”

Their farm has changed over time. In the past, they sold around 40 different vegetables directly at farmers markets. Now, they have streamlined their vegetable offerings, they sell in a two-farm cooperative to cooperatives in the Twin Cities instead of farmers markets and have better equipment.

The Schwens start their growing season in February, when they start thousands of onion seedlings planted in trays they set in the dirt of their greenhouse. When they are preparing to plant them outside, they cut the roots to remove the trays and cut the tops off the onions before using their transplanting machine to plant them in the field.

Their acre of onions is machine cultivated with the Allis Chalmers every 10 days. Then, the Schwens hand hoe between the rows, a job which takes three people three days.

They also grow 15 varieties of heirloom tomatoes. Joe said heirlooms are preferred by their market because they have better flavor, albeit poorer shelf life.

Their first crop of tomatoes is grown in the soil in the back half of their greenhouse. This ground is warmed by a terrarium-like substrata of rocks heated by excess heat from the front half of the greenhouse. The tomatoes are pruned down to two branches and are trained to grow up strings suspended from the ceiling. Joe said these tomatoes get special attention because their early crop is especially valuable.

The rest of their tomatoes are planted into landscape fabric in hoop houses. Rebecca said they plant more than one crop of tomatoes so they can always sell the best tomatoes.

“We can stay picky and send premium tomatoes … right up until they freeze,” she said.

In addition to running the farm, Joe is also working to build a house. He has created the blue prints and is processing logs from their farm in his saw mill. Their farm is dotted with neat woodpiles of logs marked with the number corresponding to the piece of the house they will contribute to. In the meantime, the Schwens have spent the last five years in a shouse, or shed house. One part of the shed has been made into a high-ceilinged, lovely, relaxed living space with two floors and the other part of the shed has their walk-in cooler for the vegetables.

With his skills with wood, Joe hopes to expand on his tree trimming business in the winter and grow fewer vegetables in the summer. They will still have vegetables, but the workload will be more even across seasons by having both businesses.

Schwen page 11

PHOTOS BY AMY KYLLO

Abel Schwen (front row from left) and Hazel; Joe (back row from left), Rebecca, Rita and Silas surround with their retrofitted Allis Chalmers battery tractor May 3 on Heartbeet Farm near Zumbro Falls. The Schwen family, who are second and third generation vegetable growers, have six acres of vegetables.

are

every 10 days.

Schwen

from page 10

“We’ve been cutting back every year,” Joe said. “We’re not like expansion minded. There’s plenty of room for the kids to expand it in some way if they want to.”

The two oldest children already have begun vegetable farming for themselves. Silas, the oldest raises yellow straight neck squash and Hazel raises garlic.

SUBMITTED

Welcome to Solar Connection.

Services

Install for businesses, homes and farms

Testimonial

Solar Panels for the Passive House: John & Nancy

After years of searching for the perfect home that fits their needs or would be excited to renovate, John and Nancy decided to build! Around that same time, they attended the Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center’s presentation about the Passive House movement – an exceptionally rigorous building standard that results in a home which, using the latest technologies, has the smallest carbon footprint currently possible.

The concept hit home. John says he doesn’t consider himself an “environmentalist” per se; he just believes in living within his means.

“We believe in energy conservation. We believe in protecting our valuable non-renewable resources. But we’re also big believers in electricity and living the lifestyle we’ve come to know within reason, but just to do it more efficiently and more economically.”...

To see more testimonials visit us at www.solarconnectioninc.com