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November 11, 2011 (800) 657-4665 www.TheLandOnline.com theland@TheLandOnline.com P.O. Box 3169, Mankato, MN 56002
SOUTHERN EDITION
A love for farming, and a supportive family, helped Elizabeth Johnson get a start in farming. Her determination has kept her there. By RENAE VANDER SCHAAF The Land Correspondent wenty years ago, at age 23, Elizabeth Johnson was interested in beginning farming. She had an uncle retiring, and felt there might be an opportunity. Johnson discussed her idea with her dad, who advised her to talk to the uncle about it. She did, and has never regretted it. “I like farming,” Johnson said. “I grew up helping my parents, Bob and Sally Nelsen. This land I rented was close to my parents’ farm making it more convenient for me to farm.” The farming was set up on a 60-40 share basis. Both she and her husband, Casey, have full-time jobs in nearby Storden, Minn. Casey owns a trucking company, Storden Transit, with his dad. Elizabeth is office manager at a local bank. They also have three children — Alex, Theo and Madeline. The farming would get done at night or on the weekends. “At first it was dad and me, then my husband, Casey, joined us,” Johnson said. “As the children grew older, they also helped.”
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See JOHNSON, pg. 10A