Deep Roots

It’s the Ripe Time.

Ready for a FRESH approach to eating? Our 3-in-1 book is packed full of gardening tips, step-by-step directions for preserving over 30 fruits and vegetables, and 100’s of healthy recipes you’ll love!

Two of my children showed goats this ring. I began to dread show day. year as a county fair first. The three goats they took to the fair were born on our farm in April and have been handled since day one. We quickly learned, however, that the saying “stubborn as an old billy goat” also pertains to the junior class of wethers as well. Feeling frantic, I asked a veteran goat showing parent what we could do to get our goats to behave on show day. His reply was simple: take them for walks. Walk them through the show ring, around the barn, and while you’re walking, talk to them. For the goats, the whole fair There were days those goats would lead like champs, walking along with their DEEP ROOTS experience is new. The lights, the noises, and the hustle and bustle is completely handlers, heads held high and seemed to By Whitney Nesse foreign. The only thing familiar to them enjoy the spotlight. There were also days is their handler and their handler’s voice. that the kids more or less dragged their goats around the yard. Those stubborn little stinkers would lock up their front legs and firmly plant themselves, not wishing to go anywhere. And so began the walks. Around the barn, into and out of the show ring, back and forth and over and over. As Abby and Easton walked their goats, they gently spoke to them, exhibiting kindness rather

We hoped, of course, that by fair time the Pygmy’s than frustration. I noticed some of the older 4H-ers would lead well — walking along with their han- stop to give encouragement and really step into the dlers and ready for their time to shine. On the con- role of a mentor rather than being competitively trary. It felt as though the goats had conjured up a aloof. I watched the confidence and the animal/hanplan to sabotage my kids’ first attempt at showing dler trust level grow as Abby and Easton simply goats as soon as we got to the fair. They were as walked and talked to their animals. stubborn as the day is long. The number of things which can be solved by sim-

Some of the older 4H-ers generously offered to ply taking a walk is astounding. Attention can be have a mock show on our first day at the fair as a diverted, tempers can be cooled, patience can be confidence booster for the first timers. As I stood by learned, wisdom can be gained, and trust can be with a few other parents, I painstakingly watched built. There is much simplicity — yet there is great my two oldest drag their goats through the show depth — in an evenly-paced stroll. It’s no wonder Jesus chose to take a walk with two of his followers on the road to Emmaus shortly after his body was resurrected. Two grief-stricken followers of Christ were on their way back to Emmaus from Jerusalem, about a seven mile journey, three days after the crucifixion. As they walked, another traveler — Jesus (whom they did not recognize) — joined them. Jesus inquired about the subject they were so intently discussing. As they walked along, the two described the events of the recent days. They poured out their breaking hearts to Jesus as He earnestly listened. Jesus’ followers thought He would be the one to redeem Israel. Upon the death of Christ, their hope was deferred and they were heartsick. Jesus, still unrecognized by the two, then reminded them of everything written about Him beginning with Moses and all of the Prophets. And as Jesus spoke to them, their hearts burned like a holy fire kindled by the truth, confirming their beliefs.

C & C STEEL ROOFING

Order today at FarmGirlFresh.com for a healthier, happier you!

• Lowest Rates • Quality

Workmanship • Insured • 6 Year

Warranty • Free

Estimates

What a great example of how a simple walk can end in epic fashion! During that walk, Jesus patiently listened. He calmly spoke. He reminded the two of centuries-old truths, and He fanned into flame what they already knew! Luke 24:13-35 gives us the full account of Jesus’ walk with the two.

I can’t help but to liken this story to the very same principles which were shared with me on our first day at the fair. “Walk with and talk to the goats, the only thing familiar to them will be the handler and the handler’s voice.” I can almost imagine Jesus thinking the same thing! Walk with and talk with Me, you know Me and you know My voice. A walk with Jesus can bring us from a place of unwilling stubbornness and heartache to a place of willful submission and a heart on fire!

I know stubbornness well. There have been times when the Lord has tried to gently walk with me and I’ve planted my feet and refused to go. I know the heartsick feelings well too. Hoping for different outcomes; only to have my hope deferred. However, I also know when I willingly choose to participate in my walk with Jesus, after I have poured out my grief and gotten tired of refusing, He begins to speak. And when He speaks as we walk along, my heart truly burns within me. My passion for the Lord ignites and I am ready to continue on the walk.

Show day came and went. It was a great experience for Abby and Easton. They brought home new confidence, new friends, new card games, a new level of responsibility for their animals. And most of all, they learned the importance and simplicity of going for a walk. A few red ribbons and two grand champions were added bonuses.

Whitney Nesse is a sixth-generation livestock farmer who is deeply rooted in her faith and family. She writes from her central Minnesota farm. v State Fair entries auctioned online

From a half-pound rolled blueberry chevre to a 20-pound block of butter to a 42-pound chunk of Cheddar Parmesan, about 50 entries in this year’s Butter and Cheese Contest will be auctioned off to the highest bidders to fund dairy student scholarships.

Online bidding is open during the run of the State Fair at Fahey Sales Auctioneers and Appraisers, https://www.faheysales.com/. The public can view the top five winners in each category in the Dairy Building from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Sept. 5, and from 9:00 a.m. to noon Sept. 6. Winning bidders can pick up their products at the Dairy Building on Sept. 7 or arrange for shipping.

All proceeds from the auction will fund UMDIA’s Gene Watnaas scholarship. v

THE ONE AND A TWO AND A THREE AND A FOUR AND A FIVE AND A SIX AND A SEVEN BUSHEL ADVANTAGE REVOLUTION

With a 7.7 bu/A yield advantage* over SmartStax® trait technology, Pioneer® brand Qrome® products deliver on your corn acres. To learn about Qrome products with characteristics suited exactly to your acres, contact your local Pioneer sales representative.

THE CORN REVOLUTION IS HERE Pioneer.com/QromeAdvantage

*Data is based on an average of 2020 comparisons made in the U.S. through Nov. 1, 2020. Comparisons are against all competitors, technology segment matched, unless otherwise stated, and within a +/- 3 CRM of the competitive brand. Product responses are variable and subject to any number of environmental, disease and pest pressures. Individual results may vary. Multi-year and multi-location data are a better predictor of future performance. DO NOT USE THIS OR ANY OTHER DATA FROM A LIMITED NUMBER OF TRIALS AS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN PRODUCT SELECTION. Refer to www.pioneer.com/products or contact a Pioneer sales representative or authorized dealer for the latest and complete listing of traits and scores for each Pioneer® brand product. Qrome® products are approved for cultivation in the U.S. and Canada. They have also received approval in a number of importing countries, most recently China. For additional information about the status of regulatory authorizations, visit http://www.biotradestatus.com/ Agrisure® is a registered trademark of, and used under license from, a Syngenta Group Company. Agrisure® technology incorporated into these seeds is commercialized under a license from Syngenta Crop Protection AG. Roundup Ready® is a registered trademark used under license from Monsanto Company. Liberty®, LibertyLink® and the Water Droplet Design are trademarks of BASF. SmartStax® multi-event technology developed by Corteva Agriscience and Monsanto. ®SmartStax and the SmartStax Logo are registered trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC. Always follow IRM, grain marketing and all other stewardship practices and pesticide label directions. B.t. products may not yet be registered in all states. Check with your seed representative for the registration status in your state. Always read and follow label directions. ™ ® Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. © 2021 Corteva.

By DICK HAGEN

The Land Staff Writer Emeritus

RENVILLE, Minn.

— Yes, a strange title; but an Aug. 17 visit with Brandon Wulf, general manager of K&M Manufacturing in Renville, Minn. surprised me. I was taken aback with the size and Brandon Wulf scope of this facility — squeezed into a four-block area adjoining downtown Renville (population 1,189). And I learned K&M not only provides ‘sitting comfort’ for farmers, but also for thousands of folks with garden tractors, riding lawn mowers, etc.

Along with OEM suspension, replacement static and non-suspension seats, K&M produces tractor LED work lighting, cab interior products, tractor steps, skidsteer plates and attachments, tractor monitor brackets and tractor mirrors.

I expressed my surprise to Wulf —an energetic 41-year old who started in K&M’s sales department. “We’re still making tractor seats and that business is good,” Wulf said, “in fact, still growing. We not only make our own restoration tractor seats, but we are also an aftermarket distributor for a lot of OEM tractor seats — including airsuspension seats which have become very popular. We are in several different markets and provide seating for other equipment including lawn mowers, construction equipment, skid steers and fork lifts. We are now selling all sorts of seats and other products beyond the restoration of tractor seats which launched our growth.”

Wulf admitted tractor seats still dominate K&M’s market. “I don’t have exact data, but wager 60 to 70 percent are tractor seats. Turf equipment is now up to about 10 percent; the construction industry getting the remaining 20 percent or so. Yes, seats for equipment are big for us; but we manufacture other products such as tractor mirrors, tractor steps and reinforced rock boxes for mounting on tractor fronts.”

“About five years ago we started manufacturing and assembling log splitters for our parent company, Great Northern Equipment,” Wulf continued. “That too keeps growing. Then, not even a year later, we started assembling garden tillers when GNE acquired a tiller company and moved that production to our Renville facility. Yes, these new products generate increased production hours and parts acquisitions too … which is adding up to more space being needed.”

In light of the pandemic and economy, with more people staying at home, garden tillers have been a plus for K&M. “The last 18 months garden tiller sales have been very good,” Wulf admitted, “and likely to continue. As more people elect to work from their homes, garden work is becoming an important necessity.”

Even with an extensive existing product line, research and development play a large role in K&M’s future plans. “Several people are involved in R&D here at Renville,” said Wulf, “all of whom play an integral part in the development of a new product. We have a broad dealer base (over 3,500 dealers across the country) generating an extensive customer base also. Nothing better than our dealers, and their customers sharing new ideas on something that just maybe could be added to our manufacturing capabilities. Plus, I’ve got some farmers on staff here so there’s a never-ending mix of new ideas. That’s a big part of what keeps K&M a vibrant company. I doubt the ‘new idea’ fountain will ever run dry around here.”

Wulf received his Sales and Marketing degree at Ridgewater College, just up the road at Willmar, Minn. After attending four-year state colleges in Mankato and Marshall, Wulf began his 11-year stint at K&M. With his business background, I asked Wulf if he had concerns for the U.S. economy. “A growing economy benefits us because we have such a diversified product line and our buying audience is getting even more diversified,” he responded. “Farmers are still our bread and butter so to speak; but that non-farmer market keeps growing. Plus we’ve got products for new tractors and older tractors too.”

What new product is K&M’s current best seller? “LED lighting has exploded!” replied Wulf. “Many new and older tractors come with halogen lights … head lights, work lights. We upgrade them to LED lighting … specific kits for these new tractors. These are plugin ready lights.”

Wulf added John Deere continues to be K&M’s number-one market. “John Deere leads the parade,” he said. “We offer seats for John Deere tractors dating back to the 1950’s era. The Sound Guard series of mid to late 70’s are still some of the most popular seats we sell.

K&M currently employs 65 people at the Renville facility and could be looking to add six to eight more. “As everyone knows these days, hiring new is a growing struggle,” said Wulf. “Our 15 to 20 percent yearly growth has been the pace for some time now. Our work day starts at 7 a.m. with a 4:30 p.m. shut down. Production staff leaves at noon on Fridays.”

“Right now, because of the world-wide pandemic, supply issues and the rising cost of materials are a concern,” Wulf continued. “We’re sitting on lots of back orders. These days, shipping containers are difficult to get your hands on … and shipping costs are crazy. Also, some of our parts come from overseas suppliers which adds to concerns.”

Wulf wrapped up our conversation saying GNE’s diverse product line keeps K&M optimistic for the future. GNE has a strong export market with Canada and is making inroads into Europe just a bit. As GNE continues to expand its product line, Wulf expects K&M to be part of those expansions. “Log splitters are a good example,” he said. “right now we’re up to six lines of log splitter fabrications and five different lines of garden tillers. Yes, this drought and higher production costs for farmers is tightening farm income right now. But thanks to our diversity, I don’t think we’ll feel any particular pinch.” v

Funds available to update livestock operations

Minnesota livestock farmers and ranchers seeking to improve their livestock operation are encouraged to apply for the Agricultural Growth, Research,

MATHIOWETZ

CONSTRUCTION

Farm Friendly Since 1924

– Aggregates – Building Pads – Demolition – Ditch Cleaning – Farm Drainage – Grove Removal – Hauling – Site Grading – Terraces – Equipment Sales & Service

30676 County Rd 24 Sleepy Eye, MN. 56085 www.mathiowetzconst.com office@mathiowetzconst.com 507-794-6953

and Innovation (AGRI) Livestock Investment Grant program. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture anticipates awarding up to $1.3 million using a competitive review process.

There will be two rounds of funding. In Winter/Spring 2022, a second RFP will be issued for any remaining funds.

The AGRI grants encourage long-term development in Minnesota’s livestock industry through investment in facilities, infrastructure, and equipment.

Applicants may apply for up to 10 percent of their project’s total cost. Grant awards can range in size from $400 to $25,000. Each livestock operation is eligible to receive a lifetime maximum of $50,000 from this grant program. To be eligible for reimbursement by this grant, you must be invoiced and pay for all project materials and services after Jan. 1, 2022.

Proposals must be received no later than 4 p.m. on Nov. 17 for it to be considered. Applicants are encouraged to use the online application.

More information about the grant can be found at https://www.mda.state. mn.us/business-dev-loans-grants/agrilivestock-investment-grant.

This article was submitted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.v

By RICHARD SIEMERS foundation. It was intended as a man cave The Land Correspondent and vehicle storage, but turned into a fam-

When Dale Fier named his repurposed ily gathering spot. Fier systematically put farmstead south of Taunton, Minn. the new siding on the other buildings he “Heritage Event Center,” it is not a name intended to keep. One of those buildings he pulled out of the air because it has a was the barn, which he started straightennice ring. He intended it to be descriptive ing in 2005. of his retirement venture. “It was a promise to my dad that I would

“I try to incorporate as much history as never let that old historic barn collapse,” possible into the place,” Fier said. Fier said. “That was the first building built

He has plenty of history to work with. on the place.” “The best I can decipher, we have it narrowed down to 1886 when my great-greatgrandparents first came and lived in a soddy down by the valley.” His great-great-grandparents live in that barn with the animals for a year before they moved into a shanty while the house was being built. What Fier didn’t realize was that the barn was going to give a They stayed, and so did succeeding gen- whole new look to his retirement. erations until Dale and his siblings were the latest generation to grow up on what was in his childhood a dairy farm. One brother stayed on to farm with their dad, but the rest moved on to other careers. Dale worked for large corporations, enabling him to move from place to place when his wife, Heidi, a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, was transferred. His last years before retirement in 2014 were as a program manager with IBM. “I always told my Dad that when you’re ready to sell, I’m ready to buy, because I want to retire here,” Fier said. That time came in 2003, and he started cleaning and fixing up. Fier built one new building on an old See EVENT CENTER, pg. 12 Since he was able to work at his job remotely, he would commute back and forth every other weekend between the farm and their Colorado Springs home. While he was home on one of those commutes … on a rainy April weekend, a couple drove in. They told him, “You don’t know who we are but we’ve been looking for a barn to get married in. It’s been a dream my whole life.”

Photos by Richard Siemers The quiet settings of the country have made Heritage Event Center a popular site for weddings and social gatherings of all kinds.

We can’t help you choose between A and B. But we can help you choose from our genetically diverse lineup of products.

Scan to watch the video

EVENT CENTER, from pg. 11

He told them the barn looked nice on the outside, but not so good on the inside. They decided if stuff was swept aside, it would work. He and a good friend spent the summer getting the barn in shape to host a November wedding.

“It turned out pretty spectacular,” Fier said. “The word got out that I was fixing up this barn. Then I had more people ask about it.”

He liked the idea of a new use for the barn, but there was serious work to be done. The November wedding had been chilly, and summers would be hot. He sought a quote on heating and air conditioning the barn. It was over $10,000. As the contractor drove away, Fier went in the house and sat down. The phone rang. It was his boss. Since Fier’s last projects had gone so well and under budget, the company was giving him a bonus. It equaled the amount he had just been quoted. That seemed more than a coincidence.

“You have a feeling you’re on the right track,” said Fier. “That was a pretty strong indicator that there was something more for me to do than fix the place up and retire.”

The Fier Family Farm became a place for other families to have a memorable experience.

Activity at the Heritage Event Center has grown without any paid advertising. After he and his wife moved back to the farm in 2014, he has been able to devote all his time to the Center. It has hosted reunions, receptions, showers, fundraisers, and community events, but weddings predominate. For indoor wedding ceremonies, the barn loft is the chapel. String lights

Original buildings with new siding offset old items Fier has collected over the years. hang from the rafters, and down front is a lighted cross formed from the first barbed wire used on the farm. Single seed corn planters function as flower receptacles hanging on the posts. The main floor has tables and benches for a reception, sitting on either side of the wooden frames from the milking stanchions.

The historic barn may be the central attraction, but folks find holding events on a farm appealing and activity is not confined to the barn. There is also an outdoor chapel among the trees. The metal cross at the front is from a family crypt in Denmark. The former “man cave” building serves as the dance floor or the center of other activity. Depending on the event, there is a bar and serving area on a concrete feedlot, and seating around outdoor fires. Groups arranging for a hayride have their choice among three tractors: Farmall, John Deere or a little Ford. “Dad was non-denominational with machinery,” Fier smiled.

Fier had thought he would restore their old machinery, but instead is creating an outdoor machinery museum to walk through. When people heard he collected old machinery, they donated theirs rather than sell it for scrap iron.

The pandemic interrupted activity in 2020. He went from 27 booked events to two. He and a couple full-time employees utilized the time to complete projects that would have been harder if fully booked. But 2021 is bouncing back big.

“I have weddings scheduled through Christmas,” he said.

Fier never trained to be an event coordinator, but he learned needed skills in his career.

“This is probably equally as challenging as when I worked full time; but there is nothing anyone can throw at me that I haven’t dealt with as a challenge in my career. I learned about working with people and problem solving.”

The barn that started it all came with a promise to never tear the historic stucture down. Both are very helpful when a crisis develops, especially in such a memorable event as a wedding. Dale Fier doesn’t think this was just a good idea he had. There is this sense that God has used unexpected incidents and turns of events to guide him in the direction he has gone. All the support from family and friends seems to confirm that he has chosen the right track. It isn’t all that profitable at this point, as he tries to keep it affordable for the community. He said his wife teases him that he has to quit paying people to get married in the barn. Still, the Heritage Event Center seems to him a much better use of his time than just sitting around on his boyhood farm (not that he seems like a person who would ever be just sitting around). The old machinery, the rustic adornments, the original buildings fixed up and saved, it all puts heritage into this rural event center. “I thank God that my mom and dad had the foresight to struggle to keep it in the family,” Fier said. And he has found a way to keep the heritage alive. Heritage Event Center is located at 3621 County Highway 8, Taunton, Minn. More information can be found by searching for Heritage Event Center or Dale Fier on Facebook. Dale can be reached by phone at (719) 393-5168. v