Hollister prefers a compact animal that does well on grass

HOLLISTER, from pg. 10

“The cool thing about the Hollisters is they started small and just kept trying to get the farm to where they wanted it to be,” Barrick stated. The Crow Wing SWCD applauded the farm’s transformation in their nomination paperwork detailing, “Now soil has organic matter, additional topsoil, water retention ability, and underground root systems and channels filter water into the ground.”

Beginning a new career path had its challenges. “It’s not an easy thing. If you’re a new farmer, you have to be creative,” Hollister stated. “I couldn’t do what my neighbors were doing.” He stated the process takes time, hard work and sacrifice. The opportunity to gain knowledge from others has benefited Hollister and he recommends to anyone starting out in the industry to do the same. “It’s nice to have that community to learn from one another.” He commented that “context matters,” elaborating that each piece of land and each situation is different, but there is information to be gleaned from others and can be applied as able.

Barrick highlighted Hollister’s efforts to strengthen a peer to peer community. Crow Wing SWCD worked with Hollister around 2019 to figure out a way to communicate with the ag community and learn more about their needs. As part of a collaborative effort with various conservation-minded partners, including Happy Dancing Turtle, they sent out postcards to ag classified landowners in the Pine River Watershed as a means to find out more about their concerns and thoughts about conservation. Hollister then followed up with the landowners, and the partners of the project were able to provide resources as desired. “It definitely helped us get connected to people.” Barrick said. This partnership resulted in Crow Wing SWCD, along with Cass SWCD and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Baxter field office, to be named the recipient of the 2020 National NACD/NRCS Earth Team Award.

Barrick also stated that Hollister has shared his experiences with other farmers through seminars and field days with the Crow Wing River Basin Forage Council, as well as participated in a YouTube video discussing soil health created by the Crow Wing SWCD.

In Minnesota, every county besides Hennepin and Ramsey counties have at least one Soil and Water Conservation District. Iowa has a SWCD in each county, with two in Pottawattamie County. Barrick stated their goal is to work hand in hand with landowners. “There’s a lot of opportunity to have funding or resources to help them with their farm goals,” Barrick stated. “We’re here and we’re available.”

Hollister explained that by practicing adaptive grazing, he makes decisions based on observing what is and is not growing in the paddocks. Hollister aims to rotate his cattle every day to a different paddock, and sometimes rotates them multiple times a day. He uses step-in posts with a hightensile electric fence wire around the perimeter. The sheep are usually moved every other day using a portable electric net.

Galloway, British White, Tarentaise, and Aberdeen/ Lowline Angus currently make up Hollister’s herd of 25 brood cows and their calves, plus 25 yearlings. He prefers a more compact cow that will perform well on grass, and enjoys having a variety of breeds and colors.

The flock of 10 ewes and their lambs are Katahdin, a hair breed that Hollister stated sheds out in spring.

The livestock graze on perennial grasses, as well as clover. Around November, Hollister begins bale grazing for the winter. He purchases the hay and sets round bales 30 feet apart.

“Our main way to fertilize is bale grazing,” he stated.

He has found that a lot of weeds come up the first year after bale grazing, and so he has the current task of trying to suppress some of those annuals. Hollister dedicates about five acres to cover crops each year. This year, he has planted barley and buckwheat, hoping they’ll outcompete some of the less desirable plants.

Hollister has also used cover crops under the brassica umbrella such as turnips and kale, as well as yellow blossom sweet clover, which improves nitrogen levels.

Hollister additionally implements the concept of high-stock density grazing, moving 500,000 to a million pounds of animal per acre for a short amount of time. If there’s a weed issue, he states he can put his livestock in the specified area for an hour. They may eat 30 percent of the plant, and will also trample the rest. Hollister added the sheep can grow meat from grazing broadleaf weeds, and so he states he’s learning to value those, as well.

Hollister pointed out the importance of being faithful in the work, and that adaptability is key. He also discussed that a new farming strategy might not work one year, but because of factors that vary, such as moisture, sticking with the tactic might bring success the next year. “You’re going to make mistakes,” Hollister remarked. “That’s a good teacher, too.”

As a father and husband, Hollister places emphasis on the business being named Hollister Family Farm and gives recognition to the entire unit. He believes some of the skills to be acquired through farming include economics, caretaking, and work ethic. A hope Hollister has for his children is that they will be stewards of the land “wherever they land.”

To learn more about the Hollister Family Farm, to contact them, and to view their ordering options, visit their website, hollisterfarm.com. v