Media Contacts: Catherine Dehdashti, U of M Extension, (612) 625-0237, ced@umn.edu; John Byrnes, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, (612) 625-4743, byrnes@umn.edu

U of M Recognizes 2010 Farm Families of the Year

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL, Minn. (7/12/2010) — Seventy-three families from around the state, one from each participating county, have been named a “2010 Farm Family of the Year” by the University of Minnesota.

The families will be officially recognized in a ceremony Thursday, Aug. 5 at the annual Farmfest near Redwood Falls, Minn. Visit the University’s farm family website at http://mnfarmfamilies.cfans.umn.edu/. Profiles of the 2010 honorees and information on the recognition event can be found on the website at www.extension.umn.edu/go/1040.

“Almost all Minnesota farms are family farms,” said Bev Durgan, dean of University of Minnesota Extension. “These farm families are a major driver of Minnesota's economy and the vitality of Minnesota's rural communities. The University of Minnesota is proud to recognize these farm families for their contribution to agriculture and their communities."

Families receiving honors were selected by their local county Extension committees and have demonstrated a commitment to enhancing and supporting agriculture and agricultural production.

The diversity of Minnesota family farms can be seen by looking at a sample of the 2010 honorees:

Douglas Lawrence Family of Anoka County
The Douglas Lawrence family farm was established in 1957 when Douglas’s father purchased a farm and three registered Hereford bred cows with calves in Coon Rapids.  Known today as Lawrence Herefords, the farm is now in the fourth generation of raising and showing cattle. Besides the Herefords, the Lawrence family has 320 turf acres in Anoka County. Doug, Joann and their sons and grandchildren are all involved with the family operation.

John and Leila Arndt of Kandiyohi County
John and Leila purchased their Willmar area farm in 1972. The farm began as a beef cow operation, but is now a 200-acre farm and bison ranch. Besides 300 head of bison, they raise oats, corn and soybeans. The farm has a selection of different cuts of bison for sale, and they are involved with the Farm to School program and many other organizations.

Kramer Farms of Renville County
Eugene Kramer was born into a family of 12 children. Eugene, the oldest, and Mike, the youngest, decided they would start farming together. As Eugene and his wife Carol began growing a family, their five boys also began farming with Eugene and Mike. They raise corn, soybeans, sugar beets, kidney beans, sweet corn and peas.

Tom and Lisa Walsh Family of Swift County
In 1992, Tom Walsh took over the family farm his parents had been running for 50 years. His farm started with feed cattle, a cow/calf operation and some crops. Eight years later, he and his brother, with some partners from Morris, built a 2,000 cow dairy. They have since built another dairy. Today, Tom is the managing partner in the dairy operations. In addition, he raises corn and alfalfa and has a small beef cow herd. 

Coleman Farms of Watonwan County
In 1967, Dennis Coleman purchased a 160-acre farm in South Branch Township with the help of his parents. A year later, Dennis and his wife Sonja started a hog operation. Today the Coleman family operates a 1,200 sow farrow-to-finish hog operation, which is mostly located on the original 160 acres. In addition to the hog operation, they run 2,700 acres of soybeans and corn.

Along with Farmfest, University units sponsoring the recognition event include University of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, and the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Farmfest runs Aug. 3-5 at the Gilfillan Estate, near Redwood Falls, Minn. Event hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 3 and 4, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 5. Admission is $10 per person, and those 18 and under are admitted free. More information on Farmfest is available at www.farmshows.com/ffst.

Here is a complete listing of the 2010 University of Minnesota Farm Family of the Year honorees, by county:

County                                   Family
Aitkin                                    Ron and Sharon Dotzler Family
Anoka                                   Douglas Lawrence Family
Becker                                  Spadgenske Dairy
Benton                                 Joe and Wendy Knapek Family
Big Stone                             Wulff Family Farm—Walter and Sheila Wulff
Blue Earth                           Jeff and Julie More & Family
Brown                                   Jenna and Mike Griebel Family
Carlton                                 Bill and Ruth Sharratt
Carver                                   Andy and Jodene Stuewe
Cass                                       The Stockman’s
Chippewa                            Schultz-Schaefer Family Farm
Chisago                               Diamond B Farms
Clearwater                          Gary and Aryls Mathis
Cottonwood                      Kent Erickson
Dakota                                Al and Beth Bester & Family
Dodge                                 Currier Family
Douglas                               Andy and Emily Siira
Faribault                              Don and Nancy Linder Farm
Fillmore                               Lind Family Farms
Freeborn                             Pat and Rosanna Staloch
Goodhue                             Jaeger Farms
Grant                                   Paul and Carol Anderson Family
Hennepin                            Picha Farms
Houston                               Paul and Helen Solum Family
Isanti                                     Rodney and Sara Elmstrand
Jackson                                Brian and Bruce Ihnen Families
Kanabec                               Thoeny Farms
Kandiyohi                            John and Leila Arndt
Kittson                                  Ronald and LaVonne Anderson
Lac qui Parle                       The Daren Schmidt Family
Lake of the Woods          Elmo and Alcia Sorrels
Le Sueur                              Jerry and Peggy Cooney Family
Lincoln                                  Glen S. Johnson Family
Mahnomen                        Robert and Carol Schafer Family
Martin                                  Robert and Melissa Garry
McLeod                                Jonathon and Debbie Posusta Family
Meeker                                Prairie Gold Farm (The Buers)
Mille Lacs                             Kevin and Tammy Krotzer & Family
Morrison                             Jim and Debbie Knopik
Mower                                 Larry Larson & Family
Murray                                 Stan and Jean Larson
Nicollet                                 John and Beverly Schroeder Family
Nobles                                  Wagner Family Farm
Norman                               Germolus Family Farm
Olmsted                               Roeder Farms
Otter Tail                             Bruce and Arleen Stone
Pine                                     Mach Family
Pipestone                           Schulze Dairy
Polk                                    Steve and Betty Ness
Pope                                   Maanum Family
Ramsey                                City Backyard Farming, Xe Susane Moua
Red Lake                            Leslie and Alice Hofstad
Redwood                            Bruce and Ann Tiffany
Renville                               Kramer Farms
Rice                                    Estrem Family Farms
Rock                                  John and Jeanne Bowron
Roseau                                Jon and Valerie Johnson
Scott                                   Zweber Family
Sherburne                          Shady Nook Farm; Neal and Judy Weis Family Farm
Sibley                                   The Bruce and Nelva Lilienthal Family
Stearns                                 Nick and Tara Meyer Family
Steele                                   Heers Family Farm
Stevens                                Steven and Lori Kill
Swift                                    Tom and Lisa Walsh Family
Todd                                   Clasemann Dairy LLC
Traverse                              Pederson Family
Wabasha                             Jack and Cindy Stamschror
Wadena                               Dennis and Nancy Benson
Waseca                               The Leon and Beth Schoenrock Family Farm
Washington                        Gordy and Bonnie Tank & Myron and Linda Tank
Watonwan                          Coleman Farms
Winona                              Duane and Cindy Herber Family
Yellow Medicine               Kvam Farm

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Note: Photographs of families who attend the Aug. 5 recognition ceremony will be posted to http://mnfarmfamilies.cfans.umn.edu/ after Aug. 12.

URL: http:// mn4h.com/extensionnews/2010/farm-families-2010.html  This page was updated July 12, 2010 .
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