Minnesota Farm Families of the Year : Otter Tail County


Home > 2009 Farm Families	Print View

Otter Tail County
Mark and Annette Riestenberg

The Riestenberg family farm was started by Mark’s great grandfather in the late 1890s. Mark and Annette bought the farm in 1990 after working with Mark’s uncle for a few years. After buying the farm, the Riestenberg’s put in irrigation. Today they farm 750 acres with two-thirds being irrigated edible beans, corn, and alfalfa. They also market about 10,000 pigs a year in a wean to finish operation. Mark does a majority of the work and his family helps when they need. His wife, Annette is a RN and gives him great moral support. His sons, Joseph and Andrew do the pig unloading, pressure wash the farm, and do multi-purpose field work. His daughters, Erica, Jennifer, and Mary are good with young pigs, giving shots, and unloading pigs.

Mark is involved in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Ag in the Classroom, 4-H, Operation Main Street (talking to groups about pork), Knights of Columbus, and Minnesota Pork Producers in East Ottertail.