MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (7/7/2009)—Seventy-three families from around the state, one from each participating county, have been named a “2009 Farm Family of the Year” by the University of Minnesota.

The families will be officially recognized in a ceremony Thurs., Aug. 6 at the annual Farmfest near Redwood Falls, Minn. Profiles of the 2009 honorees and information on the recognition event can be found on the University’s farm family website, at http://mnfarmfamilies.cfans.umn.edu/.

“The University of Minnesota is proud to recognize these farm families for their contribution to agriculture and their communities,” said Bev Durgan, dean of University of Minnesota Extension. “There is no standard definition of a Minnesota family farm. The one factor they all have in common is that the families work together to make their farm successful. That farm family work ethic is the major contributor to the success of Minnesota communities and Minnesota’s agriculture.”

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

The diversity of Minnesota family farms can be seen by looking at a sample of the 2009 honorees:

• Jerry and Kathy Wetterlin of Clay County

Today Jerry and his family farm 1800 acres, raising wheat, barley, sunflowers and sugar beets. Jerry is involved with 4-H, the school board, and agricultural organizations. Kathy is a member of the school advisory council and has also been a rural mail carrier since 1982.

• Arnold and Patti Schmidt of Itasca County

Arnold and Patti Schmidt’s farm near Grand Rapids began as a beef farm 50 years ago and now has been transformed into a unique mix of fresh fruits, vegetables and specialty white tailed deer. Arnie and Patti are members of the Grand Rapids Farmers Market where they sell their fresh tomatoes, onions, beets, carrots, cucumbers, strawberries and homemade jellies. 

• Minnetonka Orchards, the Schaper Family of Hennepin County

Brothers Scott and Jay Schaper decided to keep the family orchard in business for future generations when their father contemplated selling it. They have spent the past several years growing the orchard as a twenty-first century agricultural enterprise,  practicing Integrated Pest Management and using systems such as Watch Dog weather technology. They have recently planted 825 SweeTango® trees, a new variety developed by the University of Minnesota. 5,000 students visited the orchard last year to learn about food production and the environment. 

• Dev-lin Holsteins; Devoine and Linda Kruse of Houston County

The Kruse Farm was one of the first farms settled on Portland Prairie in the 1850s. Devoine and Linda Kruse purchased the farm from Linda’s father in 1977. They have about 120 cows in milk, 164 heifers, and dry cows. They grow corn, alfalfa and wheat. They also enjoy hosting daughter Amy’s preschool students on the farm. The students help feed the calves, watch the cows being milked, and if the weather is nice get a hay ride.

• May Lee & Family of Ramsey County

May Lee grew up in Laos where she became a farmer at the age of 8. May left Laos in the late 1970s, spent one year in a Thai refugee camp, and came to St. Paul with her husband and 2 children in 1981. She farms at the Minnesota Food Association and in Mahtomedi, and has grown a variety of vegetables including traditional herbs, bell peppers, tomatoes, onions and peas. May works with her daughter, Mhonpaj, and their operation is certified organic. 

• Ben Cook Family Farm of Nobles County

The Cook Family Farm in Adrian is a third generation family farm homesteaded by Ben’s grandfather. Currently, Ben farms with his wife, Karen, and their children Jason, David, and Natalie on 240 acres. All crops and livestock have been certified organic since 1995. They raise cows, Omega 3 Organic Eggs, corn, soybeans, oats, flax and honey. The soybeans are raised for the organic soymilk market. 

• John and Pat Ryan of Brown County

John and Pat Ryan’s century farm was homesteaded in 1889 by John J. Ryan. In 1963, John took over the farm from his father and uncle and today farms with his sons, Shawn and Thomas. The family grows corn and soybeans. They also have an 800 sow farrow to wean hog confinement operation. John and Pat live on the homestead and are actively involved in the day-to-day operations, such as marketing and financial management.

• Maurice and Pat Grogan & Steve and Mary Grogan of Washington County

Kelley Land & Cattle Company of St. Croix, Minn. has been owned by the James E. Kelley Family for 50 years. Maurice and Steve Grogan have managed the farm since 1959. The farm consists of 2,950 acres, 1,750 of which is grass divided into 55 pastures for an intensive rotational program. The farm runs up to 1,000 head of Angus beef. They operate a licensed shooting preserve on the property and shoot up to 6,000 pheasants annually. 

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. 4-6 at the Gilfillan Estate, near Redwood Falls, Minn. Event hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 4 and 5, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 6. Admission is $8 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 2009 University of Minnesota Farm Family of the Year honorees, by county: