Fourteen farms honored in southwest Minnesota
WORTHINGTON — This year, 144 Minnesota farms are being honored for 100 years of continuous family ownership by the Minnesota State Fair and Minnesota Farm Bureau. In the six counties of southwest Minnesota — Rock, Nobles, Jackson, Pipestone, Murray and Cottonwood — there are 14 families celebrating Century Farm status in 2012.
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HARDWICK — Gates at the end of a half-mile-long driveway in Section 2 of Mound Township proudly announce the Christiansen family’s century-old roots on the prairie just north of the iconic Blue Mounds. Yet, it is the farmstead that wows visitors with its spread of original buildings, from the barn that was constructed in 1929 to the brick home completed shortly after World War II. The original, one-room house is tucked between some nearby trees; and the outhouse still stands as a reminder of the olden days.
RELATED CONTENTFour generations of Hromatko family called rural Lake Wilson farm home
LAKE WILSON — Wesley Hromatko can trace his mother’s lineage all the way back to New England in the 17th Century, but it is his father’s ancestors, who settled on land just northeast of Lake Wilson, who can be credited with establishing roots on a farm that has been handed down through four generations in a span of 100 years.
RELATED CONTENTFarming is for keeps with the Fredericksons
HERON LAKE — While it’s the 108-plus-acre plot owned today by Ardith Frederickson that is being celebrated with a new Century Farm designation, Ardith’s daughter-in-law Bonnie Frederickson has a brother who also lives on a 100-year-old family farm in the Canby area.
RELATED CONTENTObermollers moved horses, equipment via train from Nebraska to Minnesota
BREWSTER — Ronald Obermoller isn’t sure how his ancestors ended up in rural Brewster. “They came up from Fremont, Neb.,” he explained. “Why here? I have never heard a reason why here.”
RELATED CONTENTKay brothers purchased farm in 1912
OKABENA — Except for a short stint away for advanced schooling, Vernon Kay hasn’t ventured too far from Alba Township, Jackson County.
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RUSHMORE — It’s not unusual for a family to celebrate the milestone of a century farm with a shindig of some sort.
RELATED CONTENTBaumgard roots run deep in Jackson Co.
ROUND LAKE — When the offering plates are passed on Sundays, parishioners are moved to give widely varying amounts to support their places of worship.
RELATED CONTENTBuildings gone, but memories remain on Round Lake farm
ROUND LAKE — Hans Bunning may have been the first owner of what is now a century farm, but initially he owned it only for three days.
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WORTHINGTON — The Vogt farm is rather well-known in Worthington simply because of its location within the city limits, directly across the street from Lake Okabena, and now brothers Walter and Norman are celebrating the fact that the land has been in their family for more than 100 years.
RELATED CONTENTJackson County farm is home to Miranowski family for 126 years
HERON LAKE — In front of Cleo Miranowski’s house stands a rustic road grader with an unknown history. But if the history is unknown, does that mean there isn’t a history?
RELATED CONTENTCarsons celebrate century farm with a family reunion
PIPESTONE — What do you do when your farm has been recognized as a Century Farm? The Carson family threw a party.
RELATED CONTENTA century of progress
Lakefield’s Hansen brothers farm 450 acres
LAKEFIELD — The Hansen farm has been officially re-christened the Hansen Cattle Company, but the Century Farm is still known far and wide as “Hansen’s it’ll do farm” — the slogan proudly proclaimed on its silo just north of Lakefield.
Gerdes farm had one of the biggest barns around
Third generation now resides on Cottonwood County century farm
MOUNTAIN LAKE — Marvin and Yvonne Gerdes recently bought a house in town, but they plan only to spend winters there, returning to the farm they’ve called home for most of their lives during the warmer weather months.
Hanson family did more than farm in Little Rock Township
ADRIAN — America. It is as much the land of the free and the land of opportunity today as it was hundreds of years ago, when people left their loved ones behind, boarded ships, endured days on the water and were welcomed into America, many times, by Lady Liberty.
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