Day 25 of my “30 Days of MN Agriculture” is Travis and Jeanine Fowler of Truman in south central Minnesota. They raise multiple livestock. Be sure to find out how many baby lambs their ewe gave birth to! It’s amazing!
Tell me a little about your farm and/or business?
We are a family farm. I farm with my parents, wife and children. I am the 6th generation to farm.
How long have you farmed or been in business?
I guess you could say I was born into it. I got my first sheep at about age 5 but got my real start at 15 years of age.
Tell me a little about what you grown/raise/produce or service provided.
We raise sheep, dairy goats (for show), poultry, hogs, corn, soybeans and some hay.
Where do you sell or provide services to? Who is your end consumer?
Lambs go to a packer in Denver and some off the farm. We also sell some breeding stock too. The wool go’s to Groenewald Fur & wool in IL. We sell eggs and broiler chickens locally. We sell hogs to Tylson Foods. We feed all our corn to the livestock. We sell the soybeans to CHS or elevator and buy back soybean meal for the livestock. We feed the hay. Our end consumer is people who eat pork, lamb and use soy products.
What makes your farm/business unique or special? What are you proud of?
Our family has been farming here since 1856.
Why do you grow/raise/produce? What went into your decision to do what you do?
I’ve always wanted to be a farmer. I think its the best way to raise a family.
What is one interesting fact about your farm/crops/livestock/business you would like to share.
In the spring of 2014 we had a ewe that had 8 baby lambs. They all lived and we still have them.
What do you love most about farming/business?
Farming runs deep in my blood. I don’t think of it as a job or a career but as a way of life. I love the spring when every thing come to life, new baby animals, new plants etc. And I love the harvest. Its when all are hard work pays off.
What is one thing you wish consumers knew about what you do or your farm/business?
How hard we work to produce safe healthy food.
What is one thing no one knows about your farm/business/product that you would like to share?
We have had school field trip out here or I take Lambs to the school.
What makes Minnesota the place to farm/grow/raise/produce/service?
Its always changing, every year is different.
What is one thing about Minnesota that people from other areas do not know about or are missing because they don’t live here?
The diversity of businesses here.
What is your favorite Minnesota location?
Sitting in the deer stand or pheasant hunting behind a good dog.
What is one ag-related place in Minnesota that others need to know about.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
It is not the ground, it is not the crops, it is not the livestock, it is not the machinery, that makes a farmer. It is the faith, hard work, and the love of it all that makes a farmer!
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