soybeans Archives - Minnesota Farm Living

MN Agriculture: Tom and Nancy Rys, Crop Farm and Pioneer Seed

November 29, 2016 By Wanda Patsche

Day 29 of my “30 Days of MN Agriculture” is Tom and Nancy Rys from Rock Creek, which is located in east central Minnesota. They also farm with their daughter and son-in-law, Cami and Joe Babolik and family, Macie 10, Milo, 8 Melia 4.

Social Media Sites:

Facebook: Rys Farms

Tell me a little about your farm and/or business?

Tom and Nancy began farming in 1989. In 1992, they built their current farmstead. This year their daughter Cami and her husband Joe Babolik joined the corporation. Joe came on the farm full time to ensure future continuation of the operation. Rys Farms Inc. crop farms 1,650 acres, half in corn and half in soybeans. In addition to crop farming, the Rys famiy owns and operates the local grain elevator where they assist 20-25 neighboring farmers to dry, store, and market their grain. Tom and Nancy also have had a Pioneer Seed agency for 13 years.

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MN Agriculture: Corey Hanson, Diversified Farmer

November 28, 2016 By Wanda Patsche

Day 28 of my “30 Days of MN Agriculture” is Corey Hanson from Gary. Gary is located in northwest Minnesota. Both Corey and I were both part of Class VIII of the MARL program. Corey raises corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa and cattle. In addition, Corey is a board member at the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association.

Tell me a little about your farm and/or business?

I have a family run farm in NW MN. I grow corn, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa. Besides having crops, I have 90 head of beef cows in a cow/calf operation, that are mostly Hereford and Hereford-Angus cross. I am in partnership with my brother and dad. And perhaps the most interesting aspect of his farm is nearly all his crops are exported, unlike in the southern part of the state where much of the crops are used for local livestock production.

How long have you farmed or been in business?

Dad started to farm the land when he came home from Korea in the spring of 1955. I purchased additional land in 2000. I have lived all my life on the farm.

Diversified Farmer

Tell me a little about what you grown/raise/produce or service provided.

Nearly all my crops are exported from my area. The corn and soybeans are loaded on unit trains, bound for the Pacific Northwest, Washington, for export mainly to Asian countries. This was especially interesting when I was on a MARL trip to Vietnam, to be able to see where some of the crops end up. The some of the wheat I grow ends up in the flour mills in the state of MN, while the other part is grown for seed sales to other farmers in my area. The calves are sold at the sales barn in Bagley MN, and usually go to feedlots in Oklahoma, Texas, and Colorado. A few years ago, some of our heifers were sold and shipped to the republics of the former Soviet Union, to replenish their cattle.

What makes your farm/business unique or special? What are you proud of?

The part of my business that I am proud of is knowing where my products are going. Knowing that my products are being shipped half way around the world, to feed hungry people gives me a great feeling.

It was very interesting working with the cattle buyer at the time are heifers were going to the Russian republics. At the time I was thinking that my cattle were seeing more of the world than I am. It also makes me proud that I grow seed wheat for other farmers to grow their wheat from.

What is one interesting fact about your farm/crops/livestock/business you would like to share.

I live on the bank of old Lake Aggazzi. This was left when the ice age reseeded. What is interesting, is that we have some land with coarse soil, sand and gravel, and some very rich fertile soil, that has a large part of clay in it. This fertile soil is very black!! It is interesting that not everywhere in the world has black fertile soil!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I also work with the U of M, with the soybean test plots. I have a soybean cysts nematode plot on my farm, and enjoy working with the University personal to help educate other farmers about this and other issues in farming.

I really enjoyed going into the classrooms in the Minneapolis teaching the kids about my farm. It made me feel so good to tell my story about Agriculture.

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MN Agriculture: Thomas and Janae Olson, Young Family Farm

November 16, 2016 By Wanda Patsche

Day 16 of my “30 Days of MN Agriculture” is Thomas and Janae Olson of Danvers. Danvers has a population of 97 and is located in western Minnesota (to be honest, I had never heard of Danvers!) Thomas and Janae are young family farmers and are continuing the family farming tradition.

Tell me a little about your farm and/or business?

We are a fourth generation family farm from western Minnesota.

How long have you farmed or been in business?

I have farmed for 15 years.

Tell me a little about what you grown/raise/produce or service provided.

We raise corn and soybeans. We sell our crops to WestCon Cooperative.

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MN Agriculture: The Guentzel Family Farms

November 29, 2015 By Wanda Patsche

MN Agriculture: The Guentzel Family Farms

Day 29 of my “30 Days of MN Agriculture” is the Guentzel Family Farms from Mankato, MN. The Guentzel’s are sixth generation farmers and strive to continue the family farm tradition. In addition, they also realize the importance of community involvement. Jon and Angela are both involved in the Minnesota Farm Bureau.

Social Media Sites:

Facebook: Guentzel Family Farms

Youtube: Guentzel Family Farms – Video 1

Youtube: Guentzel Family Farms – Video 2

Tell me a little about your farm and/or business?

“At Guentzel Family Farms we are very lucky to be able to work so closely with family. My dad Terry, my brother Jon, and myself all work full time on the farm. My mom Mary and sister-in-law Sarah also help out when needed. We are very proud and humbled by the fact that Guentzel Family Farms is a 6^th generation family farm. Our base of operations is still within 3 miles of where our great great great grandparents settled nearly 150 years ago. We are still farming some of the same soil our ancestors worked over 100 years ago.

Our goal is to continue to grow in a sustainable fashion while preserving family tradition. With today’s global demands we are asked to do more with less. To meet these demands we utilize the best equipment, farming practices, and modern technology. We strive to maintain the values, work ethic, and nostalgia of a 6^th generation family farm while doing so.”

How long have you farmed or been in business?

“My dad grew up farming with his family and has continued to grow the farm. Jon and I were raised on the farm along with our two sisters. Jon continued to work on the farm after high school and has done so since. He has really excelled in taking on a management role and keeping up with technological advancements. I took the long track back to the farm. This includes living and working in Denver, St. Cloud, and the Twin Cities. I now realize the farm where I feel most at home.”

Tell me a little about what you grown/raise/produce or service provided.

“We are a row crop operation that focuses primarily on corn and soybean production.”

Where do you sell or provide services to? Who is your end consumer?

“Most of our corn goes to Ethanol plants in the area and our soybeans go to local processing plants.”

What makes your farm/business unique or special? What are you proud of?

“At the farm we take pride in our community involvement. We are part of Minnesota Farm Bureau. Jon is the current county president and Angela serves on the board. Through Farm Bureau we opened up the farm to the community, served a free breakfast, and answered any questions that people had. We hosted over 850 people that day! We are involved with Greater Mankato Growth and have held a farm tour to Mankato’s Young Professionals Group. Last year we opened up the farm to a tour group of agri-professionals from Brazil.”

“Our intent is to promote agriculture while informing the public what it means to be a farmer in modern times. Just because farms don’t look like “Grandpa’s farm” anymore doesn’t mean that they are a factory farms. We are progressive farmers, we use the latest in farm technology and equipment, and we care about being stewards to the land.”

What is a most embarrassing moment you have had on the farm?

“The rogue chicken incident! Last year during harvest one of our chickens managed to hitch a ride with me in the suspension of the semi to the field. You can imagine my surprise when I got out of the truck and found one of our chickens supervising me. You can also imagine the amusement I provided for the combine and grain cart operators watching me chase the chicken around! Even after setting up barriers and “traps” I was still being outsmarted by a chicken. Finally, after tracking down a chicken catching tool and army crawling underneath the service truck I successfully snuck up and caught him!”

What do you love most about farming/business?

Angela: “Farming offers so much variance. In one day I might find myself as an accountant in the office, a welder the shop, and machine operator in the field.

I care about upholding my family’s legacy. Being that Jon and I are the 6^th generation, we value maintaining a solid foundation for generations to build upon.

As a woman in the field (pun intended), I love that I can break the stereotype of what it looks like to be a farmer.”

Terry: “The variety of jobs; every two weeks you are doing something different. When it’s cold, you get to park your equipment and work in the shop. When it’s nice out and the days are longer I get to work outside and enjoy the day. I find working with retired farmers that appreciate what we do very rewarding.”

Read others featured in my “30 Days of MN Ag. ”

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