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All in the Family

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Ahrendt family chosen as 2015 Rock County Farm Family of the Year
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By
Mavis Fodness

Luverne’s Lowell and Pat Ahrendt will be honored the next two weeks as Rock County’s 2015 Farm Family of the Year.
They'll first be recognized at the Rock County Fair and later by the University of Minnesota.
The Ahrendts are among 80 farm families throughout the state chosen by local Extension committees for their contributions to the agricultural industry and their local communities.
“The farm families receiving this year’s honor exemplify what makes Minnesota agriculture strong,” said Bev Durgan, dean of Extension.
“They care greatly about the land and delivering quality products to consumers worldwide. The University of Minnesota takes pride in honoring these families.”
All the families will be recognized Aug. 6 at a Farm Fest program. Locally the Ahrendts were honored during Wednesday night’s talent show.
The Ahrendts are responsible for four of their children’s continued involvement in Rock County production agriculture as adults.
“It’s kind of what I wanted to do,” said Brad, who at 49 is the oldest of the Ahrendts’ children.
However, starting to farm after graduating from Luverne High School in the 1980s wasn’t the ideal time. Low crop prices and high debt were forcing many producers to sell their farmland and machinery and seek different professions.
“That’s what we originally told them,” Mom Pat said. “Go find something else.”
Not phased by a little hard work, Brad said being single at the time, having limited expenses, an ability to rent farmland and the use of his parents’ machinery were all he needed to start farming himself.
Joining him later in what has developed as a three-way partnership are brothers Troy, 44, and Jeff, 42.
“It's more in the blood,” Jeff said about his choice to farm with his brothers.
 
Ahrendt family farming started in Iowa in 1940s
Besides Jeff’s dad, Lowell, his grandfather, Albert, was a farmer along with his father, who originally began farming in Iowa.
“I learned everything I know from my dad,” Lowell added.
His advise: “Do a good job.”
As a young boy, Lowell helped his dad farm primarily with horses until the purchase of a tractor in 1945.
“That (the tractor) was great,” he said. “You can jump on and go,” instead of preparing and harnessing the horses first.
By 1951, at the age of 21, Lowell switched from helping his dad farm to farming himself. It was his dad who kept the farming operation going when Lowell served in the Korean War from 1952 to 1954.
Eight years later, Lowell purchased 160 acres five miles north of Luverne in Mound Township. In 1965 he married Pat, who grew up in the town of Hardwick, and took an active role on the family farm.
“I love everything about farming,” Pat said.
That appreciation of raising crops and livestock was instilled in the Ahrendt children as they helped their parents’ operation progress from a cow/calf operation to feeder cattle. The children also helped with the farrow-to-finishing chores.
“They have loved it (farm life) since they were born,” Pat said.
Daughter Lisa DeBoer, 48, farms with her husband, David, northwest of Luverne. Only daughters Michelle Powers, who lives in Madison Lake, and Melissa in Mankato, are not directly involved with farming. A son, Todd, died at age 12 from cancer.
Lowell admits it was his sons’ hard work that took the single-family farm to an operation that sustains three families.
 
Ahrendt sons launch their own operation
The elder Ahrendts officially retired from farming in 1995. The couple moved into Luverne in 2001.
In the 20 years of farming on their own, the Ahrendt brothers have divided their farming operation into three different focuses. Brad focuses on the crops. Troy works on the equipment and Jeff handles the livestock. Large decisions are discussed as a group.
“We are proud of them,” Lowell said. “What they built they built themselves.”
The brothers farm around 2,000 acres with the majority of the crops invested back into the 3,000-head feeder cattle operation.
Still helping and advising the brothers’ farming endeavor are their mom and dad.
Lowell at age 85 continues to lend his hand in completing spring and fall fieldwork along with occasional assistance with baling hay.
Earlier this month he was mowing hay with Jeff and grandson Hunter, 12, one of 14 grandchildren. They also have one great-granddaughter.
“It’s kind of neat,” Jeff recalled. “I told my wife (Johnna) of the three of us cutting hay, that’s how it gets passed down.”
While machinery has made farming today easier, there are some things only a seasoned farmer like Lowell can pass on to the next generation.
“Early on, I went with dad to the co-op to look at inputs,” Brad said. “He slowly groomed me in.”
Today all three sons often ask their father about crop conditions and when is the best time to harvest small grains as feed.
The hands-on advice is also being passed down to Hunter, who is beginning to raise and sell his own livestock.
As Jeff heard from Hunter, the next generation of Ahrendt farmers, “I can’t believe I get paid for what I love to do.”

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