Food & Family | | Latham Hi-Tech Seeds

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

5 Tips for Hosting a Holiday Potluck
This week marks another milestone as Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds hosted its 10^th annual Christmas potluck. Our first potluck was held in 2009 when Latham Seed Company and Latham Hi‑Tech Hybrids merged to become Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds. To symbolize our coming together, that year each employee hung an ornament bearing his/her name on our company’s Christmas tree. Those ornaments continue to hang, and each year new ornaments are made as needed.

Last year we added the Ugly Sweater theme. Those sweaters provided so many good laughs that we hosted our 2^nd Annual Ugly Sweater Party in conjunction with this year’s potluck.

This year we also allowed for more serving space on the buffet line. That got me to thinking… Not everyone is used to planning parties or hosting large gatherings. Potlucks are such a great team-building activity plus they give people permission to slow down during an especially hectic season. Yet it seems that fewer people “open up their doors” to host others. How can we encourage more people to share a little holiday cheer?

Below are five quick tips for hosting a holiday gathering:
1. Spread the Word. Keep it simple. Your invitation doesn’t need to be Pinterest-inspired nor worthy of an Instagram moment. Just make sure the people you want to gather around your table know when and where to show up!
2. Sign Up. We’ve learned that duplicates and triplicates can happen, so now we put a sign-up sheet at the front desk. This way we can see what others are bringing. Since we’ve started the sign-up sheet, we’ve had a much wider variety of foods from salads to desserts.
3. Set up the Space. Many hands make light work. If need be, recruit friends and family members to help. If you’re a small business, set up a committee if need be. Be sure to consider the flow when you set up tables. Keep the crock pots hot and the cool dishes cool. Set desserts and small dessert plates by the coffee pot.
4. Dish It Up. Supply Sharpie markers, Ziploc® bags and disposable containers to help divvy up the leftovers. There’s no sense in having good food go to waste! Plus, you can always freeze smaller portions to enjoy for lunch.
5. Clean Up Crew. Don’t just eat and run! Many hands make light work, so do your part to help put away tables and anything else that needs to be done. In a matter of minutes, our office was even cleaner than before the potluck began.
Not everyone is an extrovert, and we often chose to sit next to the people with whom we work most closely. Consider place cards to help people get to know one another and develop a few “conservation starters” in advance. I enjoy asking people which dish they brought and why. There’s usually a good story behind the “why” a recipe is special. Another idea for a conversation starter is to ask the person next to you for his/her favorite Christmas carol, but be sure to ask “why” his/her chose that song.

Table Talk

This week we asked our management team members to share their favorite Christmas movies. Classics like “White Christmas,” “Holiday Inn” and “Miracle on 34^th Street.” The most popular were “A Christmas Story” and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” “Home Alone” received an honorable mention because one team member said she has watched it with each of her sons, and it allows her to see it through his eyes. One of our team members said “A Christmas Story” is her favorite because it brings back great memories of movie marathons at her grandpa’s house. One reason I love “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” is because it brings back a great memory of uncontrollable laughter when I first watched this movie with one of my cousins who tends to be very serious.

While our dinner scene is far less dramatic than one in the movies, our team members know how to put on a spread! Deviled Eggs, macaroni & cheese with corn, as well as M&M cookies are staples. All the other dishes vary from year to year. In the past, we’ve enjoyed crockpot chicken and noodles and white chili. This year our large buffet included everything from seafood salad and bagel dip to Low Carb Taco Soup and ham sliders to brisket and Sweet & Sour Meatballs.

Each year there is an “it” recipe that gets requested by multiple team members, so we do our best to share that with you on “The Field Position” blog. This year’s pick is a simple, but festive cranberry gelatin salad from Becky Lane. Becky says this is one of her favorites because it is an unconventional way to use cranberries over the holiday season.

Did you know that our affinity for Jell-O dates to the 1930s and 1940s when refrigerators became more common? The first dish often made was Jell-O because that couldn’t be made in a traditional icebox. No wonder church and community potlucks are filled with so many Jell-O recipes… they’re a family tradition. In my family, we call one dish “Christmas Jell-O Salad.” You can learn more facts like this in Darcy Maulsby’s book, “A Culinary History of Iowa.”

As a storyteller, Darcy offers these tips to help you preserve your family’s history in just 10 minutes during the holidays. We wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas!
Shannon Latham

December 20, 2019

Dairy, Desserts, Food & Family, Recipes, Sides
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Experience “Farm to Spoon” Delivery in World’s Ice Cream Capital

These days consumers are interested in tracking where their food products originate. Visitors to the newly renovated Wells Visitors Center and Ice Cream Parlor in Le Mars, Iowa, get a “farm to spoon” view from an interactive display that shows how fresh milk is delivered from local dairy farms to Wells Enterprises where it is turned into ice cream.

Wells collects and processes more than 20 tankers of milk daily, 365 days of the year. It makes nearly 1,000 different products like Blue Bunny® Peppermint Stick Ice Cream and the original Bomb Pop.® In fact, more ice cream is made in Le Mars than anywhere else. That’s why in 1994 the Iowa Legislature officially declared this Northwest Iowa community the Ice Cream Capital of the World.

During National Ice Cream Month in July, I got the pleasure of touring one of the local dairy farms that supplies milk to America’s largest privately held, family-owned ice cream and frozen treat manufacturer. Plymouth Dairy is aptly named as it is located amongst the beautiful hills of Plymouth County. Owned and operated by the Feuerhelm family, this dairy farm is a mere 10-minute drive from Wells’ ice cream plant.

Scott & Jill’s daughter, Abby, shows the cow photo that was considered for State Fair.

Plymouth Dairy was founded in 1999 to diversify income because crop prices were extremely low. Scott Feuerhelm, who graduated from Iowa State University in 1995 had returned home to farm with his father, Alan. They milked their first cows in August 2000. Scott’s older brother, Brad, joined them in 2002. Kurt Weirda serves as general manager of Plymouth Dairy. While Weirda focuses on managing the dairy herd and its 35 employees, the Feuerhelms focus on crop and forage production.

In addition to their day-to-day duties, they believe it’s important to be involved with the industry. Alan Feuerhelm is a past board member of the Western Iowa Dairy Alliance and serves on the Midwest Dairy Association. Kurt Weirda has served as chairman of Dairy Iowa. Plymouth Dairy owners and managers also have hosted Breakfast on the Farm during June Dairy Month, plus they host numerous tours for school groups and other organizations throughout the year.

“We want to show consumers that we care about producing a high-quality product and the way to do this is by making sure the cows are well taken care of and comfortable” says Scott Feuerhelm.

Understanding consumer preferences and viewpoints is especially important to Scott’s wife, Jill. She grew up on a Central Iowa row crop and cattle feeding farm and majored in Agricultural Business. Upon graduating from ISU, Jill began working at The Meyocks Group in West Des Moines where she was an account executive for food and animal health accounts.

Developing strategy for marketing and communicating agricultural products served Jill well as she began her career at Wells and has held various roles within marketing, brand management and sales.

“I enjoy working for Wells because it is a family-owned company with a commitment to manufacturing high-quality ice cream and novelties,” says Jill. “I have been able to grow in my career at Wells by holding various positions within the company.”

Scott & Jill’s son, Luke, participates in bike races through the year. He races with LUX cycling based in California.

The Feuerhelm family is working hard to live a legacy that allows their children to become fifth generation farmers. In 2019, they expanded their farming operation to include Perry Creek Dairy. The new facility, also in located in Plymouth County, includes 7.5 acres of under-roof freestall barns. These barns allow for maximum cow comfort, safety, and environmental stewardship. As many as 3,600 cows can be milked three times daily in the 80-stall parlor.

“The comfort of our cows is of utmost importance,” explains Scott. “Our cows all have sand beds. Fans and sprinklers keep them cool in the summer and the barns keep them warm during the winter. They are given plenty of fresh water and food.”

Milk from Perry Creek Dairy supports the Agropur mozzarella cheese production facility in Hull, Iowa. Today they’re sharing with us a family favorite recipe that makes use of the products they produce. Why not top off a great homemade meal with a dish of Blue Bunny Peppermint Stick ice cream?

Chicken Deluxe

6 to 8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, halved

8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese

1 can cream of chicken soup

½ small package Pepperidge Farm stuffing mix

¼ c. butter

Arrange chicken in pan or casserole dish so pieces are touching. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top. Pour one can cream of chicken soup over cheeses. Roll Pepperidge Farm stuffing to fine crumbs; sprinkle over everything. Drizzle melted butter over dressing. Bake 1 ½ to 2 hours at 300 degrees.

Shannon Latham

December 13, 2019

Desserts, Food & Family, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Filzens Work Together to Carry on Family Legacy
No matter what job you have, it’s all about relationships. That’s a lesson Latham® seed dealer Dale Filzen learned from his father, and it’s a lesson he’s passed along to his three daughters.

Dale grew up on a dairy farm near Renville, Minnesota. His father, Richard, sold the family’s dairy cows in 1987. Like many farm families during the 1980s farm crisis, they diversified their income. In addition to farming with his father, Dale took a part-time job working in the warehouse for Keltgen Seed in Olivia. He and his father also raised seed corn for Keltgen. When the local Keltgen Seed dealer retired in 1997, Dale was given the opportunity to take over his seed dealership.

“What I enjoy most about being a seed dealer is visiting with farmers,” says Dale. “I like working with seed companies, too. I really enjoy working with family-owned seed companies because they take a personal interest in how well their dealers and customers are doing.”

Dale was drawn to Latham Seeds in 2003 because the company’s CystX® soybeans were gaining notoriety for combatting soybean cyst nematode. Dale remains a Latham dealer because the company’s products have consistently performed on his acres. Latham brand products designated as the company’s exclusive IRONCLAD™ Soybeans are bred from exceptional genetics and include industry-leading protective traits that against yield-robbing threats from pests and diseases.

While he believes in the value of planting a portfolio of products, Dale admits to having a favorite soybean. Latham’s L 1328 L continues to be a top performer on the Filzen farm. Having access to all the industry’s leading traits and the ability to try new products are other benefits he enjoys to having a seed dealership. He also appreciates how Latham Seeds includes his entire family in its seed meetings.

Dale and his wife, Tina, are the proud parents of three daughters. Emily, 21, graduated last May with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services and Human Development from the University of Minnesota, Morris. She works as a Child Protection Social Worker in Redwood Falls. Katie, 19, is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture at Southwest Minnesota State University. She is considering a career as a loan officer or an agronomist. Their youngest daughter, Melody, is a freshman at Renville County West High School. She is active in softball, choir and drama. She often performs the National Anthem at school sporting events. She recently played the lead role in a play called, “The 146 Point Flame.”

“I am very thankful to be living and raising our family on a farm,” says Tina, who works in health information at Renville County Hospital and Clinics in Olivia. “As soon as the girls were big enough to sit in the buddy seat of the tractor or combine with Dale or me, they have had an active role in Filzen Farms. Through the years, they have helped us pick rock, pull weeds, bale hay, and whatever else needed to be done. These tasks require hard work, dedication and perseverance. We hoped these skills would serve them well in their future endeavors.”

“We’re so proud of our parents for continually working to build this farm and expand what our Grandpa Richard and our Great Grandpa Erwin Filzen started. We couldn’t have asked for better role models and influencers,” says Emily. “I truly believe my work ethic is so much stronger because I have such hardworking parents who lead by example.”

Katie adds, “I think it’s so important to realize the utter necessity of agriculture and all the love, time, dedication, stress, work, and sacrifice that goes into it that is often overlooked. Farmers have to know so much to own a successful operation. They are masters of agronomy, business management, financial planning, accounting, fixing equipment, marketing, networking, technology, communication, and more. We take such pride in knowing our dad is a part of this incredible industry and that he plays a role in feeding the world. Nothing in my life makes me prouder than to be able call this farm ours.”

The Filzen family helps with the farming operation as time allows. Tina and their daughters either run equipment, run for parts or run food to the field. Dale’s brother, Mike, works as a field sales agronomist for a local cooperative. He often jumps in the tractor and runs the grain cart when he’s done with his day job. About five years ago, Ty Dooner started helping Dale. Ty is a real estate agent, too. The number of hours he works for Filzen Farms and the responsibility he has assumed has increased over the years. Thanks to his help, the Filzens have been able to enjoy family time away from the farm.

In addition to raising corn and soybeans, Filzen Farms raises navy beans for Bush’s Baked Beans. Dale plants navy beans once his soybeans are in the ground. Then he harvests the navy beans the end of August or the first of September. Filzen Farms also dedicates some acres to sugar beets. In addition to bringing in his own crop, Dale does custom harvest work for some neighbors. They wrapped up harvest last Sunday, but there’s more work to be done once the snow comes. Dale plows snow for several local farms and businesses throughout the winter months.

When the Filzen family isn’t working, they enjoy relaxing in northern Minnesota. Dale’s hobbies include fishing, watching sports, and riding motorcycle. He plays in a men’s winter basketball league. Tina enjoys flower and vegetable gardening. She likes canning and preserving garden produce, so they can enjoy home-grown goodness all year long.

Tina recently used a quart of homemade sauerkraut to make a hearty soup that Dale said really hit the spot during a cold harvest evening. Today they’re sharing this soup recipe with us on “The Field Position.” You could even add a cup of leftover Thanksgiving turkey to your pot of sauerkraut soup.

“We look forward to the holiday season for the delicious food and lefse!” says Tina. “We make lefse with leftover mashed potatoes. I want to make sure the lefse tradition continues as my girls get older.”

If you’re interested in reading about the lefse tradition shared by many of our northern Latham dealers, click on the posts below:
- Lefse, a Hagert Family Tradition
- Lefse, a Nice Family Tradition
Shannon Latham

November 22, 2019

Food & Family, Pork, Recipes, Sides
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Tell Him It Can’t Be Done… and He’ll Likely Do It!

Lyle Marcus, who recently joined Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds as Corn Product Manager, has been in the seed industry with varying experiences for nearly 30 years.

“As I think back to the time I spent helping my dad, I realize I have been in the industry since I was 10,” says Lyle, who grew up on a farm near Prinsburg, Minnesota. “My dad purchased new certified soybean seed each year and planted about 30 acres of new seed. It was my job to keep those acres weed-free and make them our seed production for the bulk of our acres the next season. I was also in charge of operating the little wooden clipper fanning mill to clean that seed each spring. So, you could say I have been involved in the industry for some time.”

“My dad was a very curious person. He always looked for ways to improve profitability in his business,” adds Lyle. “He inspired me to learn more about how plants work, how crop inputs affected profitability and how we could produce crops more efficiently. That eventually led me to South Dakota State University where I studied Agronomy.”

Lyle’s path to college involves a turn many people wouldn’t expect. Finances were tight, and the 1980’s economy didn’t make it possible for him to pursue his dream of farming at that time. Inspired by one of his uncles who had served in the U.S. military, Lyle enlisted in the Army Reserves during his junior year of high school. He served from 1980 to 1986. He planned to enlist in active duty after a few years of service, but then he met Jean and his plans changed. He chose to marry the love of this life.

The young couple worked for two years before they quit their jobs and moved to Brookings, SD, where Lyle finished a B.S. in agronomy in 3½ years. His first role in the seed industry after college was District Sales Manager with Keltgen Seed. His father-in-law, Keith Keltgen, was one of the six founders and lead manager for that company. Although Keith had started his retirement by the time Lyle was hired, Keith’s mentorship was key in the development of Lyle’s ideals in the industry.

“Keith had a saying, ‘To be successful, you need to do things that others are unable or unwilling to do’!” says Lyle. “Keltgen Seed believed in selling the highest germination products they could. Keltgen tested and tagged seed corn units at up to 98% germ. They also believed in farmers selling seed to farmers. Who better than to know what can work for another grower than someone who is using a product on their own farm local to the customer?”

“One reason I decided to accept this new role is because I see both qualities in Latham Seeds,” adds Lyle. “Latham has developed a reputation for delivering only high-quality seed. At a time when many in the seed industry were transitioning away from farmer-dealers, Latham Seeds decided to recruit farmers dealers. Virtually all competitors have the ability to choose these ideals, but not many are ‘willing’ to do so. I look forward to being part of a team with these qualities and ideals.”

Lyle said his father-in-law would end many of his presentations by reciting the first verse of Edgar Albert Guest’s poem, “It Couldn’t Be Done.” This verse still inspires him today:

Somebody said that it couldn’t be done

But he with a chuckle replied

That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one

Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.

So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin

On his face. If he worried he hid it.

He started to sing as he tackled the thing

That couldn’t be done, and he did it!

“I roll this verse through my head multiple times daily, which keeps me thinking of ways to better serve farmers,” says Lyle. “I am looking forward to working with a group of people, who believe in a farmer-focused business that helps create success for those growing and selling Latham products. I enjoy sharing information with seed sellers, as well as with farmers, about product positioning, crop growth and development as well as best production practices.”

As hard as Lyle works, he also recognizes the importance of unwinding. He and his wife, Jean, have made it an annual tradition to rent a Minnesota lake house for a week each summer, so their busy and growing family can come together and enjoy some of life’s simple pleasures. It’s a chance for their three children and spouses/fiancée plus four grandchildren to laugh together and make lasting memories in a fun, relaxing atmosphere.

“I especially enjoy when I can be fishing with my sons and son-in-law who all enjoy it as well,” says Lyle. “Fishing provides solitude. It gives me time to unwind from work, though I do enjoy group fishing and the camaraderie that it brings.”

In his free time, Lyle also enjoys riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle. He says a ride on the open road is a great way to clear his mind.

“When you are riding, you need to stay super focused on the road and your surroundings. You must clear your mind of distractions,” says Lyle. “So far we have mostly gone on day rides and a couple weekend trips. Bucket-list rides include a ride around Lake Superior and some of the great rides in Arizona and Utah.”

The Marcus family loves to take time to slow down and enjoy a meal together, too. Today they’re sharing with us a family favorite recipe for pork chop casserole. This casserole sounds like the type of comfort food that Midwesterners especially enjoy during the cold fall and winter months. Enjoy!

Shannon Latham

November 15, 2019

Food & Family, Pork, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Go Ahead, Tell Your Story

“You will never find time for anything. If you want time, you must make it.” – Charles Buxton

This brilliant quote from an English brewer, writer, philanthropist and member of Parliament recently popped up in my Facebook feed. Immediately, I thought of Jennifer Schmitt. She’s a wife, the mother of two, a farmer, a special education consultant, agricultural advocate and an author. She’s also an inspiration.

“Everyone has a different story to tell,” says Jennifer, who lives with her family on a farm near Rockford, Iowa. She also is a member of the Floyd County Fair Board and serves as president of the St. Mary Roseville Board of Education. “If we don’t tell our family stories, they will disappear with us when we are no longer here. If we don’t share stories about our own farms and agriculture operations, someone else will. Telling our own stories provides us an opportunity to share the facts.”

Jennifer says she started blogging to share her family’s farm story and to share her writing with others. 4-H and FFA helped influence her passion for agriculture, as well as taught her leadership and communication skills she uses in all aspects of my life whether it’s on the farm or working with families in her role in education. From the time she was in fourth grade, she has enjoyed writing.

“I had a teacher who spurred me to have a big dream of writing a children’s book at the ripe age of nine,” says Jennifer. “I have been writing in some mode ever since. In college, I wrote for the newspaper. I started my Tails from the Gravel Road blog to share our family’s story.

When I was first debating what to call my blog, I toyed around with ‘Tales from Jersey Avenue’ because that’s where we lived,” adds Jennifer. “The more I played around with the idea, I thought using ‘Tails’ would be a fun twist and a way to tie in our farm stories. I ultimately decided on “Tails from the Gravel Road” because I felt people could relate better to traveling gravel roads.”

Being relatable is key to gaining trust and building relationships with consumers, which is another of Jennifer’s goal.

“You don’t have to wait for the perfect moment or perfect picture to share on social media. Don’t be afraid to share your story because it is YOURS,” says Jennifer, author of the children’s book You Will Do Great Things. “Show your real life. Real life is relatable in my opinion.”

Keeping it real to Jennifer means sharing photos of farmers working in the fields at night or in the wee hours of the morning. She and her husband, Rob, both have off-farm jobs. They also have two daughters, 11-year-old Grace and 8-year-old Ellie.

The Schmitt family raises cattle and a few pigs plus. They also have a hay and crop operation, so their farm chores are done outside normal office hours. Charlotte, a special pig on their farm, and a calf named Bruno have inspired characters for future children’s books.

The family’s mixed herd of beef cattle includes Simmental and Charolais, as well as Angus. They market directly to the consumer, which means they deliver market-weight cattle to the locker. Then the consumer pays the Schmitts for the product and the locker for the processing.

“Our girls are learning about business, marketing, caring for animals, and the value of hard work,” says Jennifer, who grew up on a cow/calf and row crop operation just west of where she now lives. “Grace and Ellie know that chores and farm tasks must be done before the fun and above all, they understand why. They both jump in and help when needed whether it is giving shots to animals, filling waterers or filling the hayloft with hay.”

Jennifer Schmitt’s horse, Honey, is one of the characters in her new children’s book called “Tawanda’s Tales.”

These every-day moments have inspired Jennifer to share her farm tales through stories and pictures. Her latest book, Tawanda’s Tales, is based on a real childhood experience.

“I shared this story with my mom when I first had it written. She said, ‘Please tell me this is fiction.’ As a mother myself, I understand that she was most concerned with my safety and wellbeing. It’s probably best that she didn’t hear about the ‘adventure’ that took place until years after it happened.”

Curious to learn more about Jennifer’s childhood adventure? Check it out! Tawanda’s Tales is written at a second grade reading level, so it might make a great gift for a special reader on your list.

“I hope that kids will hear a story of a fun adventure on horseback,” says Jennifer. “I hope parents will remember a fun time that they had with a friend, and I hope all readers think about a special friend that they have in their life.”

Jennifer likes to sign her books with “Dream big and huge!” Her advice to farmers who are apprehensive about sharing their family’s story is to just get started. Need a little more inspiration to start telling your story? Follow Jennifer on Instagram or Facebook.

Another way you might share part of your family’s farm story is by giving gifts that you made or produced. Today Jennifer is sharing with us a favorite recipe for homemade apple pie filling that can easily be adapted into an apple crisp. She got this recipe from her cousin, Shannon Bushbaum, who published it in the Sacred Heart School’s cookbook.

“I love this recipe because it’s great for giving as a gift, and it’s a fun way to use apples from our trees,” says Jennifer, who hopes you enjoy this recipe as much as she does! Who knows? Maybe I’ll even be inspired to make it for Christmas. I still have apples from our tree in my refrigerator.

Kris’ Canned Apple Pie Filling

4 1/2c. sugar

1 C. Cornstarch

10 C. Water

2 tsp. Cinnamon

¼ tsp. Nutmeg

½ tsp. Salt

Apples

Prepare apples by washing, peeling, coring, and slicing. Pack in pint or quart jars. To pack tighter, hold jar with one hand and pat jar with other. Bring other ingredients to a boil until thick. Pour mixture over apples in jars. Filling to 1” from the rim. Process for 20 minutes in hot water bath or 5 minutes in a pressure cooker at 5 pounds. Makes 8 quarts (16 pints).

Shannon Latham

November 8, 2019

Desserts, Food & Family, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Pork Project Teaches Teens Checks and Balances

You want it? Work for it.

That’s the lesson Craig and Julie Nice are teaching their four children on their farm in Ardoch, North Dakota. Their oldest two daughters, Alexis and Elizabeth, have learned to balance a checkbook and repay a loan thanks to their pork enterprise.

“When I was young, my family always raised a few head of hogs to put some pork in our freezer and then sell to the neighbors,” said Craig. “Julie and I talked about it. We decided it would be a good way to teach our kids responsibility and a lot of really great life lessons.”

In 2016, the Nice’s oldest daughters bought 25 feeder pigs. The girls oversold their product. Realizing there was a market for locally raised pigs, Alexis and Elizabeth wanted to expand their operation but needed capital. The FSA officer suggested to Craig that Alexis and Elizabeth should complete a Youth Loan Application. The girls wrote a business plan, which included developing a budget. They had to list everything they would need to grow their business: fencing, additional barn space, feeders, feed grinder and livestock trailer.

Like most start-up businesses, profit during the first several years was put back into the business to fund its growth. This year, or Year 4 of the business, is the first time the girls are projected to put money in their individual bank accounts.

In addition to money management, the girls have learned other important skills like risk management and genetic diversification. Three years ago, the girls bought 50 feeder pigs from one producer. Because that group of pigs had several problems, the following year Alexis and Elizabeth purchased 25 pigs from two different farms. Last year the Nice sisters bought groups of feeder pigs from three different farms.

“It’s just like planting seed,” says Craig, who is a Latham® seed dealer. “Farmers plant more than one corn hybrid to spread risk with different genetics. Our girls have learned it’s important to diversify risk.”

As the sisters’ business grew, they realized they needed to name it. They started with the word “prairie” because the family’s yard started as prairie. Their farmyard was a CRP field in 2013. As Craig’s seed business expanded, he needed a yard to build a shed to store seed. They built the seed shed/shop first. Then in 2015 they started building their house.

Little Farm on the Prairie was chosen for the girls’ pork venture. The next step was finding a processor who could work with them. They deliver live pigs in groups of seven to 13 for processing. This allows the local processor to handle the volume, plus it allows the girls to market them in smaller groups.

The girls market their pork primarily through word of mouth. They also hang posters in local businesses and promote it through their Little Farm on the Prairie Facebook page.

Business planning, financial management, risk management and marketing are life skills that are important regardless of what careers these young women will decide to pursue. Alexis, 19, is a sophomore at Mayville State University, where she is a student manager of the Comets women’s basketball team. She is working on a degree in exercise science and plans to continue her education in to become an athletic trainer. After she graduates from college, Alexis would like to return home. The family’s farming enterprise includes a custom fertilizer application and custom planting, a seed dealership, and a repair shop for farm equipment as Craig was a JD service technician for 10 years. He also sells air drill parts and rebuilds air drills.

One of the reasons Craig became a Latham dealer is because the 2018 Latham Seed Product Guide contained an article that encouraged the next generation to come into the farm. Farming is a legacy for both Craig and Julie’s family. In fact, Alexis was one week old when she had her first combine ride.

Life is interesting on the Nice family farm as each of their four daughters has very different interests. Elizabeth, 15 years old, is a sophomore in high school. She has a love for children, so Elizabeth spends most of her summer babysitting for a local family. Her parents describe her as having a gentle, kind, loving personality. Elizabeth is very active. She’s a leader in her school and loves playing volleyball.

Emma, 11 years old, is a sixth grader. Her parents call her their inventor. Craig has to hide the duct tape or it’s gone. Emma made a wallet out of Gorilla tape, complete with a pouch for credit cards. She enjoys playing cops and made her own holster out of duct tape. She also enjoys participating robotics and playing basketball in school.

Five-year-old Josephine is a kindergartener. She loves to watch cooking shows. A fan of Molly Yeh from the television series Girl Meets Farm, Josephine often asks her parents to drive through East Grand Forks “to see if Molly is home.” East Grand Forks is a short 30-minute drive from the Nice family farm, but Molly is anything but the girl next door.

Yeh grew up in the Chicago suburbs with a Chinese father and Jewish mother. She studied percussion at Juilliard in New York City. After getting married, Yeh relocated with her husband to a sugar beet farm in East Grand Forks. There she has managed to build a culinary empire, including the award-winning cookbook, “Molly on the Range.” She is the creator of the critically-acclaimed and highly popular food and lifestyle brand “my name is yeh”, which has been recognized by the likes of the New York Times and Food & Wine. She was named “blog of the year” by New York Magazine, Saveur, and “food blog of the year” by Yahoo. Yeh in 2017 made Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list.

Inspired by cooking shows and their Norwegian heritage, last year the Nice family decided to carry on a family tradition of making lefse. Julie texted Craig’s cousin for the recipe. Together Craig and Julie watched a “how to” video on YouTube. After all, they watched a YouTube video to learn how to side their house themselves. Why not learn how to make lefse the same way?

“We had so much fun, and our lefse turned out so well,” says Julie. “Lefse is something we will continue to make during the holiday season,” says Julie. “We freeze the lefse in packages of six since there are six of us in the family. When we want a treat, we just pull a bag from the freezer. Our favorite way to top them is just butter and sugar.”

Today the Nice family is sharing their time-honored tradition of lefse making with us.

Shannon Latham

November 1, 2019

Desserts, Food & Family, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

PRODUCE IS A GROWING BUSINESS FOR THE RUPPERT FAMILY

Kerry and Kim Ruppert

October is National Farm to School Month

Farmers, like the Ruppert family of Currie, turn seeds that are planted into the rich soils on their family’s Minnesota Century Farm into food on the table. They raise traditional Midwest row crops including corn and soybeans, but they’re best known for their garden produce. The Rupperts provide fresh foods for eight school districts, three restaurants, 3 farmers markets, and various food shelves in the area.

“Our garden has grown in size as our kids have taken on more and more responsibility. Gardening is their full-time job from spring into fall. Once school is back in session, Kerry and I do the weekday picking and delivering,” says Kim Ruppert, who has served as Murray County Farm Bureau president for the past three years.

Raised in the city of Marshall, Kim discovered her passion for agriculture after marrying a fourth generation Minnesota farmer. The couple shares a desire for hands-on learning, as well as for higher education. Kim recently graduated with a degree in Agriculture Business from Minnesota West. Each of Kerry and Kim’s three children have a 529 Minnesota College Savings Plan that is funded through the produce they raise and sell. One might say they’re turning greens into greenbacks.

What started as a one-time sale has turned into thrice weekly farmer’s market stands in three communities.

Twelve years ago, Kerry’s parents raised more garden vegetables than they could use. They asked Kim and Kerry’s oldest daughter Haylee, if she would like to sell the produce in town and keep the proceeds. The 10-year-old netted $179 and discovered she really enjoyed interacting with consumers at the farmer’s market. The following year Kerry’s parents showed Haylee, Zachery and Katelyn how to plant seeds and tend a garden. They try to plant around the middle of April, weather permitting. Potatoes, cabbage, onions, beets, and carrots are some of the first things that are planted. Plants that need re-seeding, such as, watermelon, muskmelon, and cucumbers get done quickly so they mature at relatively the same time. Planting the garden this year was challenging with the cold wet conditions. Many items went in later and matured later.

The garden is an FFA Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) for 17-year-old Zach. A senior at Tracy Area Senior High School, he creates the crop plan and researches what varieties to plant. He keeps track of how many pounds of fruits and vegetables are produced, what sells where and to whom. Last year his SAE earned 1st at the regional competition and 3rd at state. He’s hoping to improve his ranking this year.

“Zach spends a tremendous amount of time weeding the garden all summer long,” says Kim. “We’re not certified organic, but we don’t spray for weeds or insects. We make our own sugar water using tomatoes or muskmelon and watermelon rinds in five-gallon pails along with four or five inches of water. The bugs are attracted to those pails, so that minimizes the insect damage to our garden produce. To attract bees to help with pollination, we plant Cut & Come Again Zinnias.”

Katelyn, Haylee and Zach Ruppert

Now that she joined the Tracy Area FFA this year, 13-year-old Katelyn is spending more time in the garden by planting. She also helps Kim with the marketing by contacting radio stations to promote the markets, as well as posting photos to the Ruppert’s Garden Produce on Facebook.

The girl who started it all is now an adult with a full-time, off-the-farm job. Haylee, 22, graduated with an associates degree in Agriculture Business and works at US Bank in Marshall. Her degree was funded by selling garden produce. She also is pursuing a nursing degree. Haylee lives in Marshall and enjoys helping in the garden as her schedule allows.

“The garden has always been on the home farm. We took it over once my parents moved to town,” says Kerry. “Gardening has become something our family really enjoys doing together. I had a garden of my own growing up, along with my mother tending her own.”

Their one-acre garden raises enough produce to feed their family plus hundreds of others in southwestern Minnesota. About eight years ago, they began selling in-season fruits and vegetables to local schools as part of the Farm to School program.

“Schools want large watermelon and muskmelon,” says Kim.

The Rupperts grew 3,500 pounds of muskmelons, and over 8,000 pounds of watermelon last season. Muskmelons ranged in weight from 7 to 13.5 pounds, and their watermelons weighed between 20 and 35 pounds. Some of the schools freeze carrots, peppers, and onions so they can incorporate locally grown foods into their lunch program well into the winter.

“We pick our produce when it’s ripe, which maximizes the flavor. We occasionally donate what didn’t sell at our farmers markets to local food shelves or nursing homes,” says Kerry. “We don’t like to see food wasted, so we try to take it where it can be used. When we heard there was frost in the forecast in early October, we picked the peppers and contacted schools to purchase them for freezing purposes.

In addition to green bell peppers, the Ruppert family plants and then sells the following fruit and vegetable crops: sweet corn, onions, potatoes, beets, carrots, zucchini, muskmelon, watermelon, cabbage, cucumbers and tomatoes. They purchase their cabbage, tomato and pepper plants locally. All the other crops are started from seed.

Ruppert’s Garden Produce is available weekly July through September at the farmer’s markets in Westbrook on Wednesdays, Walnut Grove on Fridays and in Currie on Saturdays. Kim and Zach also bake at least 30-40 loaves of zucchini bread each week to sell at the markets. This year they sold over 330 loaves. They still use the hand grinder and a 1970s-style mixer from Kerry’s mom to crank out the homemade sweet bread that brings customers from miles around.

“We’ve met so many great people at the farmer’s markets,” says Kim. “They’ve become more than customers to us. We’ve developed a relationship with them, and they like knowing where their food comes from. Some of them have even visited our farm and even toured our garden.”

While earning their own money has taught them the value of a dollar, Ruppert’s Garden Produce has provided the children with priceless learning opportunities.

“We’ve involved our kids in making decisions for our farm and garden,” says Kerry. “From the time Zach was 10, he’s really taken control of the produce business. It used to be a project, but now it’s a business. Zach doesn’t spend a dime of what he earns because he wants to attend college next year for precision agriculture.”

The Ruppert family enjoys working together, as well as playing together. All of them are involved with the Tracy Area Pool League. Weekly billiard games begin in October and ends in March. Kerry has been president of the Tracy Area Pool League for 30 years, and he’s been shooting pool with the same group of guys for 28 years. Zach and Katelyn also belong to the Tracy Area Youth League, which Kerry and Kim oversee from January to March. Haylee also shot pool in her youth. Katelyn also plays Jr. High basketball.

With their corn and soybean crop currently being harvested and kids’ activities to attend, the Rupperts rely on easy but delicious and hearty recipes to keep their family fueled. Today they’re sharing with us a family favorite recipe they enjoy making with the potatoes they raise.

Shannon Latham

October 25, 2019

Beef, Food & Family, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Local Veteran is on a Mission to Raise Funds for Service Dog

Five dollars seems like such a small price to pay for someone who has served six tours of duty overseas, but $5 could make a notable difference in one person’s life.

One hundred percent of the $5 per person gate fee to Enchanted Acres pumpkin patch on Saturday, Oct. 26, will be donated to Retrieving Freedom Inc. (RFI). Headquartered in Waverly, Iowa, RFI is a non-profit organization dedicated to training service dogs for veterans and children with autism. Dogs that exhibit specific traits are trained to meet the needs of each specific recipient. The dogs go through more than two years of training to meet RFI’s strict standards for a successful placement.

Retrieving Freedom is an organization that Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds has supported in the past. When I heard that a fellow Sheffield resident is raising funds for RFI because he is receiving a service dog, I decided to help Andrew O’Connor reach his goal.

What could be a better way to honor this solider than by helping him reach his fund-raising goal by Veteran’s Day? Veterans Day is a federal holiday that is celebrated each year on November 11 to honor military veterans, or people who have served in the United States Armed Forces and were discharged honorably.

“Calling Retrieving Freedom is one of the best decisions I’ve made to date,” says O’Connor, 36, of Sheffield, Iowa. He served 13½ years in the United States Army where he was an 11B Infantryman. He served six tours overseas: four tours in Iraq, one tour in Afghanistan, and one tour in Jordan. During a routine patrol on August 6, 2007, O’Connor’s squad entered a section of abandoned houses and began clearing them.

“I and another team member started to enter the back of one house when it exploded,” recalls O’Connor. “I was thrown 50 feet from where I was standing and was knocked unconscious. The rest of my squad was killed. I live with that guilt every day. I struggle with extreme anxiety and depression, so I’m looking forward to regaining some of my personal daily freedom back with Tilly.”

O’Connor has been training with Tilly for the past year at RFI’s training facility in Wavery. The pair has worked both in the training facility and in public alongside professional trainers. Tilly is trained specific tasks to meet O’Connor’s specific needs, such as providing him some relief in anxious situations. The team is set to graduate in the early months of 2020.

It costs from $25,000 to $30,000 to train one service dog. While service dogs are provided at no cost to qualifying recipients, O’Connor wants to give back to the organization that is giving him so much.

I am hopeful that together we can raise $7,500 for RFI! Feel free to dress in your favorite Halloween costume and hand-deliver your $5 contribution to Enchanted Acres pumpkin patch on October 26.

Those who wish to contribute at a larger level are encouraged to mail their tax-deductible donations to Retrieving Freedom, 1152 230th Street, Waverly, IA 50677. Please put “Andrew O’Connor” in the memo. Donations also may be made through RFI’s website.

“We’ve placed just over 100 certified service dogs, and our goal is to double the number of dogs in training,” says Scott Dewey, RFI co-founder and director of operations. “Your donation will help us help more people.”

Service dogs in training will be at Enchanted Acres on October 26 from noon until 2 PM. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet families that foster service dogs for RFI, interact with puppies and help with their training. A 30-minute service dog demonstration will be held at 1 PM.

In celebration of our upcoming puppy party at my pumpkin patch, I’m sharing a recipe for Peanut Butter Puppy Chow that I got a years ago from a woman in my church circle. Maybe making puppy chow will inspire you to host a bake sale to raise funds for RFI! (Click here for a cute DYI “doggie treat bag” design. Another recipe that’s been a hit when I served it at Girl Scout meetings is Pumpkin Fluff Dip served with Scooby Doo dog bone-shaped graham crackers.)

Shannon Latham

October 17, 2019

Desserts, Food & Family, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Latham RSM Aaron Steenhoek in the Spotlight for “Friday Night Lights”

Just as football fanatics travel across the country to cheer on their favorite team to victory, we’re spanning the Upper Midwest to introduce you to some important players on Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds’ sales team.

Last week we introduced you to Latham’s Regional Sales Manager (RSM) for Northwest Iowa, Jeremy Joynt, who played tight end at Illinois State University. Jeremy explained how lessons learned through team sports apply to the workplace. The previous week we highlighted Joe Salter, Latham’s RSM in Northern Wisconsin, who shared how skills he gained on the gridiron transfer to our sales team.

Our third in a series of “Friday Night Lights” feature articles will focus on Latham’s RSM for Central Iowa – East. Aaron Steenhoek, a native of Pella, Iowa, feels blessed that he and his wife were able to purchase his grandparents’ acreage a little more than one year ago.

Aaron and Cory want to raise their three sons like they were raised. Cory grew up in Central Iowa near Garwin where her parents and her brother are the fourth and fifth generations, respectively, to farm that land. When Aaron was growing up, his grandpa and his dad raised corn and soybean in rotation. They grew alfalfa to provide forage for the family’s cow-calf operation. Aaron and his siblings also had 4-H feeder cattle projects.

Aaron’s grandfather retired from farming when Aaron was in college. Aaron graduated from Central College in 2011 and began farming with his father in 2012. They raise row crops, as well as alfalfa to feed as forage for their spring-calving, commercial cow-calf herd. Most of their cows are Angus influenced, but Aaron says they’re working toward a purebred Gelbvieh and Balancer herd. They also raise some Piedmontese F1 crosses.

“The Piedmontese is a double-muscled, myostatin-free beef that is lower in fat and cholesterol but higher in protein,” explains Aaron. “Essentially, you get the good of red meat with the essential amino acids in a more tender steak that is lower in calories and lower in cholesterol like chicken.”

The Steenhoek family enjoys spending time today, caring for the land and their cattle.

“Our boys are as actively involved in farming as they can be at their young ages. Their little eyes are always watching. If a piece of machinery is moving, they’re in it!” says Aaron. “God willing, our sons will become the seventh generation to operate our family farm. There’s so much history here. We actually have the original abstract from when my great, great, great grandfather bought the farm from the founder of Pella.”

Family comes first for Aaron, and that’s one reason he says he was drawn to working for family-owned Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds.

“The Lathams don’t just say family first, they mean it. You can see it through their actions,” says Aaron. “At the end of the day, that’s what this life comes down to… Farming is about providing for your family, teaching them values and virtues along the way, and hopefully leaving them something to continue.”

Creating a legacy is important to Aaron and Cory. The couple met while they were both attending Central College in Pella where they both majored in exercise science health promotion. Cory played basketball and ran track at Central College. She also became a personal trainer while she was still in college, and a few years ago she opened her own studio.

“My kids go with my wife daily to the gym. They enjoy interacting with her clients and working out with them,” says Aaron. “Our oldest son, Emmett, started Pre-K this fall. He loves everything farming. Two-year-old Rhett follows closely in Emmett’s footsteps. If 7-month-old Klay could figure out how to run with his big brothers, he would!”

Every parent knows the days can be long but the years pass quickly. Soon the Steenhoek children will likely play sports where they’ll gain more life-long lessons.

“Playing sports taught me a lot about building relationships and working hard, both of which are necessary to differentiate yourself in a competitive marketplace,” says Aaron. “Being part of a team means working well with others, as well as pulling your own weight. You must elevate your play, so others around you see how you behave and want to elevate their own play. It means helping others, so the entire organization can succeed.”

Aaron also learned to adapt to change. He became a defensive specialist in college, playing the strong side defensive end position.

“This position in college is usually held by people a little larger than I, but I was able to hold my own with the speed and body awareness that I developed. I used to be one of the guys across the line, so I knew how to use their body weight against them.”

Aaron continues, “I played defensive end in high school, but the elevated level of play in college meant I couldn’t continue playing both ways plus special teams. Most days, I couldn’t play my own position on defense for the entire game because I needed a breather. This completely changed the pace of the game for me, and that was probably what I struggled with the most. Everyone around me was so much bigger, faster, and stronger. I had no choice but to match and beat their intensity on the field. College football taught me a lot about what people are capable of when they are willing to put in the effort and work for what they want to achieve.”

When he was majoring in exercise science, Aaron thought he would graduate from college and become a coach. Now he spends his days coaching Latham® dealers on how to meet their farmer-customers’ needs.

“What I enjoy most about selling seed is not actually selling at all. I enjoy working with farmers to help them improve the bottom line. I enjoy learning about their farms and practices. I learn what has worked for them and place products on their acres to help them have the best long-term results!

The Steenhoek family spends time together exercising, camping and boating. Aaron also enjoys hunting a few times throughout the year.

In celebration of October as Pumpkin Month, the Steenhoek family is sharing with us their favorite recipe for pumpkin muffins. Pumpkin has an impressive nutrition profile. It’s low in calories and high in antioxidants. Grab a pumpkin muffin or two on your way out the door to get your day off to a good start!

Shannon Latham

October 11, 2019

Desserts, Food & Family, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Lessons Learned through Team Sports Apply to the Workplace

Friday night means “Friday Night Lights” in many communities across the Upper Midwest. Last Friday Latham’s Regional Sales Manager (RSM) for Northern Wisconsin, Joe Salter, shared how skills he gained on the gridiron transferred to our sales team. This week we’re introducing you to Latham’s RSM for Northwest Iowa, Jeremy Joynt.

Jeremy grew up on an acreage in the farming community of Emmetsburg where he says he had the privilege of learning about agriculture from every neighbor and farmer in Great Oak Township. Because he lived only two miles from his grandfather’s and his uncle’s farms, Jeremy helped them with various chores from cleaning grain bins and walking beans to picking up rocks, baling hay and to working with pigs.

“Playing sports in high school and college taught me lessons that I still use today. I learned to dream big, to believe in myself and to grow from my failures,” says Jeremy, whose goal was to become a Division 1 (D1) athlete. “I put in a lot of hard work outside of practice. I learned that I had to create positive and optimistic thoughts to achieve personal and team goals. I also learned that everyone will lose at something some time in his life. It’s how you handle failure that determines your success. Champions learn from failure and are motivated to do better.”

Jeremy played four sports throughout high school. During his junior year, his school’s heavyweight wrestler had to have surgery on both his MCL and ACL. Jeremy stepped in as his replacement and helped the team win their third Wrestling Dual Championship. He was part of two high school teams that won back-to-back state football championships in 2002 and 2003. During his senior year, he focused more on football and track. That year he placed second in state and seventh at the Drake Relays in shot put.

Because he didn’t know exactly what he wanted to do upon graduating from high school, Jeremy chose to stay close to home. He attended Iowa Central Community College where he was a tight end (TE) for two football seasons. He graduated with his Associate of Art (AA) degree early, so he could transfer to Illinois State University and start spring football.

“Transitioning from a high school TE to a college TE at Iowa Central was not as difficult as I thought it would be,” says Jeremy. “We were more of a Zone/Power offense, so I was a blocking TE most of the time. The transition from my sophomore year to my junior year was the most challenging. I went from being a blocking TE to a TE used as a Y, H, and even in the slot.”

Not one to back away from hard work, Jeremy put in extra time running routes, studying the playbook, and watching game film. He learned what everyone’s responsibilities were on each play.

“Running out of a tunnel into a packed stadium is a feeling I’ll never forget,” says Jeremy. “The energy you get from the fans, your teammates, and the coaches is remarkable. Most importantly, you form life-long relationships after working side-by-side during two-a-day practices, walking to class, and traveling by charter bus or plane to games.”

Creating long-lasting relationships with customers who become your friends is what Jeremy enjoys most about selling seed.

“It’s really an honor to be welcomed onto someone’s farm because it’s where they have built traditions, raised their families, and learned many life lessons,” says Jeremy. “It’s my goal to help each farmer be profitable, so they can secure their legacy for the future.”

Jeremy’s professional goals align with those of Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, which has been a family-owned seed company since 1947.

“The company and the Latham family are known for their respect, honesty, and integrity. They truly care about their employees and their customers. They want to provide farmers with the BEST products available with a quality that can’t be matched,” adds Jeremy. “It’s phenomenal to have conversations with John, Shannon, Chris and the team they have assemble at gatherings. I really enjoy being part of the Latham Sales Team, which is filled with boots-on-the-ground team players that help farmers.”

The lessons learned from participating in sports and from selling seed are Jeremy’s legacy. He and his wife, Tashia, are raising three very active sons: William, 5; Oliver, 4; and Cormac, 3. William and Oliver are in wrestling and soccer. They especially enjoy the weekends they spend on the farm in southwest Minnesota where his wife was raised.

“Our boys love spending time on Grandpa Jim’s farm. From gathering eggs to feeding the cows or chasing cats, you’ll find our boys running from barn to barn,” says Jeremy. “It’s a MUST to check all pockets before they enter the house because it wouldn’t out of the ordinary to find a toad or frog in there!”

The Joynt family also enjoys spending time together outdoors. Their favorite activities are hiking, bike riding, fishing, camping and boating. Active families appreciate healthy meals that are quick to fix. Today the Joynt family is sharing with us one of their favorite recipes for Taco Soup.

Jeremy Joynt is Latham Seeds’ Regional Sales Manager for Northwest Iowa. His wife, Tashia, is a surgical technician for Sightpath Medical. They enjoy outdoor activities with their three sons five-year-old William, four-year old Oliver and three-year-old Cormac.

Shannon Latham

October 4, 2019

Beef, Food & Family, Recipes