When you stop by Raddatz’s self-serve farm store, don’t be surprised if you’re greeted by Easton, the Raddatzs’ four-year-old son. Known for welcoming families who stop in, he’s part of what makes this 24/7 business truly feel like a family operation.
Randy Raddatz started the store to serve his local community with feed, seed and supplies around the clock.
“It’s amazing how many families come through,” Randy says. His daughter even pitched in last season, bagging all the food plot seed herself at just 11 years old.
Farming Roots Run Deep
Randy is a fourth-generation farmer who started farming right out of high school with his dad, Dennis. Together with longtime family friend Marv — who’s worked alongside Dennis for more than 35 years — they keep the farming and custom combining side of the business running smoothly. From feed crops to cover crops and food plots, the team takes pride in supporting both customers and neighbors.
Randy’s wife, Mikala, complements the operation with her business background. A former accounting professional, she now runs all the marketing, online ordering, and internet systems.
“Her skills really round out what we’re able to do,” Randy says.
Growing with Latham
Randy and Mikala were introduced to Latham Seeds when a local sales representative stopped by their store.
“By then, we had already purchased most of our seed for the year, but we were impressed with what we heard,” Randy recalls. Until then, they hadn’t been interested in other dealer opportunities presented to them, but the family-first mentality and quality products from Latham stood out.
Today, they enjoy seeing strong performance in local fields.
“The beans look really good,” Randy says. “It’s easy to recommend products that perform.”
A Family That Plays Together
Outside of farming and running the store, the Raddatz family enjoys camping every August with the same group of family and friends — nearly 50 people strong. Randy and Mikala also enjoy gardening, with 40 tomato plants producing an ice cream pail of cherry tomatoes each day in the summer.
Whether it’s bagging seed, greeting customers or running combines, the Raddatz family is building a business that’s as much about relationships as it is about farming. With deep roots in agriculture and a commitment to serving their neighbors, Randy and Mikala embody the Latham Seeds spirit of independence and family.
Creamy Italian Sausage Tortellini
Ingredients
- 16 ounces Italian sausage we use farm fresh pork
- 1/2 medium onion chopped finely
- 2 sticks sticks celery chopped finely
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 3-4 cloves garlic minced
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 (28 ounce can) diced tomatoes with juices
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 cups refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
- 2 cups packed fresh baby spinach
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add the sausage meat to a large soup pot. Sauté over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, for 7-10 minutes, or until the sausage is browned all over.
- Take the sausage out of the pot and set it aside on a paper towel lined plate. Leave about a tablespoon of the fat in the pot (drain any excess)
- Add the onion and celery to the pot and cook for 4-5 minutes.
- Add the flour and garlic and cook for a minute, stirring constantly.
- Slowly add the chicken broth and stir until the flour has completely dissolved.
- Add the canned tomatoes and Italian seasoning to the pot. Also add the sausage back in. Increase the heat to high and bring the soup to a gentle boil.
- Once it’s boiling, add the tortellini and reduce the heat so it’s gently simmering. Cook for 5 minutes.
- Stir in the cream and cook for another 5 minutes.
- Stir in the spinach and season with salt & pepper to taste.
