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.

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Creamy Italian Sausage Tortellini

A Raddatz Family Favorite

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

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.

Like many boys who grow up on a farm, Landon Aldinger was fascinated with equipment.
Years later he would combine his fascination with equipment and farming with skills in
technology and engineering to help others get more results using fewer inputs.

Watching big machines on the family farm led to Landon getting a bachelor’s degree in Ag
Engineering from Iowa State University. He then worked nearly seven years as a Senior Design
Engineer for the Toro Company in Minneapolis before his story finally came full circle.

“I really enjoyed my time and my career in the cities,” Landon says. “But when I turned 30, my
priorities started to shift. I was ready to head home and become more involved in the farming
operation.”

Landon had been assisting his father, Mike Aldinger, since 2008 with their seed, chemical and
consulting business. Mike started the business with his father (Landon’s grandfather), Merle.
After Merle retired, the business became Precision Farm Management, using the latest
products to implement more precision ag services like variable rate seeding, fertilizer and
nitrogen.

Besides managing the farming business, Landon runs Aldinger Engineering LLC consulting. He
also spends time “carpet farming” and helping his oldest son, Grady, fix his equipment in their
living room. Landon sees signs of a second-generation engineer/farmer in his son.

“Grady continues to love all things agriculture and equipment,” Landon says proudly. “It is not
uncommon for him to head out to the field for a few hours to ride along and ‘help’ anyway he
can. I love watching his excitement.” Landon and his wife, Kinsey, also have a younger son
named McCoy, who will soon compete with his older brother for the buddy seat.

In addition to raising kids and crops, the Aldingers also raise cattle and pork. Warm and
hearty soups like this one help keep their crew growing.

They needn’t have worried. Justin quickly learned what working for a family-owned company really meant.

“The owners treat their employees and dealers like their own family and truly care about their customers,” he says. “We can go to the owners at any time and feel heard. Being able to work alongside the third generation is something you don’t see very often today.”

Six years (and one more boy later), Justin is moving from his RSM position to serve as Latham’s newest sales agronomist in the central and southern areas. It’s a perfect fit for Justin, who grew up on a century farm in Wabasso, Minn., only 1.5 miles from where his family lives now. At Southwest Minnesota State University, Justin majored in Ag Business and minored in Agronomy. Since he always had a passion for agriculture, those two areas of study made sense to him.

“Justin knows our products, understands good management practices and is committed to his new role to help our customers and dealers thrive,” says Amy Rohe, Latham’s sales manager. “His experience will serve us well as sales agronomist.”

Seeing how different products respond differently to certain situations — and helping dealers promote and place products with confidence — is something Justin is looking forward to in his new role. As an RSM, he says he could have used the support of a sales agronomist himself, to help bring a new perspective to his dealers’ operations and extend those relationships on an agronomic level.

“I am excited to really get to know their business,” Justin says. “I have grown a passion for product placement and product characteristics.”

Justin and Katie Prokosch have been married for 10 years and have five boys. Katie keeps their busy family going and volunteers on the local ambulance service. The boys love being outdoors, helping with farm chores, wrestling and playing baseball. Like their dad when he was growing up, the Prokosch boys also enjoy being a part of the local 4-H club and showing animals at the county fair.

When he isn’t chasing after his sons or participating in “whatever they are up to at any given time of the year,” Justin enjoys ice fishing and hunting pheasant and deer.

Here is a Prokosch family favorite recipe that keeps their whole crew warm.

A big ladle-ful of thanks to everyone who blew our taste buds away with their family favorite soup recipes. We hope you all enjoy your free Latham ladle as a gift for sharing with us. May it serve up plenty more bowls of souper memories.

We’re happy to announce the winner of our grand prize drawing is Emily Stoesz of Minnesota! Emily wins a new Ninja Foodi Cooker — the perfect kitchen upgrade for soup-erior soups and much, much more.

Check out Emily’s recipe for Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup and thanks for having fun with us! Enjoy the Super Bowl with your family and friends!

Prepare to score big and gain fans this Sunday with this souper recipe from our friend Travis Morey. Thanks to everyone who shared their family favorites with us for #NationalSoupMonth. Be on the lookout for your souper Latham ladle coming soon in the mail — and stay tuned to find out who wins the grand prize drawing for a new Ninja Foodi Cooker!  Take note of the recipe below.

Mike and Diana’s moms were childhood friends. Their parents even double dated while they were in high school.

When Diana’s family visited Heron Lake in the summers, it was common for the two families to gather. Their families stayed in touch throughout the years, but Mike and Diana didn’t start dating until they had graduated from college.

“I’ve always enjoyed farming and that’s all I’ve ever really wanted to do,” says Mike, who started farming in 1991 with his father. “I didn’t play football because I didn’t want to miss out on harvest.”

While rural living is different from Diana’s suburban childhood, she feels blessed to raise her family on the Stenzel Century Farm.

“The thing I love most is that your neighbors are your friends here,” she says. “Your neighbors and others in the community are always offering support in times of need. The other piece is that people are always looking out for your kids, too.”

Mike and Diana appreciate having flexible work schedules that allow them to maximize their family time. Diana worked for years as the Associate Director of Active Aging Programs at Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota. In addition to farming, Mike operates a Latham® dealership.

“What I enjoy most about selling seed is interacting with other farmers,” he says. “I decided to take on a Latham® dealership because Latham Seeds is a family-owned company that offers all the seed technology options available on the market.”

Mike and Diana are the proud parents of three grown children: Sarah, Andrew and Matt.

Because it’s National Soup Month, the Madsens are sharing one of their favorite recipes for a snowy January day.

My favorite soup growing up was – and still is – my mom’s beef vegetable soup with homemade dumplings. I also enjoy my mom’s hamburger soup. Mom is a great from-scratch cook who doesn’t measure, so I’m thankful for The Pioneer Woman’s recipe for Hamburger Soup. I’ve added more favorite soup recipes over the years while interviewing Latham® Dealers for my blog. I made sure many of these got included in the Latham Seeds commemorative cookbook.

If you haven’t seen the soup recipes for cheeseburger, wild rice or sausage & squash . . . well, grab a copy of the cookbook and see for yourself why these are new must-haves in your menu plan. A few copies of the cookbook remain, so order now if you still need one. Email jennym@lathamseeds.com for ordering details.

Because there’s always room for soup, we want more recipes! Help us celebrate National Soup Month by sending us your favorite soup recipes.

Complete this online form and you’ll automatically receive a soup ladle from Latham Seeds! Better yet, you’ll be entered to win a fabulous Ninja Foodi Cooker, which has EIGHT cooking functions for soup (and many other things).

Send us just one recipe and you will feel like a souper star! We can’t wait to see your family favorites.

Submit Recipes Here.