Month: April 2020

The Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Farm Bureau recognize 154 Minnesota farms as 2020 Century Farms. Qualifying farms have been in continuous family ownership for at least 100 years and are 50 acres or more. Century Farm families receive a commemorative sign, as well as a certificate signed by Minnesota State Fair and Minnesota Farm Bureau presidents and Governor Tim Walz. Since the program began in 1976, more than 10,500 Minnesota farms have been recognized as Century Farms.

2020 Century Farm families are listed by county, then by the farm’s city or township, family or farm names and year of original purchase:

AREA CENTURY FARM FAMILIES-

Polk
Beltrami – Eia Farms, 1904
Beltrami – Page Farm, 1920
Beltrami – Rolland B Hamre Inc., 1920
Beltrami – Walters Farm, 1912
Crookston – Letnes Farms, 1891
Fertile – Larson Brothers Farming, 1884
Gully – Travis and Tracy Carlson, 1902

Clearwater
Gonvick – Johnson Operation, 1909

Mahnomen
Fosston – Hans and Mary Nesvold Farm, 1919

Marshall
Argyle – Tulibaski Brothers, 1919
Strandquist – Hanson Farm, 1920
Strandquist – Stusynski Farms, 1920

Norman
Shelly – Svalestad and Swalstad Farm, 1889  

Pennington
Thief River Falls – Iverson Family Farmstead, 1920

STATEWIDE WINNERS – 

Aitkin
Aitkin – Flat Rock Farm, 1920
Finlayson – Chelsey Brook Acres, 1907

Becker
Menahga – The Chester Tangen Farm, 1919
Park Rapids – Rixen, 1919       

Beltrami
Bemidji – Kimmes Family, 1917
Puposky – Mistic Family Trust – Frank J. Mistic, Jr. and Diana D. Mistic, 1920

Benton
Foley – Hess Farms, 1900
Foley – The Latterell Farm, 1919

Big Stone
Correll – Larson Family Farm, 1918

Blue Earth
Mapleton – Treanor Farm, 1918

Brown
New Ulm – Milford East, 1872
Sleepy Eye – Berkner Farms, 1920
St. James – KJH Hanson Farm, 1887

Carlton
Cloquet – Aho Farms, 1917
Holyoke – Fabrello Family Farm, 1919

Cass
Pequot Lakes – Hoefs’ Rock House Ranch, 1911

Chippewa
Maynard – The Gosseling Farm, 1892
Maynard – Michael L. Arends, 1919
Montevideo – Ellingson Family Farm, 1908

Chisago
Lindstrom – Maple Hill Farm, 1920
North Branch – Hay Creek Farm, 1920

Clay
Hawley – Keith and Lori Aakre, 1883

Cottonwood
Jeffers – Schoper Farm, 1919
Lamberton – Hubert Farm, 1916
Revere – Peder Enstad Homestead, 1871

Dakota
Cannon Falls – McCoy Farms, 1913
Hastings – The Leifeld Farm, 1871

Dodge
Mantorville – Schleeter Family Farm, 1912

Douglas
Alexandria – Chermak, 1888
Alexandria – Johnson, 1913
Parkers Prairie – Hart Farm, 1919

Faribault
Blue Earth – Guckeen/Murphy, 1885
Frost –  Claire and Diane Olson, 1920

Fillmore
Preston – Clint and Marlene Peterson Farm, 1916

Freeborn
Alden – Jacobs, 1920
Ellendale – D&P Farr Farm, 1919
Glenville – Arlo L. and Julie D. Wallin – Wallin Farms, 1919
Hartland – The Madson Farm, 1903

Goodhue
Goodhue – Dicke Family Farm, 1920
Goodhue – Richard Ryan Family, 1863
Elbow Lake – James K. and Charlene Nelson, 1915
Herman – Itzen Family Farm, 1902

Houston
Caledonia – Evergreen Stock Farm, 1918
Caledonia – Molling Family Farm, 1919
Spring Grove – David Holten Family Farm, 1901

Isanti
Cambridge – The Troolin Farmstead, 1908

Jackson
Jackson – Vacura, 1919
Lakefield  – Buresch Family Farm, 1920
Lakefield  – Doug and Sue Pohlman, Kimberley and Brett Johnson, Elaine Pohlman, and Kenneth and Pat Pohlman, 1920

Kandiyohi
Atwater – Person – Kelley, 1920
Pennock – Thompson Family Farm, 1895

Koochiching
Littlefork – Lofgren Farm, 1904
Littlefork – Rehn, 1914

Lac qui Parle
Bellingham – Trygestad Family Farms, LLC, 1920

Lake of the Woods
Williams – Olson Stock Farm, 1920

Le Sueur
Le Center – Macho Farm, 1920
Le Sueur – King Family Farm, 1920

Lincoln
Ivanhoe – Tom and Cindy Frensko Family, 1920

Lyon
Tyler – Bakker Farms, 1920

Martin
Fairmont – Becker Farm, 1920
Fairmont – Bill and Jim Bulfer, 1912
Fairmont –  Bill and Jim Bulfer, 1920
Fairmont – John Bulfer – Crowley Farm, 1904
Truman – George Farm, 1898
Welcome – Louis – Carl – Kristy Meyer Farm, 1919

McLeod
Brownton – Zimmerman Farm, 1920
Lester Prairie – Curtis and Debra Marks, 1920
Lester Prairie – Francis Burch, 1919
Stewart – The Maiers Family Farm, 1919       

Meeker
Dassel – Dahlman, 1918
Dassel – Lakewood Farm, 1907
Dassel – Settergren Farm, 1919
Grove City – Dean Stenberg, 1920

Morrison
Pierz – Hebler’s KG Ranch, 1920

Mower
Brownsdale  – Holst Farms, 1920
LeRoy – McRoberts, 1920
Lyle – Wilfred and Calista Murphy Family Farm, 1920

Murray
Chandler – Strampe Farm, 1920
Walnut Grove – Kassel Family Farm, 1911

Nobles
Lismore – Alma Voss Bullerman and Sons, 1919
Lismore – DeGroot Farm, 1918
Worthington – Gordon Family Farm, 1920
Worthington – Robertson Farm, 1917     

Olmsted
Elgin – Kitzman Dairy, 1920
Eyota – Darrel Mulholland Farm, 1917
Rochester – Kuisle Korner, 1912
Stewartville – Dux Farm, 1919

Otter Tail
Erhard – Weiss Family Farm, 1898
Perham – Dan Bucholz Family Farm, 1919
Perham – Steuber Family Farm, 1920
Pelican Rapids –  Ruud, 1919
Vining – Aune – Wallevand, 1899
Wadena – Roger and Pamela Heiden, 1919

Pipestone
Edgerton – DeGroot – Walhof, 1918
Pipestone – Bucher Farm, 1918

Pope
Glenwood – Reichmann Homestead Farms, 1920
Starbuck – The Rasmusen Family Farm, 1920

Redwood
Clements – Nelsen Family Farm, 1918
Lamberton – Steven and Euleen Christensen Farm, 1912
Garden City – Michael and Mary Pankratz Family Farm, 1877
Morgan – Schmidt Family Farm, 1920

Renville
Fairfax – Jeffrey and Kari Jo Borth, 1920
Franklin – Sherman Farm, 1920

Rice
Faribault – Bauer, 1914
Faribault – Bauer – East Prairie Farm, 1916
Lonsdale – Pumper, 1906
Lonsdale – Trnka’s, 1920
Morristown – Schwichtenberg Farm, 1919

Rock
Luverne – Swenson Farm, 1920

Roseau
Badger – Gerald Didrikson Farms, 1917

Scott
Belle Plaine – Riesgraf – Bauer Farm, 1920

Sibley
Buffalo Lake – The Binger Farm, 1919
Gaylord – Larry and Debra Podratz Family Farm, 1919
Gaylord – Spiering, Reinke, Paine, 1919

St. Louis
Alborn – Polich Farm, 1919
Wright – The Markkanen Farm, 1909

Stearns
Albany – The Burg Family Farm, 1891
Albany – Linn Family Farm, 1917
Albany – Malley Family Farm, 1882
St. Joseph – Kosel Family, 1865

Steele
Owatonna – Wencl Farm, 1920

Stevens
Alberta – Tollef Berger Farm, 1920

Swift
Benson – Saunders Family Farm, 1919
Benson – Dean and Shirley Evenson Family, 1920

Todd
Bertha – Hartman Family, 1920
Grey Eagle – Berscheit Farms LLC, 1919
Long Prairie – Zastrow Farms, 1920
Sauk Centre – Eltgroth, 1919

Wabasha
Plainview – Welti Farm, 1915

Waseca
Janesville – Holmes Farm, 1919
Janesville  – Nyquist Family Farm, 1920
Waseca – Greg and Amanda Born, 1916
Waseca –  Reinecke Farm, 1900

Washington
Hastings – Schneider Farm, 1919
Stillwater – Alocra Dairy Inc., 1919

Wright
Annandale – McDonald Farm, 1859
Cokato – Dahlen Stockholm Land, 1909
Cokato – Lundeen Farms, 1920

Yellow Medicine
Canby – Hansen Farm, 1903
Canby – Kraft Farm, 1920

Information on all Century Farms will be available at the Minnesota Farm Bureau exhibit during the 2020 Minnesota State Fair. A database of all Minnesota Century Farms is also available at fbmn.org.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation reminds motorists to reduce speeds on Hwy 1 near Oslo to County Road 17 due to water over the road. Use caution and obey road signs posted in the area.

Highways that remain closed:

• Highway 2B Sorlie Bridge in East Grand Forks
• Highway 220 north of Oslo, between Highway 1 and Highway 317
• Highway 317 between Highway 220 and North Dakota border
• Highway 102 northwest of Fertile from Hwy 32 to CR 44

Highways that remain open, but currently have water over the road:

• Hwy 1 from Oslo to CR 17

When a road is closed it is illegal to travel in that area. Motorists can be fined up to $1,000 and/or 90 days in jail. In addition, if travelers need to be rescued from a closed road, other expenses and penalties will apply.

Polk County Public Health Director Sarah Reese updated the Polk County Commissioners on COVID-19 in Polk County during a conference call on Tuesday, including the one confirmed case in the county (for that story click here). 

Reese told the commissioners that the case is believed to be related to international travel but still urged caution because nearby counties have seen instances of community transmission. “While I say that this case was related to international travel, I have a giant caution flag up because we know that our neighboring counties have discovered COVID cases,” said Reese. “We also know there is community spread, meaning person to person, happening across Minnesota. Quite likely, we also have COVID (community spreading) here in Polk County, we just haven’t had a lab-confirmed case. As the days progress, we can see that those cases continue to rise in Minnesota and across the United States, so all the more reason people take those personal precautions.  Two are noteworthy; one is social distancing.  That six feet and that ability to stay six feet apart from another is critical.    The other thing is that we continue to be diligent about handwashing. Frequent handwashing is really important and something that we can all do to protect ourselves.” 

Commissioner Gerald Jacobson asked whether the hospitals and health centers in the county were ready if COVID-19 hits the county hard.  Reese said that one of the crucial pieces of the “Stay at Home” order was not only to have a response for the people who currently have COVID-19 but to prepare a surge plan as the number of cases expand. “One of the things that’s important about the “Stay at Home” order is not only to be able to respond to the people that currently have COVID, but to prepare for what this is going to look like at is expands through Minnesota,” said Reese. “One of the things that is happening in our northwest region is that our Northwest Health Coalition and our health care partners, the health care systems in Polk County, are working on what we call surge plans.  That is their ability to take their current resources and expand within their walls to have more bed availability and also for the region to work with the State of Minnesota Emergency Managers about bed availability, be it in the walls of the hospital or alternative settings.”

Reese said Polk County’s health care partner’s plans include articulating resources they have available, including beds, supplies, but also doctors and nurses. “They are articulating what resources they have available in terms of beds and supplies, but also in terms of staffing,” said Reese. “One of the things we are talking about in the region is we only have so many doctors, nurses, support staff and ancillary staff, so who is going to fill those roles when we have an expanded need.  I think we have the commitment and drive from our health systems to serve our region well, and yet, we still have a lot of things that need to be ironed out.  That is happening at a local, regional, state, and truly a national level because there are only so many supplies available.  The Governor is definitely diligent in saying we will obtain the resources we need to obtain. Still, we need to do that responsibility and ethically knowing that our neighboring states are rumbling with the same issues.”

Commissioner Gary Willhite asked whether testing was available and what type of testing.  Reese said the health care systems are doing the testing, but who can be tested depends on what labs they are using to complete the tests. “Each health system does the testing based on their health system and whatever lab they are sending the testing too,” said Reese. “The criteria for health systems utilizing the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Lab is very narrow, and that criteria has been narrow for quite some time, and has not changed.  If health systems are using an external lab, meaning not the MDH, then their criteria can be more accepting if they choose to do that, so it’s up to each health system right now.  There are processes in place to use a nurse call line in each of the health systems to determine if testing is warranted.  One, we don’t test people that aren’t ill at this point, and two, each health system works through the criteria related to clinical systems and advises if a patient should come for testing.  That is done onsite and typically, through a curbside testing option.”

Reese also addressed antibody testing that has become a hot topic in recent days, saying that she didn’t have too many details as it’s something new just being rolled out, but that it’s not a lab-confirmed positive test of COVID-19. “There are some entities that are looking at doing what is called an antibody test, which is not a lab-confirmed test through the MDH,” said Reese. “They are exploring options through partnerships with Mayo to do antibody testing. It’s a little different in that it’s not a lab-confirmed case, but it does show that you have the antibodies for it.  That is being explored as an innovative solution to return folks to work and do some projection and preventive measures.  I can’t speak to the details of it because I’ve just heard that’s it’s rolling out now.”

Reese said that currently, there isn’t the capability for doing the antibody test in Polk County and that it would not be a part of the data of confirmed tests the MDH is tracking.  Reese also said we have to remember there is no treatment, so a positive test is just a test. “We have to remember that there is no vaccine and no treatment,” said Reese. “So, having a positive test just tells us we have a positive test.  That doesn’t negate the fact that people should stay home when they are sick.  They should be limiting contact in public and all of those things, cleaning surfaces regularly, maybe be in separate rooms from family members.  The test just proves that they are positive, but that doesn’t negate the important pieces that happen for that person that is sick.  They still need to stay home and not be out in public intermingling with people. Whether it’s an acute respiratory illness or COVID, it’s still important from a transmission perspective that folks are mindful of that.  It calms our mind to know if our test is positive or negative, but at the end of the day, it’s really important that folks that are sick stay home.”

The City of Crookston has decided to postpone the annual spring cleanup due to uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic and how long Governor Tim Walz may extend the “Stay at Home” and other executive orders. Interim City Administrator Angel Weasner said at this time the spring cleanup will be postponed and the Ways & Means will discuss whether the cleanup event will be rescheduled or canceled on Monday. “We have been monitoring the situation and have been getting close where our spring cleanup will be held,” said Weasner.  “With the Governor’s “Stay at Home” order, we know people have been working on clearing out their homes.  However, there is an expectation that the “Stay at Home” order will be extended, and we would not be able to have a spring cleanup.  I have conferred with the Transfer Station leaders, and they are unsure and have the same expectation.  So, at this time, we are postponing the cleanup week for the month of April.  It will be discussed at the Ways & Means meeting on Monday, April 13.  The Council will have more information hopefully, and a better determination of whether it will be postponed until May or June, or just be canceled.”

Weasner said the safety of staff with the city and Polk County Environmental Services is the reason for the postponement as the virus can linger on some surfaces. “With the Transfer Station staff, the social distancing is the highest priority we want to ensure,” said Weasner.  “The virus has been known to stay on some surfaces for a longer period, and we want to ensure the safety of all employees for the city.”

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER
The Red Lake River has eclipsed 20 feet again due to the warm weather and the release of ice from upstream, triggering the opening of the City of Crookston Emergency Operations Center (EOC).  The EOC will be staffed 24-hours a day and remain open until further notice. 

The National Weather Service has updated the City of Crookston river level forecast to have a crest of 23 feet.  This crest is expected to occur on Thursday, April 9.  Staff will be tracking levels 24 hours a day and ensuring the safety of the City during this time.

City Hall will close for Easter Weekend on Friday, April 10, at noon, but if necessary, the Emergency Operations Center would remain open, explained Weasner.  “The EOC will be determined,” said Weasner.  “We are opening right now because the water level has reached over 20 feet.  The EOC is open and will be monitored by staff until further notice.  If it’s on its way back down, it may close prior to Friday. We just don’t know at this point in time.”

If there are any concerns regarding this high water, please contact the staff at the EOC at 281-4363.  If you have an emergency call 911.