AITKIN – State Rep. Dale Lueck, R-Aitkin, congratulates two District 10B farm families – Luke Hauser of Demenge’s Dairy Farm in Aitkin County and Kris and Andy Schubert in Crow Wing – for recognition as the 2018 Farm Family of the Year in our two counties.
The Farm Family Recognition Program has existed for over 30 years and is coordinated by the University of Minnesota Extension. Honorees are selected by local U of M Extension committees “based on their demonstrated commitment to enhancing and supporting agriculture.”
“These families are the backbone of agriculture in Greater Minnesota,” Lueck said. “Farming is a tough job, but also very rewarding, especially when multiple generations are involved. Luke and the Demenge family, and Kris and Andy Schubert can all take great pride dong the ‘Lord’s work’ producing food for others.”
The U of M has assembled profiles each of this year’s 80 Farm Family award recipients and here are snippets from the District 10B families:
Andy and Kris Schubert: The Schuberts’ family ranch was established in 1989, the year Andy and Kris were married. In 1996, the family sold their original acreage and moved to their current homestead located in southern Crow Wing County. The Schuberts’ ranch is primarily a Black Angus-based cow/calf operation with about 350 cows. The Schuberts own 600 acres in Crow Wing County. Their operation uses about 1,500 acres of owned and rented land for fields and pasture. The Schuberts have 10 horses they use on the ranch and for competing in rodeos.
Luke Hauser - Demenge Dairy Farm: Winfield and Lilly Demenge started the Demenge Dairy in 1950 with just a few head of dairy cows. Winfield and Lilly had six children: Cindy, Tim, Tom, Wendy, Sandy and Leigh. Sandy eventually took over the dairy operation and ran it until 2016. Today, the farm is managed by Winfield and Lilly’s grandson, Lucas (Luke) Hauser, with a lot of help from family members. Four generations of the family work on the farm milking 50 cows and caring for all the young stock.
The farm families will be recognized in a ceremony 1:15 p.m., Aug. 9 at the annual Minnesota Farmfest on the Gilfillan Estate near Redwood Falls.
More information regarding this program and full profiles of the 2018 farm families is available at http://mnfarmfamilies.cfans.umn.edu.
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