September 5, 2017 at 3:32 p.m.
At the top of their class
Harren cousins find balance between chores, school and extra-curricular activities
Thomas Harren and Daniel Harren, both 18-year-old seniors at Bertha-Hewitt High School, have swept the top spots in their graduating class, with Daniel ranking first and Thomas second. The cousins grew up on their parents’ dairy farms – less than two miles apart – near Eagle Bend, Minn.<br /><!-- 1upcrlf -->PHOTO BY MARK KLAPHAKE
Daniel and Thomas, both 18-year-old dairy kids and seniors at Bertha-Hewitt High School in Bertha, Minn., have landed the top two spots in their graduating class - Daniel first and Thomas second. It's an accomplishment neither sought but both are proud of.
"It hasn't been a goal, I just try to do the best I can," Daniel said.
This philosophy is shared by the cousins, not only in school but in everything they do, from farm work to extra-curricular activities.
Daniel and Thomas grew up on dairy farms less than two miles apart near Eagle Bend, Minn. Daniel is the youngest of four kids. His parents, Dave and Kathy Harren, milk 180 cows. Thomas is the fourth child out of five boys. His parents, Greg and Nancy Harren, milk 60 cows. While they attended elementary school together in Eagle Valley, Minn., Daniel switched to Bertha-Hewitt when they were in fifth grade. He was joined by Thomas in 11th grade.
"At the end of last year people pointed out that we were at the top of our class," Daniel said.
"Everyone has had fun watching the cousin competition," Thomas said, smiling.
The joking, friendly competition has made each strive to do their very best, they said, and it's been easy to compete as they are taking many of the same classes and are involved in activities together. But make no mistake - their schedules are anything but light. Senior slack-off is a foreign concept to these two.
"If you take harder classes in high school, you'll be more prepared for college," Thomas said.
That's the goal of both students. Their current class schedules include physics, pre-calculus, band and choir. Daniel is also taking French II, anatomy and physiology, college medical terminology and is a teacher's assistant for the music teacher. His schedule reflects his goal of being a family physician. Thomas's schedule reflects his interest in computers, as he is taking advanced computer drafting as well as Spanish II, composition and economics.
"I've always been good at and enjoyed math and science," Thomas said. "I picked computer science [as a potential college major] because computers have always been an interest to me."
With this class load it's easy to think the Harren cousins would shy away from other activities, but that's simply not so. Both are heavily involved in music, including several choir and band groups and the school musical. They extend their musical talents to their church as well, where Thomas sings and lectors, and Daniel serves as a pianist and vocalist. Thomas is also involved in speech and drama and is a math tutor for sixth graders. Daniel is on the yearbook staff, teaches fifth and sixth grade religion, is a reading buddy and is a captain on the track team. Both are in National Honor Society, student council and knowledge bowl. On top of all this, Daniel and Thomas play integral roles on their family farms. Daniel's duties include cleaning the barn, feeding calves and helping milk cows. Thomas's daily chores are cleaning the mangers, scraping the walk, feeding calves and milking the cows.
To fit it all in, both of the Harrens are up each day between 5 and 5:30 a.m., and homework often doesn't start until after evening chores are finished.
Daniel and Thomas feel growing up on their family dairy farms has helped them achieve what they have thus far in life and has taught them valuable skills to take with them throughout life.
"You have to have a good work ethic; it's been ingrained into you because you have to work so hard at home," Daniel said.
"It (growing up on a farm) has forced me to be a better time manager," Thomas said.
Keys to time management include using every spare moment - including bus rides and lunch breaks - to get homework done.
While it hasn't been an easy ride for the Harren cousins, they both feel the extra effort they have put into their high school careers has been worth it, mainly in the financial help it will provide through college scholarships. Daniel will be attending the University of Minnesota-Duluth this fall to study pre-med; Thomas is looking at the University of Minnesota-Morris.
The accomplishments of Daniel and Thomas have certainly made an impression on their peers at Bertha-Hewitt; they have also touched the administration. Bertha-Hewitt High School principal Mary Merchant said it has been nice to see two solid leaders in the area of arts.
"They have been an asset to the school," Merchant said. "The boys have been such outstanding leaders, outstanding role models. It blows me away. Their commitment to school and family is just amazing."
Daniel and Thomas are set to graduate with their class on May 25. After that, Thomas plans to spend his summer tending bees for his neighbor while Daniel hopes to obtain his Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license and work full time this summer.
"Our high school career is finished," Daniel said. "And I'm ready to go to college. It will be a nice change."
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