September 5, 2017 at 3:32 p.m.
Living the dream
Tvetens pursue dairying passion as third generation farmers
Dave and Kristi Tveten, pictured with their daughter Jacki, are the third generation in their family to farm. Although others were skeptical about the Tvetens’ ability to farm without land when they began dairying in 1977, the family has made it through challenges with support from their family and a passion for the dairy industry. (photo by Krista M. Sheehan)
The Tvetens are the third generation on their farm near Lewiston and are happy living the dairy farming lifestyle.
"We were both brought up that way and loved the life," Kristi said about dairy farming.
Although they've followed some family mottos and traditions while building their farm, the Tvetens also farmed their own way, facing opposition and challenges along the way.
The farm - settled in the late 1800s by Dave's grandparents, Herman and Meta Runge - changed names when Dave's dad, Henry Tveten, married Ester Runge. The two started farming in the mid-1940s after Henry returned from serving in the army in WWII.
Dairy became more of a focal point in 1956 when the Tvetens built a new 32-stall barn. Over the next 14 years, Dave grew up learning how to farm and developing the same farming passion as his parents and grandparents. However, after some health issues, Dave's dad sold the cows and the 220 crop acres in 1970.
"It was more than he could handle at the time," Dave said.
Still just a high school student, Dave's opportunity to carry the family's farming tradition looked bleak. After graduating from high school in 1974, Dave worked for a neighboring dairy for three years. During this time, he met Kristi, who also grew up on a farm and wanted to dairy. When the two realized their future together, they started making plans.
"The thought (to dairy) was always in my mind, but I didn't know if we could or how we would do it," Dave said.
Not having land for crops proved to be a tough issue. Inspiration came from Dave Kjome, who at the time worked for Extension and had returned from Michigan where he saw farmers milking cows with only a few acres of land by purchasing their feed.
"I talked to him and that's what gave me the idea to start like we did (purchasing all our feed)," Dave said. "In those days it was unheard of to buy (most of a dairy's) feed."
But the idea came with hesitation from others.
"Many people told us we wouldn't make it long," Dave said. "And it was hard to borrow money and convince anybody it was going to work (to dairy without land)."
Both Kristi and Dave's families, however, supported their dream.
"That really helped us," Kristi said.
So the couple took on many changes and a new beginning in 1977. Kristi graduated from high school, they started milking cows on the Tveten family farm July 4 and were married in October.
The Tvetens took on a large work load and faced several challenges. When they first started, they cleaned the barn by hand and had to haul milk to the creamery in cans because they had no bulk tank.
"It's a story like walking 10 miles to school in the snow and back," Dave said with a laugh.
They were also hit hard during the 1980s when interest rates were high and milk prices were low.
"A lot of good farmers were lost during those times. We just watched and prayed a lot," Kristi said. "We made it through probably because of God's grace. We have a lot of faith and just had to trust we were doing what God wanted us to do."
Dave also said they didn't have to worry about paying for equipment or land like other farmers at the time.
"The money we had was tied up in livestock," he said.
But over the years the positives of dairy farming have outweighed the negatives. They have continually improved their farm, starting with a milk house, bulk tank and pipeline. They've updated the stalls, put in a barn cleaner and recently installed tunnel ventilation.
They've also realized that even with some opposition at the beginning, most people have been available to lend a helping hand.
"Farming is like a community in itself and people are so willing to work with one another and help each other out," Kristi said. "We have been exceptionally blessed with good people around us who have helped over the years."
From their dads who helped with the small field work of 40 acres to younger brothers who stacked bales, both family and neighbors have been supportive of the Tvetens.
"It's amazing all the people we've come to know," Dave said.
Another success has been raising three children on the farm: Michael, Paul and Jacki. Because they know the commitment and responsibility of dairying, Dave and Kristi have encouraged their kids to look at all options for careers - on and off the farm. Both Michael and Paul have off-the-farm jobs and Jacki will be attending Rochester Community and Technical College in the fall, looking into the medical field. However, the Tveten farm could continue since Jacki owns some cows and would like to dairy farm in the future.
Whatever career their children choose, the Tvetens are happy to know their choice to dairy farm has been the right one.
"Getting up every day and being able to work together with my family is a big thing for me," Kristi said.
Dave agreed he wouldn't have it any other way, and likes to celebrate the fourth of July for more than one reason.
"We get to do what we love everyday," he said. "It never feels like a job. It's fun to realize we're still living the dream."
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