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Alexandria, Minn.; Douglas County
185 head

Family: Husband, Alan. Children, Lexi (11), Hailey (9), and Derek (5)

Tell us about your farm. We have about 90 cows and 95 heifers. We milk twice a day in a tiestall barn. We raise all of our replacement heifers and sell bull calves as soon as we can. I feed baby calves milk and the groups of heifers up to about one year in age are fed oats, protein, and hay. I milk cows with Alan in the mornings, and in the evening, Alan usually milks with a  part time employee so that I can be with the kids. I also take care of bookwork and bills.

What's the busiest time of day for you? Morning chore time, since I am juggling chores with getting the kids breakfast and helping the girls get ready for school and off on the bus.

How much time do you spend doing farmwork compared to housework? I spend more time doing farmwork, but it varies. I just do my best to keep up and get everything done in a timely manner.

What  do you do in your free-time and why? I like to spend time with my family, whether it's games, stories, movies, or relaxing, anything with them is so precious as this time goes by so quickly. I also do a lot of volunteering for our church (singing at mass usually three weekends a month) helping at the school (this year I was part of the fundraising committee), and I am the treasurer and Princess coordinator for our county ADA board. I take time for volunteering because I feel it is important to give to others; even the smallest thing can leave a positive impact.

What's the best thing about farming? I love caring for animals, especially the calves. A farm is also great for raising our family. It gives our children lots of outdoor space for playing and they are also learning at a young age what hard work means.

When you look back on your life, what do you want to be remembered for? I want to be remembered as a loving and kindhearted wife and mother.

Do you have any ideas that could make farming easier for you and all farming  women? A day or two off from farm chores and household chores each month would be really nice just to relax and focus on family.

Tell us about your most memorable experience so far, working on the farm. I really enjoy working in the summer with the kids and their show calves for 4-H. It is so neat to watch them walk in the ring after all the hard work we put in preparing for that day.[[In-content Ad]]

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