A legacy rooted in Speltz family

ALTURA, Minn. — For more than a century and a half, the Speltz family has been farming at Beaver Oak Dairy. With a dedication to agriculture being long and established in their DNA, the Speltz family was recognized as a Sesquicentennial Farm.

Today, the family farm is owned and operated by Philip and Marcia Speltz and their two sons, Jay and Jacob. Together they milk 120 cows in a 32-stall tiestall barn and farm 400 acres at Beaver Oak Dairy.

The farm’s history began in the spring of 1872, when Michael Walch purchased the land where the dairy now stands.
Walch was an early settler in Winona County. Born in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg,
he came to America from Antwerp, Belgium, in 1865 at the age of 19.

After working in the Midwest for several years, Walch arrived in Minneiska in 1868. He spent two years working in Winona, taking whatever jobs he could find. In 1872, he purchased the land that would become the family farm. Two years later, he married Theresa Striever.

Walch continued farming until 1916, when his son, Louis John Walch, took over the operation. In 1942, Louis John passed the farm to his daughter, Dorothy, and her husband, Joseph Speltz.

Joseph and Dorothy farmed for more than 40 years before passing ownership to their son, Leo Speltz, and grandson, Philip Speltz. Leo continued farming until 2013, when Philip and his wife, Marcia, took full ownership of the farm.

Philip left the farm to join the military for seven years after high school. While in the military, he became an officer. He was in the barracks in Fort Ord, California; then he was shipped to Fort Lewis, Washington, for training.

“I graduated from high school in June and left in September,” Philip said. “I had never been on a plane before, or away from.”

The family has witnessed countless changes in agriculture and rural life over the generations. One story Philip’s been told by his oldest sister, Marguerite, is the arrival of electricity at the farm.

“It was Christmas Eve of 1948,” he said. “They were all excited because the Christmas tree was lit up.”

On July 25, the Speltzes had a family reunion on the farm. Marcia researched the history of the farm and put together boards of photos from the family’s past. All of Philip’s siblings were in attendance.

“We didn’t actively think about it until the sesquicentennial came up,” Marcia said. “Then we started doing research and were like ‘Wow.’”

While many things have changed over the years, one important piece of the farm has remained the same: the milk barn. The stanchion barn, built more than 150 years ago, is still standing and remains operational today.

“The barn is the same one I grew up milking in and the same one that was originally built on the property,” Philip said.

For the Speltz family, farming is more than a job. It is a way of life that brings the family together. They share meals daily, giving them the opportunity to talk about the day ahead and discuss what needs to be done on the farm.

As a dairy-farming family, the Speltzes’ hobbies also tend to revolve around animals and agriculture. Jay raises pigeons, exotic birds and bunnies. The family also owns horses that they take to local town parades each year.

“I’ve had thousands of photos taken of me on my horse in parades,” Philip said. “We like going because where else can you have thousands of people view your horse at once?”

While many dairy farmers worry about fluctuating milk prices and wonder what they will do when prices are low, the Speltz family takes a different approach.

“I never look at milk prices,” Philip said. “I can’t do anything about the price, so why worry about it?”

After 150 years of farming, the Speltz family sees a strong future ahead for Beaver Oak Dairy. The next generation is already showing an interest in carrying on the family tradition.

“You have to be thankful for what you have,” Philip said. “You don’t always think about it, but the past has helped where we are.”

Jacob’s son, Augie, is just 4 years old, but Philip says he is already a farmer at heart.

“He always says, ‘Poppa is going to run the 400 tractor,’” Philip said. “He is always riding with someone in a tractor.”

The family also recognizes the larger purpose behind what they do every day.

“It’s not something you think about, but we are helping feed people,” Marcia said.

From Michael Walch purchasing the original land in 1872 to a fourth and fifth generation growing up around the farm today, the story of Beaver Oak Dairy is one of family, tradition and commitment to agriculture. The buildings, equipment and farming practices may continue to change, but the Speltz family’s connection to the land remains as strong as ever.