Finding the strength to carry on

BECKER, Minn. — Strong, stubborn and resilient are the words Kaylee Erickson uses to describe her grandmother, Sandra “Sandy” Erickson.

As a dairy farmer for almost 50 years, Sandy has experienced countless challenges. Yet nothing was as difficult as running a farm alone after losing her husband, parents and 25% of her milking herd within the span of a year.

“Cows don’t stop whether you’re sick or whatever — you have to get it done,” Sandy said.

Today, Sandy still owns and operates the farm of her late husband, Roger Erickson, near Becker, where she manages a 70-cow herd and farms 240 acres of corn and alfalfa. Sandy is remarried, and her three children, nine grandchildren and a great-grandson — all living within a 5-mile radius — regularly visit, making memories and helping grandma with chores.

Born and raised on a pig farm in Santiago, Sandy has always been surrounded by agriculture and farming. Allergic to dust, she stayed out of the hay field and barn as a child.
However, that changed in 1979 when she married Roger, who grew up farming and later hauled cattle.

With a home built two miles away from Roger’s uncle, Herb, and his dairy farm, the pair found themselves helping with chores and other tasks — specifically milking. Sandy, who never milked a cow before setting foot on the property, would soon be learning how.

Sandy got her first opportunity in April of the first year of her marriage. Roger and Herb went fishing, and by 7 p.m. had not returned, and milking was behind the usual schedule by an hour. At 7:30, Sandy tried milking for the first time. Her first try proved difficult; she was unfamiliar with how to use the milking equipment and was kicked repeatedly by the cows. Yet, she was determined as she knew it needed to be done. She got help from Roger’s brother and had most of the cows milked when they returned.

That one night gave Sandy the confidence to continue milking, a task she would do for decades.

The couple’s children — David, Kristi and Melissa — also became frequent visitors and helpers on Herb’s farm, milking cows and driving tractors. In 2000, Herb sold the farm to Sandy and Roger, which officially moved the family to the farmstead rather than commuting as they had for the past 21 years.

“I always felt that being here we were blessed because we were always with our kids — they didn’t have to come home to an empty house,” Sandy said. “It was a great, great place to raise a family.”

Their farm continued to grow, earning the title of a Century Farm and receiving a dozen quality awards from the First District Association. Despite the success and many accomplishments, a life-changing diagnosis would provide new challenges for the family to overcome.

Even before the diagnosis, though, Sandy had suspected that something was happening with Roger in 2011.

“I’d see him walking across the lawn, and his arms just hung — they didn’t swing at all,” she said.

Roger was diagnosed with Lyme disease, making it difficult for him to walk, move or work on the farm. Sandy immediately took on the role as his main caregiver, while also continuing to operate the farm mostly on her own.

Support for Sandy, Roger and their children poured in from those nearby: friends, family, fellow church members and locals. Even with the additional help, Sandy found herself exhausted.

“He just couldn’t even move anymore,” she said. “I used to pick him up and carry him on my back to get him to appointments. I was so close to quitting; it was hard.”

Through it all, Sandy found solace and comfort in her herd. Waking up each morning to milk, care for the farm and have a routine provided a sense of normalcy, helping her to cope with the stress and grief.

“The cows were my solitude…I could get out and just do cows and not have to think,” she said.

After battling against Lyme disease for almost a decade, Roger died in August of 2020. Sandy’s father had died the December before, with her mother dying the same day a year apart.

Several months later, Sandy experienced another devastating loss: 25% of her milking herd was lost in a day due to a feeding mistake.

“I wouldn’t want to repeat that … I lived day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute,” Sandy said.

The coronavirus pandemic and a drought in 2021, which led to a lack of hay and corn, added further struggles and financial strain for Sandy and the farm, bringing her close to selling the cows and quitting.

Members from Sandy’s Bible study group in St. Cloud stepped up, donating funds and offering support. She also received money from a government program. Combined, the total covered almost to the penny the amount of what Sandy had lost in cattle and milk production.

Sandy, devoted to her faith, credits the Lord for providing her with resilience.

“God gave me the strength to make it through the hard times,” she said.

However, soon the return of a familiar face would give Sandy back the drive and desire to continue farming.

Dan Nelson, who used to work on the farm in the ‘90s, attended the funerals of Roger and Sandy’s father. While there, Nelson shared his phone number with Sandy, hoping to offer assistance around the farm.

“Dan showed up, so things got good — things got easier again,” Sandy said.

Nelson then began planting corn on the farm, and the pair spent more time around each other. His presence and aid provided support for Sandy during the period after Roger’s death.

“I talked to the Lord, and I thought, ‘If the right guy came along, I think I would get married,’” Sandy said.

Nelson — meeting all of Sandy’s criteria — was the right guy, and in 2022, the pair married.

Nelson continues to help with farming responsibilities like milking and breeding. Sandy’s son-in-law, Jake, helps out during the week — specifically with maintaining mechanics. Her 19-year-old granddaughter, Kaylee, has also become a prominent figure on the farm, helping dehorn, milk and castrate.

“If she gets a day off or something, she’ll say, ‘Hey, you guys should go somewhere, and I’ll milk tonight,’” Sandy said.

Sandy hopes one day Kaylee, who likes animals and is a hard worker, will take over the farm. Additionally, her other grandchildren and great-grandson enjoy coming over for tractor, skid loader and four-wheeler rides.

Looking back on her career and time spent on the farm, Sandy said she has no regrets. Each lesson, such as hand scooping manure or having no kitchen for two months while their home was being built, has taught her how to appreciate life more, she said. She also has no plans to retire soon, and jokingly said that the wall in her dining room has one more spot for a final quality award.

“I got at least another 10 years in the tank,” Sandy said. “It’s only getting easier.”