From our side of the fence

Linda and Andy Rieke

Franklin, Minnesota

Renville County

56 cows

How did you meet, and how long have you been married? We met while we were in college at Gustavus Adolphus College. We were introduced in 2007 by mutual friends who told us, “Andy is the biggest farm boy I’ve ever known, and Linda is the biggest farm girl I’ve ever known; you are perfect for each other.” We both laughed and then ended up staying up half the night talking about farming and life. So, I guess it was practically love at first sight. We started dating a couple of months later and were married in 2009. We have been married for 16 years.

What is the best thing about farming together? Getting to work together on daily chores and projects. We milk together every morning, so we get plenty of quality time together in the barn.

What is one quality you love about each other? Linda: I love how ambitious Andy is. He’s always improving things on the farm. He’s always looking for something we can upgrade or make better. Andy: I admire Linda’s dedication to the success of our marriage, family and farm.

How do you show appreciation for one another regularly? We try to always thank each other for doing things, even if it’s just routine. At the end of the harvest season, we went out to eat to celebrate.

What is a fond memory you two have together? We have always enjoyed taking trips together. In the past few years, we’ve started taking motorcycle trips together, including traveling to the Black Hills and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. On our trips, we go hiking and visit parks and history museums.

How do you resolve differences on the farm? Most problems are just talked through during milking time. Sometimes, you need to give the other person space; sometimes, you need to agree to disagree.

Tell us about your farm and your respective roles. We have a herd of 56 crossbreeds we milk in a tiestall barn. They are fed a total mixed ration and graze during the summer months. We focus on selecting for healthy cows with high components and longevity. We also crop farm corn, soybeans, oats and hay. Linda does almost all the milkings, feeds calves and manages the employees. Andy does all the fieldwork, mixes feed, fixes everything and does the bookwork.

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Michelle and Richard Schweer

Milbank, South Dakota

Grant County

42 cows

How did you meet, and how long have you been married? We met at the intersection of Highways 212/81. Michelle and her friends were cruising town and saw a truck loaded with guys and asked us to hang out. We stayed out way too late and kept in touch. We started dating and went to a few formal dances. We were married the same year Michelle graduated from high school in 1999. We’ve been married 26 blessed years.

What is the best thing about farming together? We can be with each other every day. We like to be silly and have fun while we work. No two days are the same.

What is one quality you love about each other? Determination. We know which tasks need to get done each day. We may have a longer day if we had a fresh cow and need to take the time feeding and moving the calf. The day doesn't end until everything is finished.

How do you show appreciation for one another regularly? Always No. 1 is to love and praise each other. We like to take time and go on a drive or a lunch date. We have our best talks when we are together, which is every day, but we need to take time out of our busy lives to give attention to the one we love.

What is a fond memory you two have together? We went to the National Holstein Convention in Wisconsin. We went on tours of different farms. Each farm served snacks, and Michelle really liked having cranberries on her ice cream. The best part was taking the kids to the hotel waterpark and watching them have fun.

How do you resolve differences on the farm? We really think a lot alike on most things. If we have a difference, we will talk it over to come to a resolution.

Tell us about your farm and your respective roles. We milk 42 cows in a tiestall barn and raise our own replacements. Richard mixes and grinds feed and does the harder things. Michelle cares for the babies. We usually do the milking and feeding together.

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Paisley (from left), Daisha, Tate and Travis Welle

Greenwald, Minnesota

Stearns County

90 cows

How did you meet, and how long have you been married? We met at Country Jam, which is a country music festival in Wisconsin. The funny thing is, we only lived 20 minutes apart, but our paths never really crossed before then. We have been married for about 4.5 years.

What is the best thing about farming together? We are able to raise our kids on the farm and spend our days together.

What is one quality you love about each other? Daisha: How hard working Travis is. He works long hours with minimal sleep and still shows up for our family. Travis: Daisha is always willing to lend a hand.

How do you show appreciation for one another regularly? We show appreciation by how we work together every day. We help each other out wherever we can and step in when the other needs a break. On the farm, just knowing we can count on each other means a lot.

What is a fond memory you two have together? When we took our trip to Nashville a couple of years ago with a group of friends. It’s nice to take a break from the farm once in a while.

How do you resolve differences on the farm? We just talk things out and figure out what makes the most sense. Farming takes teamwork, so we work through it and move on.

Tell us about your farm and your respective roles. We own Welle Farms LLC, where we milk 90 cows and farm 300 acres. Daisha’s roles are milking, handling the books and caring for our kids, along with jumping in wherever she is needed around the farm. Travis is involved in just about every part of the operation, from milking and feeding to breeding, raising calves, fieldwork and keeping up with repairs.

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Jim and Randi Wingert

Harmony, Minnesota

Fillmore County

110 cows

How did you meet, and how long have you been married? We met on the back of the bus coming back from state FFA Convention. Jim was on the dairy judging team, and I was on the general team. I was 15 and he was 18, and I told my friend when we got back to school that I was going to marry him someday. He took a tad more convincing. We were married 25.5 years ago on my family's farm, which happens to be next door to the dairy farm we bought 20 years ago.

What is the best thing about farming together? Jim and I work very well together (usually). We share all the same hopes, dreams and goals, so it's always been fairly easy for us in that aspect.

What is one quality you love about each other? Randi: Jim is the hardest working, most patient, dedicated family man you will ever meet. He always puts the kids and me first no matter what. Even when he's running on fumes from hauling and farming, he always makes time for all of us. Jim: Randi has a "we'll figure it out" mentality that I find comforting and reassuring when things are the most unpredictable. She stays mostly calm, doesn't quit and knows things aren't perfect but adapts and keeps moving forward for our family and farm.

How do you show appreciation for one another on a regular basis? As demanding and stressful as dairy farming is, we really try to appreciate the small things. He sets up the parlor for me before his early morning loads — because I hate to do that — and brings me a box of thin mints occasionally. I make sure he has hot meals, clean socks and plenty of coffee.

What is a fond memory you two have together? Our fondest memories will always center around being blessed to raise our kids on the farm, and we are so excited for the next generation to join us in May to make many more special memories. That first load of milk leaving the farm would be a close second; it was a long trying road to get to that point, and we had made it happen.

How do you resolve differences on the farm? Not many differences arise for us usually, but when they do, we are both right and opinionated so they get handled with a lot of yelling and some swearing. However, we then go to our separate corners, cool down and can somewhat calmly come to a compromise. You have to have thick skin and always look for the bright side to the situation.

Tell us about your farm and your respective roles? We milk Holsteins, Ayrshires, Brown Swiss and crossbreds on our dairy. We milk two times a day in a double-6 double step up parlor. We raise corn for silage and buy all our haylage and dry hay. Our heifers are custom raised 10 miles from our home farm. We have seven kids who are all active and important to the operation and management of our farm. The kids and I are on the farm full time. I do the morning milking, calves, fresh cows, bookwork and field work when needed. Jim drives full time for Caledonia Haulers, so that takes him away quite a bit, but he fills in wherever depending on the loads for that day. The kids help with milking, feeding, youngstock and calves every day before school, after school and everything in between. We couldn't do it without their help and dedication. We are lucky that everyone can fill in and do any job when needed. Our roles are always changing depending on the day, but we just adapt and get it done.

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Amy and Ryan Roller

Bertha, Minnesota

Todd County

90 cows

How did you meet, and how long have you been married? We first met as kids through the Minnesota Holstein Association. We showed cows in the summer. It was in college that we really started talking and getting to know each other, though. Ryan went to school for diesel mechanics, where Amy's brother-in-law was, and we got reunited that way. We have been married for 13 years.

What is the best thing about farming together? Our favorite thing about working together is probably just that we get to eat all our meals together. We have the same rhythm of life.

What is one quality you love about each other? Amy: I think Ryan has wisdom, especially in the way that he lives intentionally in every area of life. He doesn't say or do anything, spend money or make any decision without having good thought and a reason behind it. I really look up to him for that. Ryan: I think Amy is a passionate person, so she brings energy and makes things more fun. She will do any kind of work and make things happen.

How do you show appreciation for one another regularly? Ryan cuts wood to keep the house warm, and Amy keeps making the meals. These are two things we both really like and appreciate. We just try to keep the other person in mind and help out with things to make the load a little lighter if we can.

What is a fond memory you two have together? For our 10th anniversary, we took a cruise to the Bahamas. It was a big deal and something we will never forget.

How do you resolve differences on the farm? We each have our areas where we let the other person take the lead, but if an ultimate decision is needed, Ryan will make the call and that works well for us. We have a natural routine where we talk about anything we need to at breakfast, and then we can move on for the rest of the day. Being in the know of what's going on in the other's areas of work makes it easier to figure things out together.

Tell us about your farm and your respective roles. We milk 90 registered Holsteins, fatten steers and do some custom Wagyu beef at our farm, Red Root Holsteins. We also raise our own feed and sell some extra corn. Ryan heads it all up. He mixes feed and hauls manure every day, does the breeding, crop and finance planning, etc. Amy manages the calves, is the relief milker and, when it is time for crops, will haul manure or run equipment, fencing or any miscellaneous work. Amy also works two days in town.

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Austin and Jenna Knapp (pictured with daughter, Mackenzie)

Epworth, Iowa

Dubuque County

80 cows

How did you meet, and how long have you been married? We met in 2018 at the Midwest Spring Show in Monroe, Wisconsin. Our cattle were tied head to head at the show, but it was not until after the show that Austin messaged Jenna on Facebook. A month later, Jenna took the 4-hour drive to Iowa to meet Austin. A year later, Jenna moved to Iowa. We were engaged in December 2019 and married May 15, 2021. We celebrate our fifth anniversary this year.

What is the best thing about farming together? The best part about farming together is being able to do what we are passionate about. We both love being around the cows, and Austin also loves marketing cattle. We both enjoy the cows but really enjoy sale prep, picturing and doing videos of the calves for sales.

What is one quality you love about each other? One quality is being able to help each other whenever we need to. It is always nice to be able to rely on each other.

How do you show appreciation for one another regularly? We compliment each other on a daily basis. It really hypes each other up to do better and work harder.

What is a fond memory you two have together? A memory and one of our biggest accomplishments is winning the Brown Swiss show at World Dairy Expo in 2024 with SS Debs 929. It was one of our biggest goals since we met. I am happy we will always have this memory.

How do you resolve differences on the farm? Communication is key. We are pretty good at talking it out and finding a solution.

Tell us about your farm and your respective roles. Our main focus on the farm is genetics. Austin is in charge of all the marketing, and Jenna helps with sales and picturing and videoing calves. We both do the daily chores, but Jenna takes charge feeding calves and milking cows. Austin takes care of all the genomic testing and registrations for the calves. Austin’s parents also are full time on the farm. Wanda helps with the calves and does a lot of milking. She also works full time off the farm. Randy takes care of all the older heifers and mixes feed for the cows. It takes a team to get it all done, so everyone’s role is very important.

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Delmar and Christine Pekarek

Kewaunee, Wisconsin

Kewaunee County

100 cows

How did you meet, and how long have you been married? We met when we were both working on the same farm in 1995. This year in May, we will be married for 29 years.

What is the best thing about farming together? We are each other’s best employee. After working together for so long, you can just do jobs and kind of know what needs to be done without having to tell the other what to do.

What is one quality you love about each other? Christine: A character quality I love about Delmar is he can fix just about anything or at least try to figure it out. Delmar: I love how Christine is so dependable and caring for the animals.

How do you show appreciation for one another regularly? Christine: I try to show my appreciation for all that Delmar does by helping wherever I can, doing things for him that make his job easier. Delmar: I show my appreciation by being there and doing the jobs Christine can’t.

What is a fond memory you two have together? Christine: There isn’t one single fond memory that I have; there are many. Raising four wonderful children on the farm, and all the home/barn projects and improvements we’ve done together stand out. Delmar: A fond memory I have is every year when she brings me that first, fresh pickle out of her garden, along with our daily utility terrain vehicle rides to check crops.

How do you resolve differences on the farm? Christine: There are always going to be differences of opinion, but if you can compromise, it usually works out. You have to be able to give and take when you are together 24/7. Delmar: There aren’t any because I’m always right — ha, ha. But seriously, we leave our differences in the barn and don’t bring them into the house.

Tell us about your farm and your respective roles. We milk around 100 cows that include Linebacks, Holsteins, Jerseys, Brown Swiss and a couple of Dutch Belts. We have 80 acres and rent 55 acres from Delmar’s brother. We both do the milking; Christine milks 68 cows in the tie stalls, and Delmar milks the remainder in a 3-stall step-up parlor. Christine feeds and cares for the calves, while Delmar mixes the feed and feeds the cows and youngstock. Delmar does almost all the field work, and Christine hauls loads of feed when needed.

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Dave and Melissa Boehlke

Thorp, Wisconsin

Clark County

65 cows

How did you meet, and how long have you been married? I started relief milking for Dave, and we got married Sept. 15, 2018.

What is the best thing about farming together? We love working together. We do have disagreements, as most couples do, but usually we work through them.

What is one quality you love about each other? I love Dave's passion for farming and the great care he takes of the animals and the land. Dave likes that I am always thinking ahead.

How do you show appreciation for one another regularly? We show each other appreciation with a simple hug or a thank you. It's amazing how a "Thank you" can make a person feel appreciated.

What is a fond memory you two have together? There are lots of fond memories, but there is one we go back to often. We had gone to a movie after chores. It was late October, and the weather was still nice enough that we had springers in the pasture. When we came home from the movie, a heifer was having issues calving, so we went out to help her. It started to rain, and there was lightning. We got the calf out and both momma and baby were fine. As for ourselves, we were soaked to the bone but just glad we did not get hit by lightning.

How do you resolve differences on the farm? Resolving issues can be tricky. Dave has more farming knowledge than I do. We talk the situation over and try to come to an agreement. We express our opinions and come up with the best solution.

Tell us about your farm and your respective roles. We milk 65 cows, mostly Holsteins with some Jerseys, and raise all our replacements. The cows are housed in a stanchion barn, where the heads of the cows face each other, so Dave has his side to milk and I have my side. Our son, Daniel, farms with us. He is a great asset to the farm and helps keep the farm running smoothly. We farm roughly 270 acres. We plant corn, soybeans and hay. Dave milks, feeds cows and does our cow breeding and fieldwork. I milk, do calf care, bookwork and housework. Daniel feeds heifers, cleans the barn, does fieldwork and helps Dave do other chores around the farm. Daniel also has a bale wrapping business he operates in the summer.

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Michael and Marcy McCullough

Juda, Wisconsin

Green County

50 cows

How did you meet, and how long have you been married? We both grew up in a rural farming community just outside the village of Chemung, Illinois. We had mutual friends and, through high school, attended school functions with all our friends. It was a great time growing up in the 1960s. One hot summer night in 1971, one of our friends got married, and after a couple of beers and a couple hours of country rock, well, it was off to the races. We have been married for 52 years.

What is the best thing about farming together? We spend a lot of time together and understand each other. We have worked together for more than 50 years. There is a lot to be said about quantity of time together. We were able to raise our family together on the farm. Simply put, we both have each other’s back all the time, if it is catching cattle or answering questions about bookwork.

What is one quality you love about each other? We are both very low maintenance. My wife is probably the most honest and sincere person I have ever known. Mike is very responsible and hardworking. Through his guidance, we were able to grow our farm.

How do you show appreciation for one another regularly? We show our appreciation in small ways such as helping one another when needed. We are confident over the years of our feelings. We gave up on birthday, Valentine, anniversary and Christmas gifts about 40 years ago. Flowers wilt and have no resale value. Neither of us need candy; just being here for each other is enough.

What is a fond memory you two have together? After 52 years, there are so many fond and not-so- fond memories. The kids and I were able to  throw a surprise party for Mike once. We rarely leave the farm but, while attending a National Holstein Convention in Knoxville, Tennessee, we had the opportunity to visit Dollywood for a day. Dolly Parton is one wonderful lady, and it made for an unforgettable day. Most of our memories revolve around our children and farm. We showed cattle for many years, and our grandchildren have continued showing to this day.

How do you resolve differences on the farm? We haven’t had many differences on the farm since we both have the same goals, so resolving them has never been a problem yet — although, years ago, my lovely wife wanted to go on a cruise, and I said, “No.” Then, I wanted to get a team of horses and a covered wagon and set off to Montana; we could find us a little spread, nothing big, maybe 40-50,000 acres and a few black  cows, a log cabin by a stream for running water and no electricity. She said, “No.”

Tell us about your farm and respective roles. In 1973, we started our life together on a rented dairy and hog farm in Illinois. Three years later, with a hog check, corn check and a handful of steers, we purchased our home farm near Juda, Wisconsin. We now farm 1,544 acres within a 7-mile radius of our home. We do not rent land; we gave that up 30-plus years ago. We milk 50 registered Holsteins with our son, David, his wife, Connie, and their daughter, Siera, in a tiestall barn. Mike manages the farm and does the breeding and health management along with various chores and lots of field work. Marcy mainly feeds young calves and handles milk house duties, bookwork and general chores. She also fixes three meals a day and grows a big garden to can, freeze and pickle all summer. Our greatest accomplishment has no doubt been turning four little boys into men and a little red-haired girl, Lea, into a hard-working, great mom and photographer. Our last classification came in with an average score of 89.6. Our herd is 100% homebred and 100% Registered Holstein ancestry. As a separate entity, we have in partnership Rock-N-Hill II with our son, Chris, his wife, Kathie, and their kids, Rachel and Brian. All five of our kids and 11 grandkids are involved in this farm in some way. Last November, we felt a bit honored; after 50 years of classification, Cy Letter, now retired after 37 years of scoring cows and working for Holstein Association USA, chose us to be his final day on a farm. We will all miss his knowledge, wisdom and quiet voice.

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Steve and Candy Turnquist

Greenwood, Wisconsin

Clark County

75 cows

How did you meet, and how long have you been married? We met on a bus to the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, in 2000. Four schools shared a charter bus, and my friend and I were sitting behind two guys. I knew one of them through 4-H, and he introduced me to Steve. We kind of hit it off from there. I remember calling home, telling my parents I met someone. My dad thought he was from another state, but it turned out he was only 20 minutes away from our town. We got engaged in August 2003 and married in September 2005. We recently celebrated our 20th anniversary.

What is the best thing about farming together? Family is the best thing about farming together. Our kids are at the age where they realize it takes everyone to chip in to make it happen. It is crazy to think they were all small at one point, trying to help, and can now do what we do on their own. Our youngest is still small and learning. Seeing our children step up to the challenges of farming, knowing it truly will show them hard work and how it will pay off later, makes us happy.

What is one quality you love about each other? We never give up. With the prices of everything recently, we try to do our best. We keep going day by day, making sure we keep ahead of ourselves to enjoy every moment of life.

How do you show appreciation for one another regularly? We have date nights or day dates. When we go for supplies, we try to stop and eat somewhere new. In the winter, when we have snow, we get on our snowmobiles in between chores and put on 70 to 100-plus miles.

What is a fond memory you two have together? We were able to take our first true vacation since our honeymoon 20 years ago. We traveled to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic with a great group of friends in the middle of January. Yes, it was right during that really cold spell, and we did not plan that. Our kids and niece, Anna, did what they could during that cold, but we also have some great neighbors and friends who were a phone call away or just stopped in.

How do you resolve differences on the farm? A quick vent, and then it is forgotten. We try not to let the differences get to us for too long.

Tell us about your farm and your respective roles. We farm northeast of Greenwood, Wisconsin, in central Clark County. We have four kids: Madison, Sawyer, Trevor and Casey. We milk 75 cows in a tiestall barn and have around 55 head of youngstock. We farm 300 acres of owned and rented land, raising hay, oats, soybeans and corn for both dry corn and silage. We are the fourth generation, with the fifth coming up, and we are hoping we can pass the farm to them. Steve is usually the one who feeds the animals and does tractor and equipment repairs. Candy is usually the one who milks the cows, makes sure animals are bred and feeds calves. We both make decisions on what to plant each spring and do fieldwork. Now that the kids are getting older, we have trusted them to help more with chores — the feeding, milking, tractor driving, etc. Chores go so much faster when the kids are around, too.