OUTSTANDING YOUNG FARMER - 2007

Century Farm Awardees | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005

To be eligible for the Young Farmer Award, applicants needed to be age 37 or younger and receive at least 2/3 of their income from farming. Any agricultural enterprise was accepted and the applicant could either be the farm owner or an operator involved in the business. Each applicant was evaluated on the progress in their agricultural career, soil and water conservation practices they implement, as well as their involvement in community activities. Receiving the 2007 Young Farmer Awards were:

KEITH NIEMANN - EDGAR
Our first Outstanding Young Farmer, Keith Niemann, 37, was nominated by Pioneer Bank. Keith grew up on his family’s dairy farm. He earned a degree in dairy herd management at Indianhead Technical College. After college, Keith spent some time away from the farm, but felt a need to return. His parents had changed the focus of the farm from dairy to custom heifer raising. Seeing the benefit of diversifying, Keith with the help of his parents, began work on the creation of a registered beef and grade herds. He also pursued incorporation as a limited liability corporation. Currently, the custom heifer raising operation is caring for more than 1800 head of cattle and are also feeding out 200 steers. Keith and his family farm more than 1300 acres to provide feed for the animals. The future is promising. Plans include expanding the cow-calf herd and starting a new venture—raising steers. Keith was selected for the Young Dairy Leaders Institute in 2002 and 2003. In addition to his work, he and his wife, Fay are very active in their sons’ Cub Scouts unit. They also volunteer as leaders in their church’s youth group. Keith was selected to represent Marathon County at the state competition next year.

DOUGLAS KOWALKSKI - WAUSAU
Doug Kowalski, 25, was anonymously nominated. Farming is in Doug’s blood. He started at an early age working alongside his father on their dairy farm. His responsibilities began increasing when he turned 14, focusing on the milking operations. After graduating from Newman High School in Wausau, Doug became fully involved in farm operations. His father made him a partner and Doug now plans on taking over the farm when his dad retires early next year. Doug and his dad are firm believers in taking a simplified approach to farming. For example, they pasture graze their cows instead of using other methods that may be more fashionable. It must work because based upon their experience, Doug has noticed significantly fewer health problems among the cows. This has also led to further experimentation with keeping the cows outside during winter, weather permitting. The operation has grown to 59 cows and they have 350 acres which they use for pasture and to grow corn and soybeans. Doug is part of the Swiss Valley Coop and won Swiss Valley’s Outstanding Young Cooperator contest in 2003. He was their representative at the National Milk Producers Federation annual dairy summit in 2003 and 2004. The Young Cooperators of Swiss Valley also recruited him to be on their steering committee.

JAMIE & VALERIE GREENBERG - STRATFORD
Jamie and Valerie Greenberg, were nominated by Marathon County CPZ. Jamie grew up working on his family’s dairy farm, which is located near Stratford. He spent two years in a factory trying to decide his direction in life. In the end, his heart was in farming. So he returned and became a partner in Greenberg Farms Ltd. The farm operation includes his parents, brother and sister and his wife Valerie. Jamie’s goals for farming started out simply: be a part of the operation, enjoy the workplace and raise their children, Stephanie, Emilie and Patrick. These goals have evolved to include specifics for transforming their farming operation. The first major change introduced sheep to the farm. They started out with 14 sheep in 2001 and now have 100 ewes. Future plans call for even more diversification while being environmentally friendly. Rotational grazing was started in 1997. Jamie and Valerie saw the growing demand for organic products and converted the farming operation to organic production. They also purchased 100 acres on their own, built a solar barn and an above ground water system where they custom raise heifers, graze sheep and feeder pigs and sell eggs from their chickens. In their spare time, both Jamie and Valerie are involved in local government. Jamie is in his third term as supervisor for the town of Eau Pleine and Valerie is deputy zoning administrator.

DUANE & CORRINE BAUER - MARSHFIELD
Our last Outstanding Young Farmers are Duane and Corrine Bauer, 36 and 35 respectively, who were nominated by Marathon County CPZ. These two are a tremendous success story. Both had grown up and helped on family farms as children. Duane then went to work for other farmers and then worked as the night shift foreman on a large dairy. Corrine also helped on her uncle’s farm and after graduating from high school began milking on the same farm as Duane. The two enjoyed the cattle and farm life and knew that some day they would own their own farm. That day came in May of 1999 when they bought the farm on which they currently live. They cleaned up the barn, milk house and pipeline. Then came the search for cows to start a herd. Duane and Corrine purchased their cows at sales and local auctions, milking their own cows for the first time that October. The challenges of low milk prices, building a quality herd and growing the operation, sometimes without financing, forced them to rely on themselves. Yet grow they did. With the addition of a milking parlor they built themselves, they have been able to milk 100 cows without additional help other than their children (Cody – 15; Robin – 12; Holly – 6; and Tony – 2). Recent improvements to the farm has helped to improve their cow lot and lanes. The goal for the future is expand the herd and make it possible for their children to continue in farming.

CENTURY FARM AWARDS - 2007

Farm families honored in 2007 for maintaining 100 years of continuous farm ownership were:

ELLEFSEN FARM - ANIWA
The Ellefsen Farm in the town of Aniwa is operated by Hans H. Ellefsen. His father, Hans E. Ellefsen migrated from Norway at the turn of the century. He worked as a millwright and seaman on the Great Lakes in order to bring his family from Norway and pursue his dream of farming. Hans senior purchased his first 40 acres in 1906. He farmed, adding more acres, until 1958, when his son Hans H. Ellefsen and his wife Shirley, bought the farm. The entire operation today consists of 240 acres. Hans, Shirley are here tonight along with their son. Congratulations for 100 years of business.

NELSON FAMILY FARM - ANIWA
Our second Century Farm is the Nelson Family Farm, also located in the town of Aniwa. Hans Nelson, also a Norwegian immigrant, purchased what is now the Nelson Family Farm from the Jones Land Corporation in 1907. The farm was passed on to Stanley in 1942. Many changes in the family occurred during the years of Stanley’s ownership. A new dairy barn was built, then added to and modernized in 1964 and 1982. Much of the original 80 acres was cleared and continues to be farmed today. Stanley increased the size of the farm by purchasing additional acreage, building the farm to its current size of 250 acres. The farm was purchased in 1989 by Mike and Janell Nelson and Mark and Sue Nelson, youngest sons of Stanley. Mike and Mark added two silos to increase productivity and reduce labor. Mark and Sue assumed sole ownership in 1997 and in 1999, they were named the outstanding young farmers.

MARA-TONE FARM - MARATHON
Our final Century Farm tonight began in 1897, when Simon Seehafer, Jr., purchased 80 acres of forest in the town of Marathon. Land was cleared for the log cabin, barn and wagon house. An additional six acres was cleared to grow crops. In 1914, a new “state-of-the-art” barn was built with 21 steel yoke stanchions, six work horse stalls along with 12x30 foot wood stave silo. More land was cleared for crops. Interestingly, the rocks from the land supplied the foundations of many homes built at that time in the Rib Mountain area. Simon Jr., fell victim to the flu epidemic of 1918. His wife Katherine, assumed control of the family farm until Oscar Seehafer bought the farm after returning from military service in 1947. Oscar made many improvements including a new John Deere tractor and milk house. Total acreage of the farm grew to 220 acres. Oscar’s son Larry joined the operation after high school and in 1988 took over the farm along with his bride, Karen. Larry and Karen continue as owners today although they are preparing the fourth generation (Eric, Troy, Tyler, Sonya, Tori and Carson) to keep the family farm tradition going.

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