OUTSTANDING YOUNG FARMER - 2008

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 2008 Young Farmer Awards were:

KAT BECKER & TONY SCHULTZ - ATHENS
Kat Becker and Tony Schultz, both 28 years old, of Athens were nominated by Amy Neigum of the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. Tony had always dreamed of continuing the family farming tradition until his parents decided to sell the cows during his senior year of high school. After being pushed by his mother, Tony went to college and received his Bachelors degree from UW-Madison. Kat, originally from New York City, had always dreamed of having her own farm some day. She has a Bachelors degree in Agriculture and Life Sciences from Cornell University and Masters in Rural Sociology from UW-Madison. After meeting Kat, Tony decided to move back to the family farm and began raising Scottish highland cattle, Herefords and Galloway cattle. Kat Becker and Tony Schultz were selected to represent Marathon County at the State Competition next year.

The farm operation consists of approximately 120 acres of land with 90 acres in permanent pasture. Stoney Acres Farm is part of the Community Supported Agriculture. The farm is moving toward organic certification.

In 2007, the farm hosted four events including an all-local food pancake breakfast. Tony served as a mentor for a Wausau student studying the difference between local/organic produce and non-local/organic produce. They, with other farmers, teach a course at UW-Stevens Point on soil conservation and soil building. Right now, they are applying for funding through the WI Department of Agriculture to establish a farm-to-schools program in the Athens school district. Kat and Tony are members of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau and will serve as Marathon County’s’ delegates to the annual convention. In their spare time, Tony is the Junior Varsity Basketball Coach at Athens High School and both serve on the board for the Central Wisconsin Farmshed.

CENTURY FARM AWARDS - 2008

Farm families honored in 2008 for maintaining 100 years of continuous farm ownership were:

DULAK FAMILY FARM - EASTON
Dulak Family Farm, LLP is owned by Marilyn Geurink Dulak. The farm was purchased in 1908, by Henry Geurink. He farmed 160 acres in Easton, Marathon County. Henry realized the value of new technology, being one of the first in the community to own an iron wheeled Fordson tractor, Surge milking machine, and Carbide gas lighting system. Floyd Geurink, Henry’s son, assumed ownership in 1957 and farmed until 1976 when Ted and Marilyn Dulak purchased the farm. Ted and Marilyn were recipients of the Marathon County Young Farmer Award and the 1984 Quality Award from Consolidated Badger Cooperative. The family made several improvements that streamlined operations. During this time, Ted was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, but continued to lead and encourage the family in daily operations. Son Fredrick, became partner in the Dulak Family Farm, LLP in 1996. In 2004 Benjamin Dulak joined and managed the dairy herd. On September 19,2007 Ted succumbed to multiple sclerosis.

DULAK FARM - EASTON
Fredrick T. Dulak and Benjamin J. Dulak own their family farm near Ringle. William Reimes traveled to Ringle with the Henry Geurink family in December 1908 where he also purchased 80 acres. The Reimes family cleared many acres and worked together with the Geurinks. William’s son Alfred, took over farming in August of 1939. He added milking equipment and purchased his first tractor, a Farmall A. Upon Alfred’s death in 1970, his son Marvin began to farm the homestead. He built a machine shed, and purchased a new John Deere tractor. Due to health concerns, Marvin’s cousins, Fredrick and Benjamin Dulak helped out. Marvin eventually sold his herd and auctioned the machinery in 1995. He rented the barn and land to Fred and Ben, who in 2000 purchased 60 acres. Since that time the barn has been used to raise young stock. The land that accompanies the farm raises crops. Portions of the land now grazes heifers. It is a unique honor for these two families be recognized for their achievements in farm that began 100 years ago.

BLUE JAY ANGUS FARM - STETTIN
The Blue Jay Angus, is owned by James L. and Barbara J. Pagel of Wausau. Herman Pagel purchased a 160 acre block of land in 1908 that was divided between sons Dietrich and Henry. Dietrich Pagel became the sole owner of the land in 1922. Property ownership transferred to James in 1960. Dairying continued for numerous years and in 1963 beef feeder cattle replaced dairy cattle. Ten years later, registered Angus cattle were brought to the farm and this endeavor continued for the next 30 years. Cash cropping of hay has continued on the land since 2004. During Jim’s 48 years of ownership, there has always been a very strong land conservation ethic with conserving crops, strip cropping and waterways. The farm is currently listed as a partner on the membership roll of the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the USDA.

SEEGER FARM - EDGAR
Located near Edgar, Paul and Marie Seeger began farming in 1907. Their son Herbert Sr. and his wife Mary purchased the 80 acres on March 30, 1950. Herbert and Mary bought another 80 acres in 1961. They build a new machine shed in 1970 and a new house was built in 1972. The Seegers added a 100 foot addition to the barn along with two new silos. The family milked 72 cows and had about 80 youngstock until 2002 when the animals were sold. Currently, they rent out the cropland, rotating corn and soybeans.

SOCZKA FAMILY FARM - RIETBROCK
The Soczka family farm is located in the town of Rietbrock near Edgar.  It was homesteaded by John Soczka in 1906.  At that time the land was entirely forested, so John build all the farm buildings.  The main dairy barn was lost in a summer storm in 1964 and was rebuilt.  In 1965, John’s son Harvey purchased the farm.  Harvey and his wife Rosemary raised four children on the farm, Karen, Charlene, Kenneth, and Arlin.  The original farm consists of 157 acres of corn, oats, alfalfa and woodland. They purchased another farm nearby in the ‘70’s and it became part of the family operation, bringing total tillable acres to 240. Currently, Kenneth rents the farm and raises heifers, plus a small herd of milking cows.  Harvey continues to truck lumber and woodchips when not working on the farm. Last year, Harvey and Rosemary celebrated 54 years of marriage.

URMANSKI FARMS - RIETBROCK
Currently the Urmanski farm is owned and operated by Rick and Ginger Urmanski. In 1888 Rick’s great grandfather, August Urmanski Sr. purchased the farm, which at the time was a log barn. The farm was handed down to August and Emma Urmanski who operated the farm until 1947 when their son, George and his wife Lottie, took over. Their sons Ray and Rick bought the cattle and machinery while renting the farm, until the death of George and Lottie in 1996. During that time 200 acres of farmland was added to the farm. They also expanded in 1979 from 40 stalls to 117. Ray decided to leave the farm in 1998 so Rick and his wife Ginger bought the farm. They made several improvements in 2002, adding 96 free-stall beds along with drive-by feeding, a holding area and double eight milking parlor. Today the Urmanskis crop 450 acres of corn and alfalfa. They are milking between 96 and 110 cows and have 100 youngstock. It was Rick’s desire to farm that kept it going all these years. Here tonight with Rick and Ginger are their five children.

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