/usr/web/www.marshallindependent.com/wp-content/themes/coreV2/single.php
×

Hard work pays off for Lyon County Farm Family of the Year

Photo by Jody Isaackson The VanKeulens of Ghent are grateful for their designation as Lyon County’s Farm Family of the Year for which they received a plaque from the University of Minnesota Extension and a certificate from Lyon County Extension. Pictured are Pat and Karen, with their sons, Chase and Grant.

GHENT — Pat and Karen VanKeulen don’t quite know how it happened, but they were nominated and awarded Lyon County Farm Family of the Year this year.

At Farmfest earlier this month, the family was among 60 other county farm families of the year to receive recognition plaques from the University of Minnesota Extension.

The VanKeulens started asking questions to figure out why they had been selected.

“We didn’t think we are any more deserving than anyone else,” Pat VanKeulen said.

It was Cody Sleiter of the local Extension committee that had first contacted them, Karen said.

“He asked if we’d accept it if we were chosen,” she said. “When I said ‘yes’, he gave me a biography form to complete.”

The only thing they asked in return was to be at the local awards ceremony in August during the 4H ribbon auction where they were presented with a certificate, Karen Said.

Karen explained the choices were made based on your farm operation and how much you contributed to the community.

Their son, Grant, joked about them being the last to be picked since the program has been in active for 20 years, but the VanKeulens do have a viable cash crop and farm operation as well as being active in the community.

For community participation, Pat serves on the Grandview Township board and the Polar Swine board. Karen is a member of the Marshall School Board as well as the Southwest Minnesota State University Alumni Board. They are both active in the Mustang Booster Club.

The VanKeulens have another running joke about who has to and who does not have to pick rock during the late spring and summer.

“No one picks rocks during their birthday month,” Karen said. It’s not my fault they (Pat and Grant) were born in February and March.”

Chase, whose birthday is in August, grinned and said, “It doesn’t count that I picked rock in August because I chose to.”

Another sign of the great working relationship by the family is that the two sons, Grant and Chase, get up early, before school and help load hogs.

“Grant came home from college in Brookings the night before,” Karen said, “got up early to load hogs from 5:30 to 6:30 a.m., had a quick breakfast and made it back to school for 8 a.m. classes.”

Chase did the same, helping with loading hogs before his high school classes.

Grant is currently working at Ralco Nutrition in Marshall while Chase is planning to attend South Dakota State University in Brookings for Ag Business, just as Grant had done. They are both waiting for their turn to get into farming.

“Land is hard to come by in our area,” Pat said. “It’s very hard to get the boys into farming.”

“I like the spring and harvest the most,” Grant said. “I work directly with farmers, so i get to be out in the field during those busy times. I like the whole cycle.”

Chase agreed that harvest was the best, saying, “I like driving the tractor.” He also likes working with the hogs.

“Hogs and crops are a good mix to keep you busy year-round,” Pat said.

Livestock can be a double-edged sword, though, as it is hard to get away for a weekend as a family, he said. “Someone’s always got to stay home to do the chores. Often Pat’s father, Jerry, volunteers so that Pat and Karen can get away for a weekend now and then.

The VanKeulens also have two daughters who are grown and off the farm, but Karen was positive they would come home and help, too, when needed. Until then, Emily and Hailey are pursuing nursing careers.

Emily and her husband, Dan, are in St. Paul and Hailey is in Fargo, Karen said.

The VanKeulens live on the family farm that was once owned and operated by Pat’s parents, Jerry and Carolyn, who also grew up in the area, on farms just north and south of the current place.

“Dad also raised cattle for awhile, but he got bigger into hogs and got out of cattle,” Pat said.

Karen said she finally got an answer as to why they received the award. She said that Marshall Mayor Bob Byrnes had told her that it was a honor to be named Farm Family of the Year and that they should just enjoy the fact that so many people appreciated them and their contribution to the community.

Of course, the VanKeulens appreciate the distinction and are also very thankful to have been able to raise their kids on the farm where they learned the value of hard work and working together.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today