The Schmitz family of Eden Valley, MN has been named Meeker County’s 2017 “Farm Family of the Year” by the University of Minnesota. The Schmitz family has operated a dairy farm in the Manannah area for nearly 40 years.
The Schmitz family moved to Meeker County in 1966 and worked for Spruce Shadow Dairy Farm near Litchfield. In 1979, the family moved to the current farm near Manannah. The Schmitz herd consisted of registered and grade Holsteins. Bernie Schmitz worked at First District Association and his wife, Aggie, was in charge of the day-to-day operation of the farm. In 1996, Bernie and Aggie’s son, John and his wife, Julie, along with their children, Jolene, Jill and Joel, moved to the farm and took over its operation. Three years later they purchased it.
The current dairy herd on the farm consists of black and white and red and white Holsteins, Milking Shorthorns and Brown Swiss. The family milks about 30 head and has 30 young stock on the farm. The farm consists of 80 acres and the land is rented to the third generation of the family.
John and Julie are in charge of milking and decision-making. Bernie helps with feeding and other day-to-day chores along with help from Jolene and her fiancé, Lance. Jill and her husband, Bret, and their family. John’s sister Heather and her husband Russ and their family occasionally help on the farm and are very involved in the county fair and state and national dairy shows.
Aggie served on the Meeker County Fair Board for 20 years. Bernie and John have been very involved in various local and national Holstein organizations. The Schmitz children have been involved in 4-H and FFA and the family has volunteered at American Dairy Association activities including Breakfast on the Farm and the Dairy Princess program.
The families will be officially recognized in a ceremony Thursday, August 3rd at the annual Farmfest near Redwood Falls. The Schmitz Family will also be recognized during the Meeker County Fair – 4-H Blue Ribbon Dairy Auction on Saturday, August 5th.
Source: KLFD Radio