Farm Living

Mike Trom Family Farm named Dodge County’s 2023 Conservationist of the Year

Dodge Soil and Water Conservation District has named the Mike Trom Family Farm as its 2023 Conservationist of the Year. As with many farmers, Mike grew up farming with his family, and continued until he went to South Dakota State University to study engineering. Mike came back to the family farm in...

Triton FFA members compete at State Fair

Members of the Triton FFA Chapter competed at the Minnesota State Fair earlier this month. Participants and their categories included Anna Ridenour, Dasmine Marquardt, and Sydney Rysavy (Goats); Cadence Spearman (Dairy); John Moenning and Elyssa Robinson (Swine). Chapter Awards: Champion Chapter...

Moenning finalist for FFA Swine Production award

John Moenning of the Triton FFA chapter in Dodge Center, MN, has been named a national finalist this year for the Swine Production Entrepreneurship Agricultural Proficiency Award. Agricultural Proficiency Awards honor FFA members who, through supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs), have...

Alberts finalist for 2023 Princess Kay title

Dodge County Dairy Princess Mackenzie Alberts has been named a finalist for the 2023 Princess Kay of the Milky Way title. The 10 Princess Kay finalists were announced Sunday after a two-day leadership event. Alberts is studying agricultural communications and leadership at South Dakota State...

Photo by Wayne Hendrickson Brian and Adam Herbst took a break recently from planting corn east of Kasson, and making sure the correct adjustments were made on their 36 row planter with 20 “ row spacing. According to the latest crop report from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistical Service, as of May 7, 38 percent of the state’s corn crop has been planted and 13 percent of the soybeans. This compares with 39 and 21 percent planted by this time in 2022.

Spring planting

Submitted Photo Jenna Kenworthy (left) and Cadence Spearman (right) working on signs for the upcoming Steak Feed and Donkey Basketball.

Triton FFA has successful steak feed, donkey basketball, competition season

The past few weeks have been busy for Triton FFA members and their Alumni group. The annual steak feed dinner was hosted on February 25 at Faith Community Church in West Concord. There was great weather, and 520 meals were served. It was great for the members to meet with their sponsors and...

Photos by Karen M. Jorgensen Dodge County’s Dairy Princesses pose after the Dairy Association Banquet Saturday night. Left to right are Gabi Espinoza, 2022 and 2023 princess, Alita Rinehart, 2023 princess, Makenzie Alberts, 2023 princess, Ellie Sauder, 2023 princess, and Amanda Sauder, retiring 2022 princess.

4 young women to serve as county dairy princesses

Four young women from the area will be serving this year as ambassadors for the county’s dairy farmers. McKenzie Alberts, Gabi Espinoza, Alita Rinehart, and Ellie Sauder were announced Saturday night as the newest Dodge County Dairy Princesses. Alberts is the daughter of Eric and Angie Alberts of...

Photo by Wayne Hendrickson Kasson-Mantorville FFA students, wearing their dairy headgear, explained the FFA program to visitors at the Ag Day Dinner at the high school last week.

K-M FFA

Klobuchar listens to ag concerns at Mantorville meeting

As Congress begins work on a new farm bill, Sen. Amy Klobuchar stopped in Mantorville last week to listen to concerns of area farmers at a noon session sponsored by the Dodge County Farmers Union. Representatives of U.S. Senator Tina Smith and 1st District Congressman Brad Finstad also attended the...

Drones to be featured at North American Farm Show in Owatonna

Drone technology will be highlighted at this week’s North American Farm & Power Show in Owatonna. Included in the 157 companies represented at one of Minnesota’s largest farm shows are two drone companies, according to Brock Nelson, the show’s organizer. The drone companies will highlight crop...