Bremers are Farm Family of the Year

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Seventy-six families from around the state, one from each participating county, have been named a 2012 Farm Family of the Year by the University of Minnesota.

In Dakota County, the Bremer farm — Roy and Karen, John and Janet and their children Sara and Michael — is being honored this year.

The families will be officially recognized in a ceremony Thursday, Aug. 9, at the annual Farmfest near Redwood Falls.

The Bremer family farm was purchased in 1952, and six years later, Roy and Karen were married and moved on the farm, which consisted of 200 acres and three cows. In 1983, a partnership was formed with Roy and his son John.

Today the Bremers own 270 acres and rent additional cropland. They milk 120 Holstein, raise 120 young stock and raise their bull calves for feeder cattle. Almost all of the original buildings from 1952 have been replaced with new, more efficient buildings. They have a double eight herringbone milking parlor, a bunker silo and an energy efficient solar building to house the calves. Roy, Karen, John, Janet, Sara and Michael work together to have a successful operation.

Roy and Karen have been active with the Farm Bureau and church. Karen has been involved with the Nininger Town Board. John has been involved with Nininger Township, Dairy Farmers of America, Dakota Electric Association Member Advisory Council, 4-H, and St. John’s Lutheran Church. Janet has been involved with Nininger Town Board, Farm Mom’s Network, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Dairy Farmers of America, Dakota Electric Association Member Advisory Council, Dakota County Dairy Board, 4-H, and her blog called “My Barnyard View about Life on the Farm.”

Sara is a church teen leader, an eighth grade English teacher and a past Princess Kay finalist. Michael is involved with various activities at St. John’s Lutheran Church.

“Farm families and agriculture are a major driver of Minnesota’s economy and the vitality of Minnesota’s rural communities,” said Bev Durgan, dean of University of Minnesota Extension. “The University of Minnesota is proud to recognize these outstanding families for their contributions to agriculture and their communities.”

Families were selected by their local county extension committees for having demonstrated a commitment to enhancing and supporting agriculture.

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