Javascript is required to use this website.

Farm and family go hand-in-hand at Reit-way Farm

By ANDREA JOHNSON, Assistant Editor
Mar 3, 2007
Mar 3, 2007

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

By ANDREA JOHNSON, Assistant Editor

SAUK CENTRE, Minn. - On a calm, 35-degree day in mid-February, there is no better place to be than on the Paul and Carolyn Reitsma dairy farm in central Minnesota.

kAm|:=<:?8 :? E96 E:6\DE2== 32C? 2E #6:E\(2J u2C>[ ?62C $2F< r6?EC6[ DE2CED 2E c A]>] @? u63] a_[ a__f] uC@> @FED:56 E96 3F=< >:=< E2?< C@@>[ E96 G24FF> >:=<:?8 AF>A DJDE6> >2<6D 2 DE625J 9F>]k^Am

kAm|:496==6[ `e[ 96=AD !2F= 2D 96 >:=<D 23@FE h_ 4@HD] $96 FD6D 5:DA@D23=6 H:A6D E@ 4=62? E96 4@HVD E62ED E9@C@F89=J] w6C ;@3 :D E@ 86E E96 E62ED 2D 4=62? 2D A@DD:3=6 E@ >:?:>:K6 D@>2E:4 46== 4@F?ED] %96? D96 DBF:CED >:=< 7C@> 6249 E62E 2?5 4964<D 7@C 4=F>A:?8 \ 2 D:8? @7 >2DE:E:D]k^Am

kAm!2F= <66AD D:I >:=<6CD 8@:?8 2== E96 E:>6] pD 2 4@H 7:?:D96D >:=<:?8[ 96 C6>@G6D E96 G24FF> 4FAD 7C@> E96 F556C 367@C6 C6>@G:?8 E96 >:=<6C 7C@> E96 G24FF> A:A6] w6 >@G6D @? E@ E96 ?6IE 4@H[ H96C6 96 2EE2496D E96 >:=<6C 282:? E@ E96 G24FF>] %96 >:=<:?8 >249:?6 :D 282:? 2EE24965 E@ E96 E62ED] |:=<:?8 4@?E:?F6D]k^Am

kAm|:496==6 2?5 !2F= @3D6CG6 E96 4@HD 2D E96J H@C<] |65:4:?6 :D 8:G6? AC@24E:G6=J E@ E9H2CE @77 2?J 5:D62D6 E9C62ED] %2<:?8 42C6 @7 E96 4@HD 2?5 42E49:?8 4@?46C?D 62C=J :D E96 <6J E@ >:?:>:K:?8 4@DE[ AC@5F4:?8 2 8@@5 AC@5F4E 2?5 <66A:?8 E96 4@HD 962=E9J]k^Am

kAmp 4@H 7C6D96?65 E9:D 27E6C?@@? 2?5 E96 32C? :D 7F==[ D@ !2F= ?665D E@ 5CJ FA 2?@E96C] %9:D A2CE:4F=2C 4@H 92D >:=<65 7@C ba_ 52JD]k^Am

kAm%96 5CJ 4@HD E9C:G6 :? @FE5@@C A6?D[ 3FE E96:C F556CD 2C6 6IA@D65 E@ >2?FC6 2?5 324E6C:2] |2DE:E:D 42? 36 2 D6C:@FD 4@?46C?] pD 2 AC6G6?E2E:G6 >62DFC6[ !2F= :?D6CED 2 EF36 @7 2?E:3:@E:4D FA 6249 E62E 2?5 >2DD286D E96 F556C E@ DAC625 E96 >2E6C:2=] %96? 96 :?D6CED 2 EF36 @7 ~C36D62= 5CJ 4@H D62=2?E :? 6249 E62E] %96 AC6G6?E2E:G6 EC62E>6?E 4@DED 23@FE S`h^4@H] p=C625J 962GJ H:E9 42=7[ E96 4@H H:== 7C6D96? :? 23@FE 7:G6 H66<D]k^Am

kAm(9:=6 |:496==6 96=AD !2F=[ #6?26[ `d[ 7:==D H2E6C E2?<D] $96 :D A2CE:4F=2C=J 8@@5 2E 86EE:?8 E96 9@D6 6>AEJ 27E6C FD6 D@ E92E :E 5@6D?VE 7C66K6] $96 2=D@ 96=AD :? E96 >:=<:?8 32C? 2D ?66565] #6?26 ;FDE A2DD65 96C 5C:G6CVD E6DE[ D@ E96C6 2C6 EH@ 49:=5C6? E92E 42? 5C:G6 \ 2 3:8 96=A 7@C E9:D 72C> 72>:=J]k^Am

kAmr2C@=J?VD 6G6?:?8 49@C6D 368:? 2E cib_ A]>] 6249 52J] w6C 96=A6CD 2C6 r9C:DE:?6[ `a[ z2E:6[ ``[ y@6[ g[ 2?5 |:E496==[ f] %96 7:CDE @C56C @7 3FD:?6DD :D E2<:?8 42C6 @7 E96 ?6H=J 7C6D96?65 4@H 2?5 42=7]k^Am

kAm(96? |:E496== H2D 3@C?[ 96 925 E@ DA6?5 D@>6 E:>6 :? E96 9@DA:E2=[ 2?5 D@ r2C@=J? H2D 2H2J 7C@> E96 72C>] !2F= <?6H 96 4@F=5?VE 92?5=6 2== E96 H@C< 3J 9:>D6=7[ 2?5 E96 49:=5C6? 3682? E@ 96=A]k^Am

kAm%96 #6:ED>2D <6AE E96 72C> 8@:?8 F?E:= r2C@=J? 4@F=5 86E 9@>6] %@52J[ |:E496== :D 2 7:?6 J@F?8 3@J H:E9@FE >65:42= 4@?46C?D[ 2?5 2== D:I 49:=5C6? 96=A @? E96 72C>] x? 8C2E:EF56[ !2F= 2?5 r2C@=J? D6E FA 2 DJDE6> E92E 8:G6D 6249 49:=5 E96 42EE=6 E92E 2C6 3@C? @? 9:D @C 96C 3:CE952J]k^Am

kAmz2E:6 92D 366? E96 >@DE 7@CEF?2E6[ H:E9 96C 3:CE952J @? u63] `h] $96 92D a_ 4@HD] ~?6 ?2>65 z2E6 \ 2 EH:? 96:76C \ H2D E96 4@H E92E 7C6D96?65 E@52J]k^Am

kAmr2C@=J? 925 4964<65 @? E96 4@H :? E96 62C=J 27E6C?@@?[ 3FE E96C6 H6C6 ?@ D:8?D @7 =23@C] (96? !2F= 42>6 @FE E@ E96 5CJ 4@H =@E 27E6C 2EE6?5:?8 2 swxp >66E:?8[ 2 3F== 42=7 H2D 3@C?] $@>69@H :E 925 4C2H=65 F?56C?62E9 E96 82E6 2?5 H2D D:EE:?8 @? 2 ?:46 =:EE=6 A:=6 @7 DEC2H \ 2== C625J 7@C E96 #6:ED>2D]k^Am

kAmr2C@=J? 3C:?8D @G6C 2 42=7 42CC:6C \ 2 =:EE=6 H966=32CC@H\EJA6 4C2E6 >256 7@C 92F=:?8 ?6H3@C? 42=G6D[ 2?5 E96 <:5D 86E E96 `__\A@F?5 42=7 FA 2?5 AFD9 9:> :?]k^Am

kAm(:E9 r2C@=J? =625:?8 E96 =:EE=6 A2C256[ E96 42=7 :D 3C@F89E E@ @?6 @7 E96 ac 42=7 9FE496D] w2=7 7:==65 H:E9 DEC2H[ E96 42=7 H2=<D :?E@ 9:D ?6H 9@FD6] r2C@=J? 92D E92H65 @FE 4@=@DECF>[ 2?5 7:?5:?8 E92E 96 5C:?<D 62D:=J 7C@> E96 3@EE=6[ D96 255D >65:4:?6 E@ AC6G6?E 4=@DEC:5:F> 2?5 6] 4@=:]k^Am

kAm$@@? E96 3@EE=6 :D 6>AEJ[ 2?5 :EVD E:>6 E@ 5@ E96 C6DE @7 E96 49@C6D]k^Am

kAmr9C:DE:?6 6>AE:6D 2?5 =:?6D FA H2E6C A2:=D 7C@> E96 9FE496D] $96 A=246D 42=7 8C@H6C C2E:@? :? E96 @E96C 9FE49 3F4<6ED]k^Am

People are also reading…

Good cattle and a giving nature: Late cowboy to receive hall of fame honors
Meristem focuses on reducing crop input costs for farmers
Rural America at its finest: fire relief efforts in Nebraska show best of humanity
Proposals aim to improve pool of rural veterinarians
County school’s Easter parties created lasting memories
Nebraska ranchers reel from fire losses
Rail merger would hurt farmers
From rose farms to rice fields, travel continues
Geopolitical issues influencing soybean market
Divine intent of creation respected
Study reveals how bull buyers use key genetic information
Iowa farmer sees new path for agriculture
With labor tight, incentives key to finding the right help
Seed, weeds and satellites at Commodity Classic
Social media talk burns my britches

kAm%96? E96 D6G6?E9 8C256C 7665D 2?5 4964<D E96 96:76CD] xE :D 96C C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ E@ >2<6 DFC6 2== @7 E96 96:76CD 86E FA 7C@> E96 @A6? D965D 5FC:?8 7665:?8 E:>6] $96 4964<D E@ >2<6 DFC6 6G6CJ@?6 :D 62E:?8 2?5 H2E496D 7@C 2?J D:8?D @7 D:4<?6DD] x7 D96 ?@E:46D 2?JE9:?8[ D96 E6==D 96C >@>]k^Am

kAmr9C:DE:?6VD 72G@C:E6 A2CE @7 =:G:?8 @? E96 72C> :D E2<:?8 42C6 @7 E96 323J 42=G6D[ 3642FD6 E96J 2C6 D@ 4FE6] r2C@=J? 2=D@ 3682? C2:D:?8 42=G6D H96? D96 H2D g] p7E6C 9:89 D49@@=[ D96 2EE6?565 D49@@= 2?5 H@C<65 2D 2 =23 E649] }@H r2C@=J? 2?5 96C 49:=5C6? E2<6 42C6 @7 J@F?8 DE@4<]k^Am

kAmr2C@=J?[ y@6[ z2E:6 2?5 |:E496== 365 96:76C A6?D] xEVD 2 8@@5 E:>6 E@ E2=< 23@FE H92EVD 8@:?8 @? :? E96 <:5DV =:G6D]k^Am

kAmp== @7 E96 8:C=D A=2J G@==6J32==] y@6 2?5 z2E:6 A=2J 32D<6E32==] |:E496== HC6DE=6D]k^Am

kAm%96 3:886DE 492==6?86 @? E9:D A2CE:4F=2C 6G6?:?8 :D 86EE:?8 |:E496== E@ AFE @? 2 4@2E] (:E9 E96 E6>A6C2EFC6 ?62C c_[ 96 CF?D 2C@F?5 :? @?=J 2 DH62ED9:CE[ ;62?D 2?5 42A] !F==:?8 @77 9:D 42A[ 9:D 9625 :D :?5665 DH62EJ]k^Am

kAmr2C@=J? 2D<D 9:> E@ AFE 2 4@2E @?] w6VD ?@E C625J E@ 5@ E92E[ 6G6? 2D E96 e A]>] DF? 368:?D E@ D6E]k^Am

kAm%96 ?6IE @FE5@@C ;@3 :?4=F56D >@G:?8 z2E6 E96 4@H E@ E96 DE28:?8 2C62 ;FDE @77 E96 E:6 DE2== 32C?] &?56C r2C@=J?VD 5:C64E:@? 2?5 8F:52?46[ E96 49:=5C6? 86E E96 4@H FA 2?5 E96? E96J D=@H=J 8F:56 96C E9C@F89 2 D6C:6D @7 82E6D E@ E96 DE28:?8 2C62] z2E6 E2<6D 96C E:>6 H2=<:?8 7C@> A6? E@ A6? 2D E96 49:=5C6? 2?5 E96:C >@E96C @A6? 2?5 D9FE 82E6D] %96C6VD ?@ AFD9:?8 @C 7@C4:?8[ 2?5 z2E6 6G6?EF2==J >@G6D E@ E96 A6? E92E =625D :?E@ E96 32C?]k^Am

kAm(2D9:?8 @77 96C 3@@ED E@ <66A 7C@> EC24<:?8 :? E96 >:=<:?8 32C?[ r2C@=J? ?6IE 7665D =@H A@E2DD:F> 5CJ 92J E@ E96 4@HD] y@6 AFD96D E96 H966=32CC@H 7:==65 H:E9 92J 2D r2C@=J? H@C<D] %96 92J :D ;FDE 2 EC62E 7@C >@DE @7 E96 >:=<:?8 4@HD] qFE :7 ?6H=J 7C6D96?65 4@HD 2C6 ?@E DFC6 E96J H2?E E@ 62E[ E96J H:== FDF2==J DE:== 62E 8C2DD 92J] r2C@=J? 92D D6=64E65 E96 92J E92E D>6==D E96 36DE E@ >2<6 DFC6 E96 4@HD H:== 62E :E]k^Am

kAm%2<:?8 8@@5 42C6 @7 E96 4@HD :D G6CJ :>A@CE2?E 7@C 8@@5 >:=< AC@5F4E:@?]k^Am

kAm%96? r2C@=J? 2?5 E96 49:=5C6? 3C:?8 z2E6 E96 4@H E@ 96C ?6H DE2==] tG6CJE9:?8 :D 5@?6 86?E=J[ 2?5 6G6CJE9:?8 8@6D H6== E@?:89E]k^Am

kAmr2C@=J? 2?5 r9C:DE:?6 92G6 2?@E96C ;@3 @FED:56 \ 7665:?8 >:=< E@ E96 J@F?86C 42=G6D] r2C@=J? >:I6D EH@ 7:G6\82==@? 3F4<6ED @7 >:=< C6A=246C] %96J 7:== 3F4<6ED 7@C E96 @=56C 42=G6D 2?5 3@EE=6\7665 E96 ?6H3@C?D]k^Am

kAmr9@C6D 2E #6:E\(2J s2:CJ u2C> 2C6 H:?5:?8 5@H? 7@C E96 6G6?:?8] %96 72>:=J H:== 36 :? E96 9@FD6 3J fib_ @C g A]>][ 2?5 E96? r2C@=J? H:== >2<6 2 EC:A @FE :? E96 >:55=6 @7 E96 ?:89E E@ 4964< 7@C ?6H 323J 42=G6D]k^Am

kAmp =:EE=6 =6DD E92? 2 J62C 28@[ |:496==6 2?5 #6?26 925 2 G@==6J32== E@FC?2>6?E :? #@496DE6C[ |:??6D@E2]k^Am

kAmr2C@=J? >256 E96 a__\>:=6 EC:A H:E9 E96>] %96 E9C66 H6C6 2H2J 7C@> E96 72C> 7@C 2=>@DE E9C66 52JD 2?5 EH@ ?:89ED]k^Am

kAmw6C6VD 9@H y@6 56D4C:36D E96 6G6?E]k^Am

kAmU2>AjRgaa_|@> H6?E E@ 2 G@==6J32== E@FC?2>6?E[ 2?5 D96 H2D 8@?6 7@C 2 H66<P (6 925 E@ 86E FA 2E c 2]>] E@ DE2CE E96 49@C6D]”k^Am

kAmxE H2D @?6 @7 E9@D6 >@>6?ED E92E >@>D 24EF2==J ?665 @?46 :? 2 H9:=6 \ E92E :?DE2?E H96? E96J 962C 9@H >F49 E96:C 72>:=J 2AAC64:2E6D H92E E96J 5@]k^Am

kAmU2>AjRgaa_%96 72C> :D 2 8@@5 A=246 E@ C2:D6 2 72>:=J[” r2C@=J? D2JD]k^Am