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Tewes family is Jackson County’s farm family of year
By Justin R. Lessman

The Jeff and Jen Tewes family is Jackson County’s 2025 Farm Family of the Year.

The family was recognized at a special ceremony last month at the Jackson County Fair in Jackson and again earlier this month at the annual Farmfest near Redwood Falls.

The Tewes Family Farm began in 1967, when Robert and Marlene Tewes began raising pigs and growing corn and soybeans outside Jackson. Years later, their son, Jeff, returned to the farm after earning a degree in applied economics from the University of Minnesota.

While working as a local ag lender, Jeff Tewes started adding cattle to the mix, slowly shifting toward a cow-calf operation alongside the row crops. In 2001, Jen Tewes joined the farm when she and Jeff Tewes married, and together they have continued to grow the operation, with Jen also working for Sanford Health for more than 20 years.

Today, the Tewes farm is home to 100 cow-calf pairs, 60 breeding ewes and a mix of corn and soybeans. The Tewes family bought Bob’s Fleet Supply in 2022 when no other buyer could be found. Bob’s Fleet Supply is a hardware/farm store in Jackson focusing on the ag and commercial needs of the community.

The Tewes children, Meta and Kade, have been deeply involved in raising and showing livestock. Kade Tewes exhibits and raises purebred Angus and club calves. Meta Tewes showed and now raises Dorset-cross sheep. Now in college, Meta Tewes is studying ag education and animal science at South Dakota State University in Brookings, while Kade Tewes plans to attend Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kan., this fall to study animal science and to compete on the school’s livestock judging team.

Whether they are making decisions in the field or the show barn, Jeff and Jen Tewes say the family runs on hard work, relationships and a love for the land and they are proud the next generation is already carrying the same commitment the family has lived by for more than 50 years.

Honored farm families are chosen, one per county, by local University of Minnesota Extension committees based on their demonstrated commitment to their communities and to enhancing and supporting agriculture.

“This year’s 86 farm families of the year reflect the breadth and variety of agriculture in our state,” said Bev Durgan, dean of the University of Minnesota Extension. “The University of Minnesota is proud to honor these families and their innovation and dedication to Minnesota agriculture.”
 
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Kruisselbrinks are
Farm Family of the Year
Kyle Kuphal | Staff reporter
kkuphal@pipestonestar.com

Brad and Kim Kruisselbrink, and their son and daughter-in-law, Austin and Allison Kruisselbrink, are this year’s Pipestone County Farm Family of the Year.

The family found out they’d received the title earlier this year. Brad said it was an unexpected honor.

Brad was born and raised on the farm just north of Woodstock where he and Kim live. The farm was homesteaded by Brad’s grandfather, Henry Kruisselbrink, who came to the U.S. from the Netherlands. Henry and his wife, Annetta, lived in Iowa for several years before moving to the family farm in 1944.

They bought a half section for around $65 an acre back then, Brad said. He said his grandparents, who had eight children, had some hard times and Henry sold off 80 acres of the land to a neighbor to get by. Austin, who lives on a farm within the Woodstock city limits, was able to buy that 80 acres back a few years ago, giving the family the whole half section that Henry had originally owned.

Henry’s son, and Brad’s father, Willys, and his wife, Aleanor, took over the operation after him, and Brad and Kim took over after that. Then Austin decided to continue the family tradition. He said he enjoyed riding in the tractor and helping on the farm from an early age.

“I always wanted to be a fireman and a farmer,” Austin said.

He’s now both and said he’s fortunate to have had the opportunity to farm available to him.

Today, the Kruisselbrinks feed about 1,500 cattle. Austin and Allison operate Over the Brink Beef, through which they sell quarters, halves and whole beef directly to customers. The family also grows corn, beans, alfalfa, small grains and rye on about 1,600 acres, and produces their own feed. They use conservation practices including planting cover crops and what Brad referred to as doing “less recreational tillage.”

In addition to all that, the family does custom chopping. Austin said his cousin is involved in the chopping business and they do some farming with his cousin and uncle as well. Austin and Brad said the family has also been fortunate to have good quality help over the years.

“We’ve had a lot of hired help and all have been good and important to where we are today,” Austin said.

While the operations have changed over the years since Henry and Annetta established the farm, some of the older structures remain and have been well-maintained, such as the barn. Brad said the old red barn, now clad in tin, is still used and is like a centerpiece of the farm.

“People love that barn,” he said. “They drive by. We were on Barn of the Week one time.”

In addition to their agricultural work, the Kruisselbrinks are very involved in their community. Brad is a member of the Pipestone County Soil and Water Conservation District and was a firefighter in Woodstock for many years, and he and Kim are very involved in Woodstock Community Church. Austin is the mayor of Woodstock and a firefighter there. Allison is part of the Woodstock Community Club and a first responder. The family has also been involved in 4-H.

“We’re community minded people,” Brad said.
Brad and Kim are a blended family and have five children and 11 grandchildren between them. 
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Southern Minnesota farmers
helping to lead MSGA into the future
A group of southern Minnesota farmers is helping to lead the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association into the future.

Wells farmer Darin Johnson was recently re-elected president of the MSGA’s board of directors, with fellow southern Minnesotans Ryan Mackenthun of Brownton re-elected vice president and Rose Wendinger of Watonwan County re-elected treasurer. Kyle Jore of Thief River Falls serves as board secretary. Elections took place last month in Mankato.

“I’m honored to once again represent this storied organization,” Johnson said following the vote. “We’ve got some unfinished business in St. Paul and Washington, D.C. I’m excited to hopefully work with some clearer legislative and regulatory direction in the year ahead while pushing our legislative leaders in the right direction.” 

Johnson was also elected to represent MSGA on the American Soybean Association later this year when ASA Director George Goblish completes his third and final term. 

Like Johnosn, Mackenthun said he, too, was pleased to earn re-election to the board.

“I’m happy to be on the officer team; it’s a great team and we’re all excited to work for our farmers and our communities,” he said. “It’s a really unique time to be involved in ag policy, but we’re fortunate at MSGA to have an audience at the capitols that is willing to listen and engage with us.” 

For her part, Wendinger said the organization is in prime position to remain a leading advocacy voice at the state and national levels. 

“We hope to have some powerful conversations with policymakers to improve the outlook for Minnesota soybean farmers,” Wendinger said. “We’re all confident in Darin and the structure that’s been built here.” 

Minnesota farmers representing MSGA and ASA were scheduled to travel to Washington, D.C., in July to promote pressing federal policies, including biofuels, tariffs and food security. MSGA leaders will gather again in August to discuss leftover 2025 issues and forecast emerging priorities for 2026.

“It’s back to work for MSGA,” said Johnson, a fourth-generation farmer. “This is a fantastic team, and I truly feel lucky to help lead our soybean industry here in Minnesota.” 

The MSGA is a nonpartisan, farmer-led advocacy organization established in 1962. The organization represents the interests of Minnesota’s nearly 26,000 soybean farmers. MSGA’s goal is to ensure profitable soybean farming by influencing favorable farm legislation, monitoring government policies and supporting research and market development activities.
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Boomgaarden becomes
Extension educator
Kyle Kuphal | Staff reporter
kkuphal@pipestonestar.com

Matti Boomgaarden is the new agriculture production systems Extension Educator in the Agriculture Natural Resources Department of the University of Minnesota Extension, serving Pipestone and Murray counties. She began her new role on June 9 and filled the position previously held by Melissa Runck, who became the beef production systems Extension educator at the regional office in Worthington.

Boomgaarden said she’ll be learning about both counties and working with the community Extension committees in each county to determine what kinds of agricultural education and programming are needed. She’ll then develop programs and educational events based on those needs. She said that might involve working with other people or groups within the communities.

Boomgaarden previously worked as an agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at Pipestone Area Schools for two years and, before that, she taught for five years at Clark, S.D. She thinks her teaching experience will help her in her new position.
“In my previous job, I really had a plethora of knowledge across all different topics of agriculture, so I get to take that into this position and run with it,” she said.

She was interested in the role of Extension educator because she thought it would work better with the plans she and her significant other, Kyle Blume, have to take over her family’s farming operation, which includes cattle and sheep. She said she’ll still be able to volunteer to work with kids and FFA, which she enjoys.

“I’ll be able to get the best of both worlds,” she said.
In her new position, Boomgaarden said she’s looking forward to working with producers and helping them solve problems. She said she has a wide network of Extension educators that she can call upon to help and to learn from.

“I get to surround myself with people who are incredibly knowledgeable and smart, and I’m a lifelong learner — I love to learn, so that’s something I also look forward to, is learning from the other professionals in the Extension,” Boomgaarden said.

Her immediate goals include getting to know the people in the counties she’ll serve and their needs, working with the county commissioners, and holding some programs, including some that are new.

“I’m really excited to finally be in the position,” Boomgaarden said. “We’ve kind of been waiting for the end of school to come around for me to start. Everyone’s been very patient and I appreciate that. I’m excited to finally be here and to be started and to begin a new role, and to meet new people.”
Boomgaarden grew up in Pipestone and graduated from Pipestone Area Schools in 2014. She now lives near Ruthton on a family farm that previously belonged to her grandparents, Ralph and Leona Boomgaarden.

People can contact Boomgaarden at boomg022@umn.edu. 
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Blomgren goes from
farmer to FSA foreman
A Butterfield farmer is the new state executive director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency in Minnesota.

Kurt Blomgren was appointed to the post on May 5.
Blomgren is a fourth-generation family farmer from Butterfield, currently operating a diversified crop and livestock farm with his son, Vance, and family.

Blomgren has been a member of the Minnesota Farm Bureau for the last 27 years. He has served on the Watonwan County Farm Bureau board of directors, served for three years on the Minnesota Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee and was a member of the state resolutions committee.

In his local community, he is a volunteer firefighter, Sunday school teacher and mentor to local urban youth who have livestock projects at his farm.

In his new position, Blomgren is responsible for overseeing the delivery of FSA programs to agricultural producers in Minnesota. These commodity, conservation, credit and disaster assistance programs are designed to ensure a safe, affordable, abundant and nutritious food, fiber and fuel supply for all Americans.

“FSA state executive directors serve in a critical role carrying out USDA’s mission at the state level — ensuring that our focus is on meeting the needs of local agricultural producers by putting farmers and ranchers first,” said FSA Administrator Bill Beam.

“Rural communities need our support now more than ever. Our newly appointed state leaders bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to their position as SED, and they will play an integral role in shaping the future of agriculture in their state.”

FSA is dedicated to helping America’s farmers, ranchers and forest landowners invest in, improve, protect and expand their agricultural operations through the delivery of agricultural programs for all Americans.

FSA implements agricultural policy, administers credit and loan programs and manages conservation, commodity, disaster recovery and marketing programs through a national network of state and county offices and locally elected county committees.
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Ostrem sends his senior year out in style
TJ Ostrem is sending his senior year of high school out in style.

Ostrem, a senior at Heron Lake-Okabena High School, recently wrapped up his year of service as a member of the HL-O FFA Chapter’s officer team, received the state FFA degree at last month’s Minnesota State FFA Convention and was just named his chapter’s star in agribusiness.
Ostrem said he joined FFA after being urged to do so.

“For the experience,” he said, “and because somebody said I should and would be a good leader.”

Turns out, that somebody was right, as Ostrem ended up serving as the HL-O FFA Chapter’s 2024-2025 reporter. As a chapter officer, Ostrem said he enjoyed being in a leadership position and especially liked helping plan and lead chapter activities and events.

He was also a member of the chapter’s crop team, which he said was a great learning experience.
“My knowledge of different crops and plants and a lot of other things has grown, as well as how to be patient and make good choices,” he said.

Ostrem said his future plans involve going to college and starting a family.
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Farming a family affair for Winzels
Sirrina Martinez
Multimedia reporter
smartinez@pipestonestar.com

Northwest of Woodstock, you will find the farm of Brian and Liz Winsel, a local family with a history of agricultural roots. Brian grew up just two and a half miles from the site he purchased in 2004, helping his parents, Ken and Barb Winsel, who had a farrow-to-finish operation for sows. Across the road, his grandfather had stock cows, and Brian spent a lot of time working and learning from his grandfather and father.

After graduating from high school, he went to South Dakota State University in Brookings and received a two-year degree in general agriculture education. During his time at SDSU he was able to come home and continue to farm, and he always knew that’s what he would end up doing after finishing his college education, Brian said.

“I grew up a farm boy. I was always helping on the farm growing up,” he said. “I guess I kind of knew when I went to college that I was going to be back on the farm. My grandpa lived right across the road from my dad, he kind of helped me get into farming and he wanted to see me come back and farm because I was the last Winsel boy there to take over.”

Today, Brian still works alongside his father, farming around 1,000 acres of corn, soybeans, or alfalfa. Although the pair has their own fields, they still team up to get the job done, Brian said.
“We always work together and have certain fields that are mine and certain fields that are his, but we just work together and get them planted and harvested,” Brian said.

Brian’s main operation is sheep, and his 900 head of ewes keep him busy, in addition to the spring and fall hustle of planting and harvesting. He also has 80 head of stock cows that he is in the process of calving out at the moment.

His business partner, Bryan Kruse, who has a percentage of the sheep and cattle, helps with the sheep and cattle in the lambing season when it is “all hands on deck,” Brian said.

“He’s there for the morning shift and I’ve got the night shift and we just make it all work,” he said.
Reflecting on where he started and where he is now in his operation, Brian acknowledged that success and growth take time, hard work, and patience.
“You know, we have 900 ewes, but that was kind of a growing phase,” he said. “I’ve had sheep for about 20 years now, and the first year you get 100, the second year you get 200, and the next year you have 400. It was a growing phase. We have been up to 1,000 ewes before. It is a lot of work, and as my kids are getting older and into more activities, it is kind of nice to not have to lamb as many so that I can still take a little bit of time and go to some of their activities.”

Liz works at the courthouse in Pipestone in the assessor’s office, and Brian also serves on the Rock Township Board.

Brian and Liz’s three children, Aurora, 17, Harper, 14, and Monte, 12, are active in sports, band, 4-H, FFA, and other activities. Despite their full schedules, during the busy seasons when they are not involved in those activities, they are helping Brian around the farm.

“The kids help out in the lambing season,” he said. “I enjoy when they are out there, when they are helping, if they are able to. I am able to show them new things with the animals and even with equipment. We have different equipment now that runs itself, and I get to show Monte how to do that, and he’s happy to do it. It’s a good feeling that they are learning a little bit about the farm life.”

While he hopes the farm will stay in the family, Brian wants his children to do what makes them happy. However, if they do want to stay in the family business, there will be room for them when they are ready, Brian said.

“I guess time will tell, I’m not going to push anybody into farming,” he said. “If they want to come back and farm, they’re more than welcome to.”
Recognizing that having the opportunity to grow up on the farm, he feels blessed to have had the chance to experience the lifestyle and to also bring his children up in such an environment.

“I was really fortunate that I had my grandparents and my mom and dad were behind me in getting back into the farm and creating an opportunity for me,” he said. “My grandpa got out of the stock cows, which allowed me to get in. He helped me in using some of his equipment, and my dad too. I am very thankful that I was able to do so.”