July 13, 2006 at 7:02 a.m.
Farm Family for 2006 an example of stellar farm practices, and then some
Farm Family for 2006 an example of stellar farm practices, and then some
The families are chosen by their peers based on their contributions to the agricultural industry, community and the state. It is not a competitive award, therefore, until families are notified of their selection by the Extension Service, they usually do not even know that they were being considered.
“Family farms are the foundation of Minnesota agriculture,” Dean and Director of the Minnesota Extension Service Bev Durgan stated when the announcement was made on June 26. “. . . there really is no standard definition for a Minnesota family farm. The one factor they all have in common is that the families work together to make their farm successful.”
Brad and Lani are crop farmers on Rush Lake in northwestern Chisago County. This year Brad planted 320 acres of soybeans, 300 acres of corn, 60 of wheat and maintains 60 acres of hay. Like most farmers in Chisago County, they find themselves farming in a residential community, Brad explained with a friendly smile, “since just about everything around us is small acreage with homes.”
Brad had always wanted to farm. He planted his first crop in 1967, and since then, has seen many changes. For example, he now sells his corn as fuel for corn stoves. Brad considers himself a traditional crop farmer but explained that another niche he has adapted to is small acreage landowners who own a few horses. “They need smaller round bales, something they can move around with their four-wheelers. We grow and put up a timothy/brohm/orchard grass blend in smaller bales to sell locally.
Years ago the silo dome was not considered useful other than to protect animal feed, but today a farmer’s silo is valuable real estate to wireless communications companies. Genesis Wireless, of Braham, contracts one of the Bismark silos for a receiver in order to provide high-speed wireless Internet service to the Rush Lake Area.
At one time, Brad and his father, grandfather and brother farmed 1,200 acres and milked 70 Holsteins, “which was what we had to do to make it go,” Brad said. Brad and Lani lived in Cambridge and Brad “commuted” to the farm each day. Lani was a homemaker and enjoyed volunteering at church and school.
In 1993 they moved to their present farmstead just a few miles from Brad’s father’s farm and continued to farm as an extended family. Their children were teenagers, but the transition from city to country living went easily for the Bismarks. Maybe it had something to do with the traditional red barn that the family remodeled into a recreation room, complete with pool table and other recreational amenities for the kids and their friends.
Bethani, Michael and Peter were all involved in the family farm while growing up, but now pursue their own dreams after graduating from college.
“We love reciprocity,” Brad laughed, "they all attended the University of Wisconsin." Bethani graduated from UW Madison, Michael from UW Stout and Peter from UW Superior.
“Working together as a family on the farm made it possible for us to instill in our children the importance of education and to help them in the financial aspect of completing their educations,” Brad added.
The kids are still close by however. Michael uses his degree in Construction Management to run Bismark Builders, a local custom home construction and remodeling firm which he owns. Peter works with Michael and also helps on the farm as he can. Bethani and Jesse Gerhard just moved back from California with their new baby, Abigail. Jesse also works at Bismark Builders
It is a busy summer for the Bismarks. Sandwiched between planting, a vacation in northern Minnesota in late June, the Chisago County Fair (Brad is a board member) Farmfest and harvest, is a wedding. Michael and Katie will be married in August and the ceremony and reception will be at the farm.
Brad and Lani enjoy farming, talking about raising crops, marketing them, researching and talking about agriculture in general. Lani’s hobby is beautifying their yard with family heirloom flowers, but it became clear in the interview that the most important part of their lives is giving back to their community. Brad stressed how important land and community stewardship, as taught to him by the example of his parents and grandparents, is to the Bismark family in the biography he submitted to the Extension Service.
One of his most rewarding community services, he wrote, has been his elected representation to the Board of the Farm Service Agency. The FSA has seen many name changes since he farmed with his grandfather, but its mission to assure an economically and environmentally sound future for American agriculture is something Brad says he has been proud to be a part of.
He has served as Nessel Township Supervisor and is on the Chisago County Agricultural Society Board. Brad and Lani feel honored to be involved with agricultural youth organizations such as 4-H, FFA, church and youth activities that have been important in the Bismark family. Now that the children are grown Brad drives school bus “just for fun and to keep a youthful perspective,” he explains.
Brad and Lani hope to approach retirement as their parents did and to stay active and participate in the family farming operation. “Dad and I often ask each other, when we are working together, What would Grandpa think of us doing it this way? or, Do you think Grandpa would be proud of us?” Lani added, “We miss Grandpa so much, and I know Grandpa is proud.”
Comments:
Commenting has been disabled for this item.