It’s Ag Day in America, and we would like to pay special tribute to all farmers and ranchers across America – especially those operating in communities we serve. Border Bank sprouted in northern Minnesota’s ag country in 1935, in the small, but mighty, town of Greenbush, Minnesota. Since then, the bank has grown to ten branches and 160 talented employees, some of whom are also farmers – besides bankers! This Q&A features and celebrates of few of our fellow employees involved in the ag industry.
Rachel Nelson
Loan Support Specialist, Receptionist | Thief River Falls, MN
Farm Facts: 500 acres | Beef cattle, 80 head of cows, plus breeding bulls, young heifers, and calves
Q. Do you have any advice for people who would like to keep the family farm…in the family?
A. Yes, advice we might give to individuals wanting to keep the farm “in the family”, would be to invest what you can at an early age. Joey did not realize until a later age how rewarding farming can be. He started being involved more with his family’s farm in his late twenties and wishes that he would have started sooner. I moved to Newfolden onto the farm about nine months ago and we have started making investments together (buying breeding bulls, new equipment, etc.); doing this while in the process of becoming a full-time farm family gives us the advantage of still splitting cost with his parents and having the income of two full time jobs that are not on the farm (eventually Joey will stay home for the cattle and crop full time).
Another piece of advice we would give is to enjoy the farm chores together! Most of our free time outside of our full-time jobs is at the farm. We have learned that the farm is more rewarding when we are able to complete tasks together and make the most of our time together, even if some of that time is dirty and hard.
Michelle Didrikson
VP, Compliance & BSA Officer | Roseau, MN
Farm Facts: 3,000 acres | Cow/calf herd, feeder cattle
Q. Besides the Didrikson family owning 400 cows, with the number of cows doubling during calving season, we understand you also own a personal “funny farm”. We’re intrigued….tell us more!
A. My husband’s family immigrated from Norway in 1919 and settled in Badger, MN. My husband is a fourth-generation farmer, and our kids will hopefully carry on as the fifth generation! The farm has evolved and grown over the generations, but my husband and his brother operate their cow/calf herd and feeder cattle on roughly 3,000 acres.
I came from a non-farm background and married into a world that I never knew I would love so much. I told my husband I wanted my own animals, and he has supported me each step of the way. We’ve traveled five hours, to the middle of nowhere, to pick up goats I bought off of Craigslist, shuffled chickens between vehicles in the parking lot of the county fair, had someone offer their fainting goats to me for free, helped a two-legged baby goat move around freely in a homemade wheelchair, and he hasn’t said no yet.
Now my husband shows up spontaneously with trucks of pigs, goats, etc., after a day at the livestock auctions. He dubs it my “funny farm” because I have a soft spot for any runt, injured or disadvantaged animal. There is never a dull day around our farm!
Kristi Kapphahn
Mortgage Loan Associate | Roseau, MN
Farm Facts: 46-acre hobby farm
Q. You have your hands full….working with horses and two young, very busy sons. How are your sons involved in caring for the horses?
A. My husband and I live on a small hobby farm with our two young boys. There’s never a dull moment at our place. Our family has always been very involved with horses and farm life in general. About eight years ago, we began taking in unwanted horses that people could no longer care for or ones destined not to have a good home. We started giving the horses love and care they needed - and eventually the training, for the opportunity of a fresh start. Some horses find their niche or what they truly excel in and not every horse can be on a racetrack or used for roping cattle. Some want nothing more than to trail ride all day or haul kids around the farm. Several of our horses have gone to 4-H families and avid trail riders across the U.S. and Canada. Eventually, this evolved into us providing riding lessons, barrel racing practice nights and horse boarding. What started as something small began to bloom into a lifetime hobby that our boys share with us.
Rarely do we see a day the boys aren’t in the barn helping with chores. They always help with the feeding, watering, grooming and vet care. We take time to teach our boys the importance of taking care of your horse so that the horse can take care of you. The grooming and hoof care might seem petty to some horse owners, but it is key - especially when a horse is learning to trust you. It helps build a bond that you can’t get when you’re in the saddle. Not only are we guiding horses to a new future, but we’re also teaching our boys the responsibility and importance of caring for animals. It’s a lot of hard work, but so rewarding. Raising our boys on a farm is the greatest gift we can give them.
Tim Loven
President | Roseau, MN
Q. We know you have several hobbies – hockey, golf…and a hobby farm. Can you tell us more about the hobby farm and how it enriches your life?
A. The family farm has been a big part of my life. It was homesteaded by my Great, Great Grandfather Loven. The memories I have working on the farm in my younger days are many - from working cattle and planting to haying and harvesting.
The “farm” has always been a special place for our family. My children, who are now out of the house, come back and enjoy the outdoors any chance they can. My parents also come out to the farm often; my Dad is from Gatzke and my Mom is from Middle River. My father and I took down the barn a few years ago, board by board, and saved the wood for future projects.
Joe Ulwelling
Chief Lending Officer | Roseau, MN
Farm Facts: 1,400 acres | Crops, Share farm with father and brother
Q. What’s your favorite crop to farm and why? Have you seen specific trends with this crop in the past ten years? Are you looking into planting other crops in the future? What’s a favorite memory of farming since you’ve started?
A. My favorite crop is soybeans. My reasons for liking them are because the field is bare when harvest is done, genetics have improved greatly to help with yield and defensive traits, harvest always starts in the fall, and I just thoroughly enjoy the fall season. It’s our longest growing crop, so when beans are 100% harvested, all harvesting is done, and the crop is in the bin.
Specific trends I’ve seen with soybeans is a dramatic increase in acres in the county in the past 15 years. Twenty years ago, it may have been difficult to find a soybean field in our neighborhood; now soybean acres are the majority. Future crops for our farm include soybeans, wheat, and grass seed. I could possibly see corn working into our future rotation as well.
I consider my farming career dating back to when I was a young boy. I recall my grandpa relying on my help to clean the barn during calving season. It was a dirty job, but I enjoyed that time with Grandpa. In recent years, I have very much enjoyed sharing some success with my dad. In the future, I’m excited to see my son participate. Without question, the most enjoyable aspect of farming is sharing it with family.
Sharla Kilen
SVP, Deposit Operations Manager | Badger, MN
Farm Facts: 3,000 acres | Grain and cattle
Q. How do you balance owning and operating a grain farm and managing beef cattle, with being involved in the community?
A. My husband Shane and I are both proud to be from multi-generational farm families, and humbled to carry on this tradition and way of life in Northwest Minnesota for the past 30 years. We fit the stereotype of “farming isn’t a job, it’s a way of life”. We grain farm approximately 3,000 acres along with raising beef cattle a few miles outside of Greenbush, MN. Our son recently joined our farming venture, and our daughter is attending NDSU in the Veterinary Technician program. We are thrilled they too will be carrying on in agricultural based careers.
Being involved in and supporting our small community goes hand in hand with farming. The strength of our community is intertwined with the success of the local farmers. Valuing and financially supporting our local family-owned businesses, our school, our churches and other organizations is critical. Spending time investing in our community by serving on the school board, coaching, being active in community service organizations and church, and being 4-H leaders are a few examples of our investments of both time and resources. Farming is an opportunity to leave a legacy and investing in it and in our local community are both key for their mutual success.
I have also worked full-time at Border Bank for 28 years; banking has seen the ups and downs, just like farming, and relies very heavily on the success of our small towns.
Joyce Shimpa
Sr. Relationship Specialist | Badger, MN
Farm Facts: Multi-generational Farm | Sheep, Goats & Lease Land
Q. Although you rent your crop land, you still have 25 head of sheep which will lamb around April 15. Do you shear the sheep and sell the wool, and do you sell the newborn lambs?
A. The farm was established in 1916 by my Grandparents Albert and Julia (Kaml) Shimpa. Then my Dad and Mom, Louis and Elvina (Wiskow) Shimpa, took over the farm. We milked 60 head of Holsteins and raised grain and hay on the tillable land and pastured on the rest until my Dad passed away in 2000. My Mom and I sold the cows and rented out the tillable land for grain and hay. Now, I have the farm and my mom, who is 91 years young, lives in her house and I have my house on the farm. Mom still mows grass and does gardening on the farm.
I got started in sheep about 20 years ago. I got two bottle ewe lambs and some goats, and then my heard started to grow. I had 35 sheep plus lambs and 35 goats plus kids. I had them until my son (Cody) graduated from school. After he graduated it was time to downgrade, so I sold all the goats and saved 25 sheep. Now I have 25 head of sheep that are out in pasture and will lamb around April 15th.
Last year I got 44 lambs out of 22 sheep. There were a lot of triplets and even a set of quads, which was the first time I have ever had Quads. The Ewe took all four and fed them, which was a miracle! It is so much fun to watch them grow. The (lambs) wether’s (boys) are sold for meat and the ewes (females) are sold for breading. The lambs are usually sold at the Fargo Livestock Yard in September or October. I will keep some of the Ewe lambs to replace the older ewes.
The sheep are sheared once a year in March and a Shearer comes out to do the shearing. The wool is sold to the wool plant and is processed and made into clothing.
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