Photo by Fritz Busch Willis Runck, right, of rural New Ulm holds the certificate presented to the Pfaender-Runck family farm as a 2023 Brown County Sesquicentennial Farm at the Brown County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting at the Sleepy Eye Golf Club Monday.

SLEEPY EYE — The Brown County Farm Bureau recognized four 2023 Brown County Sesquicentennial Farms and one 2023 Brown County Century Farm at its annual meeting Tuesday.

Sesquicentennial farms honored included the James and Carolyn Drexler farm in Cottonwood Township. The barn built in 1897 still stands with major reinforcements, in addition to a windmill, age unknown. The original sale of the farm that sold for $16 an acre was signed by Ulysses S. Grant in 1869.

The Willis Runck-Pfaender family farm in Milford Township, northwest of New Ulm was originally owned by Col. William Pfaender, who helped found New Ulm with other immigrants in 1957.

Willis Runck said the first Brown County Courthouse and New Ulm Post office were founded on the farm.

“During the Dakota War, the farm was spared due to the fact that my family was friendly to the American Indians and provided them food when they came to the farm,” said Runck.

Runck said he is the fourth generation to live and farm on the same land and that his two sons, who help him farm in the spring and fall are the fifth generation on the land.

The Carol Schumacher farm in Leavenworth Township dates back to 1869. Peter and Catherine Eichten owned 160 acres from 1869 to 1892. About 55 acres were wood lots sold many times to different people, all of which were later bought by Charles Schumacher, who owned the farm from 1892 to 1944.

The Larry Zeig farm in Sigel Township was originally owned by Franz Zeig from 1869 to 1907. Major crops grown on the farm were corn, oats, alfalfa, flax and soybeans.

“It had to be very difficult at certain times every year without much for roads (near the farm) no tractors, telephones, electricity and only a shallow, hand-dug well. It was difficult to cross the Big Cottonwood River and get to New Ulm long ago,” said Zeig.

The Douglas Schwartz farm in Leavenworth Township was honored as a 2023 Brown County Century Farm. August Schwartz was the original owner of the farm that produced field and sweet corn, sweet peas and soybeans.

The Loran and Heidi Sellner family in Stark Township were honored as 2023 Brown County Farm Family of the Year.

Brown County Commissioner Brian Braun said landowners have a chance to spend some State of Minnesota money since Gov. Tim Walz signed Disaster Assistance Contingency Fund legislation in May.

“I’d like folks to check their drainage ditches. The State of Minnesota will pay for up to 75% of drainage ditch damage as Brown County was listed in counties dealing with a flood emergency,” said Braun.

“If you find ditch damage, contact (Assistant County Highway Engineer) Andrew Lang,” Braun added.

David Wing of Congressman Brad Finstad’s office said he is optimistic the new farm bill will be completed on time in addition to 11 appropriations bills. Wing said Finstad’s office, 110 Minnesota St. N., Suite 5 in New Ulm, is open 9 a.m to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.

Sen. Gary Dahms of Redwood Falls said surprises at the last legislative session included bills enacted at the very end of the term so dollars can be passed in the following biennium.

“That’s a new way of spending money,” said Dahms. “This year, the budget is up about $20 billion dollars. That’s not sustainable.”

The 104th Annual Minnesota Farm Bureau meeting is Nov. 16-18 at the Doubletree Bloomington.

Approved resolutions:

• Congressional review of proposed agribusiness and ag cooperative mergers and vertical integration to not allow it to hamper producer access to inputs, markets and transportation.

• Supporting immediate replacement of all power lines past their life expectancy and all bare-concentric neutral (BCN) lines. In addition, proposing all utilities providing farmers isolation on demand at no cost to the farm and correct underlying problems within 45 days and providing 3-phase power on demand to all livestock farmers/facilities at no cost to farmers/facilities, as has been done in Idaho.

• Opposing taxation on livestock sales to relatives.

• Not allowing drain tile lines and outlets from holding ponds/reservoirs to discharge into ravines without erosion control mitigation.

• Not allowing rapid discharge of municipal run-off holding ponds due to erosion concerns.

• Treating farmers and cities the same regarding emergency sewage discharge.

• Supporting ditch re-determination of benefits as cities add volume to ditch systems, so ditch assessments they pay for grow accordingly.