vWOMEN
IN AG continued from page 21
work has produced,” Eickhoff said.
As the couple leans toward the age when farmers start to think
about slowing down, Eickhoff has worrisome thoughts about
agriculture.
“I don’t see how younger kids can get involved in agriculture
because it’s so expensive now,” Eickhoff said. “I read somewhere a
farmer is getting the same price for grain as in 1978 and look at how
input costs and the cost of new machinery has skyrocketed. If a young
gentleman or lady doesn’t have a foot in the door, how can he farm?
It’ll be a tough road.”
Even for the Eickhoffs, farm expenses cause them to make difficult
decisions. Ken has typically been able to do most of the repairs on their
equipment to keep costs lower but today’s more modern equipment
design almost makes it impossible for the farmer to work on them on
their own. It’s a balancing act, repairing the old equipment as opposed
to buying new is often a tough call to make.
The couple would welcome a family member back into the operation
but also realize it is a double-edge sword. Eickhoff doesn’t believe
there are many farmers who are financially set up to include another
individual or give the farm away. They will stay at farming as long as
they physically can and take it day by day, but she adds traveling is a
dream of theirs.
Living in the large metropolis
of Wynot drove Marie Haahr
crazy, so when the opportunity
came for the Haahrs to move to
a farm a mile out of town, she
and husband Jason took it. Jason
was already working with his
uncle on the family farm.
Marie has been a farm
wife for 18 years. Along with
organizing a farming husband
and four children, Haahr is a
vice-president at the Bank of
Hartington.
“Although I did drive a tractor
when I was growing up, I have
relinquished that job over the
years,” Haahr said. “Now I
balance my off-the-farm work
with my day-to-day duties in
Marie Haahr
town.”
Haahr said she realized she needs to get done what needs to be
done at the time and be satisfied with that. There is always at least one
child, and usually more than one, who needs to be hauled somewhere;
a necessary stop at the Vet Clinic for supplies over her lunch break; or
repairs to pick up after work.
“I’m the farm gopher,” Haahr said laughing.” But I also relish the
quality time I have with the kids while we feed calves or fix a fence. It
gives us all a chance to get to know each other better.”
The Haahr family is a 4-H family which gives the whole family even
more up close and personal experiences to treasure for life.
Looking back on her childhood memories, Haahr remembers
growing up on her family’s farm near Menominee and fixing fence
with her dad Chuck, which have created slices of life she will cherish
always. Even chasing hogs with dad is a memorable experience for
sure. Any farm wife or kid knows that.
The Haahrs are very thankful for the opportunity to keep the family
homestead going. Certainly, Jason’s uncle has built a strong foundation
and the Haahr family is very fortunate to be able to move into the
operation with him and continue the work into the future. The family
operation includes a small dairy and farm ground. When a farmer can
become involved with an established farming operation, it makes a
farming transition possible.
“Young farmers today who can be involved in a family operation
have a huge advantage in today’s economy,” Haahr said. “It’s almost
financially impossible to get started on your own.”
The Haahrs have one son graduating from high school and
considering a career in diesel mechanics with an eye on farming
someday.
Haahr sees the future of agriculture to be bright. The technology
advances make farming an incredibly precise operation, but she
added, the farmers must be willing to change, evolve with the changes
in agriculture – not forget the past – but in order to feed the world,
farmers must do what they need to do and find a niche market to be
the best they can be.
“Living on a farm is a big chore but it has its rewards,” Haahr said.
“There are so many lessons learned out here that you don’t learn
anywhere else.”
Growing up on a farm has taught Haahr to appreciate every little
thing that comes along in life and she and Jason are passing those
treasures along to their family every day. Just like Marie and Jason
learned in their young life, so their children are learning they don’t
need as much to be happy while instilling the satisfaction of hard work.
vBy Linda Wuebben
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