Cass County Board: County honors John and Lottie Teune as Farm Family of the Year

   WILSON TOWNSHIP—University of Minnesota Extension Service recognized John and Lottie Teune as Cass County Farm Family of the Year during the Tuesday, June 21, Cass County Board meeting. 

   Both John and Lottie were raised on family farms: John in Steen, MN., and Lottie in Luverne, MN. John was a Vietnam veteran, and Lottie was an accountant. After they married in 1972, they quickly started their joint farm ventures in southwest Minnesota. The two purchased land in Pine River and moved in 1981. 

   Their farm is 1,700 acres. Over 50 years of farming, the two have raised sheep, quarter horses, pigs, dairy cattle and dairy heifers. From 1987-1997 they operated a feed store from a building on the farm. As of now, they stock cows and finish their calves along with raising corn, beans and alfalfa.

   Although John and Lottie started the farm, it takes a family effort to keep it going. Nicole and Jon Johnson, their daughter and son-in-law, now live on and work the farm with help from John, who goes to the farm every day from his and Lottie’s new home on the river. The Teunes have three other adult children: Heather, Heidi and Bradely and six grandchildren. Nicole and Jon’s three children enjoy helping on the farm and learning all about the things it takes to run a farm.

   John has enjoyed the rewards of the farming lifestyle: being your own boss, doing things the way you want, being outdoors and working around livestock. Lottie has stayed home raising kids and has enjoyed being close to them while running a good family business.

   The Teunes have worked on watershed conservation with Pine River Watershed Alliance and Cass Soil and Water Conservation District in developing the best farming practices for creek bed restoration, reducing run-off from farm fields and experimenting with cover crops that can help reduce runoff and protect the watersheds. This is work that Nicole and Jon will continue to pursue into the future. 

   The Farm Family of the Year Program works to recognize families who have demonstrated a commitment to enhancing and supporting agriculture in their communities.