Farm Bureau honors Century Farmers

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

SLEEPY EYE -- The Brown County Farm Bureau honored Century Farmers at its 2001 annual meeting at Allison Park Monday.

Century Farmers honored were Arthur Kettner Jr., Kevin Kettner and Floyd Rogotzke, all of Springfield; and Sleepy Eye farmers Daniel and Karlynne Reininger, Michael L. and Judy Sellner and Lester and Marian Johnson.

Arthur Kettner is the fourth generation of his family to own the family farm in Section 10, Northstar Township. His great-grandfather bought the farm in 1900 for $52.50 per acre.

Kevin Kettner is the fifth generation of his family to own the family farm in Section 2, North Star Township. His great-great-grandfather bought the original 240-acre farm in 1899.

Rogotzke is the fourth generation of his family to own the family farm in Section 21 of North Star Township. His great-grandfather bought a 160-acre farm from the railroad in January 1897 for $1,800.

The Reinigers are the fourth generation of his family to own the family farm in Section 31 of Sigel Township. Dan's great-grandfather George Reiniger bought the farm in November 1896.

The Sellners are the fifth generation of his family to own the family farm in Section 6 of Albin Township. His great-great-grandfather Johann Sellner homesteaded the farm in January 1875.

The Johnsons are the third generation of his family to own the family farm in Section 11&12 of Prairieville Township. The original 80-acre farm was purchased in 1869 for $7.50 per acre by Lester's grandfather Christian Johnson.

Members were presented a list of state and national resolutions and asked whether or not they supported them.

Approved resolutions will be sent to the state office which will determine if they should be should be rewritten and voted upon at the state convention later this year.

Two national resolutions also failed to get a motion:

* No GMO (Genetically-Modified Organism) products be released for commercial use until all foreign and U.S. markets accept them and that they can be proven not to contaminate the food chain.

Brown County Farm Bureau President Dennis Broste was particularly upset with the GMO issue.

"We've lost foreign markets because of this," Broste said. "Brazil says it isn't using Round-Up-Ready beans but I know better. Their cotton is being treated with chemicals also, even though they say it isn't. These are artificial trade barriers."

* All commodity producers affected by a market decline because of a GMO contamination of the food chain be compensated for their loss.

Lawyers could have a "hey day" if this issue were approved, Farm Bureau members said.

Approved resolutions included:

* Limiting the length of the Farm Bill to five years due to disastrous prices that occurred with the last Farm Bill.

* Any new Farm Bill be a national one without regional boundaries and regional pricing that disrupts the free market and pits on dairy farmer against another in a different part of the country.

* Support the use of bio diesel fuel blends to help reduce the dependence on foreign oil.

* Support a comprehensive energy policy that includes all resources such as bio fuels, oil, wind, coal, water, and nuclear energy, balancing energy needs with environmental issues.

Broste passed out a letter for members to read and sign if they wished requesting the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) refrain from regulating concentrated animal units on top of state regulations.

"These rules are not needed and they duplicate existing regulations," Broste said. "It's just crazy another layer of bureaucracy."

Broste said that the Farm Bureau now has agricultural educational materials that can be added to elementary school programs for students in grades 4-6.

"It gives a city kid a chance to get involved in agriculture that might otherwise not," Broste said. "It will only benefit agriculture in the long run."