In a county dominated by 200+ acre dairy farms, Russ and Trese Willenbring
have found a different path to agrarian income.
Their low-chemical high labor farm near Cold Spring produces sought after
fruits and vegetables. The Willenbrings received the Stearns
County Initiative Award partly because the use sustainable farming practices
on their 76-acre farm. They started the environmentally friendly
approach in 1991 and eliminated all pesticides and harsh fertilizers in
2001.
The couple bought their farm in 1981 and started marketing fruits and
vegetables in 1984. In 1987 they discovered the Minneapolis
Farmer's Market. Russ Willenbring estimates he visits with 500 of the
8,000 shoppers every Saturday of the season. "It's a very active
Market."
This year will be the farm's third season at the St. Joseph Farmer's
Market.
The Willenbrings' nine children (ages 4 to 20) help with the 10 acres of
asparagus, 2 acres of raspberries, 4 acres of pumpkins, 80 bushes of
pickling cucumbers, 4 acres of sweet corn and 2 acres of strawberries.
The family also grazes cattle on 7 acres and creates a 3 acre corn maze each
fall.
"We work very hard during the summer times," Willenbring
said. The children learn ho to help customers and handle financial
matters. "They really get exposed to quite a bit he said.
