Carlsons named 2016 Swift County Extension Farm Family of the year
JM Carlson Farms, of Murdock, has been named Swift County’s “2016 Farm Family of the Year” by the University of Minnesota.
Jim and his brother, Keith, started farming with their father, Ellert, while still in high school. Years later, Jim’s two sons, Michael and Bobby, helped out during planting and harvest. Ellert Carlson died in 1999 and Jim’s brother, Keith, was killed in a farm accident in the spring of 2008.
Now, Jim and his son, Michael, have formed a partnership known as JM Carlson Farms. Jim and his son, Bobby, own and operate Carlson Blading.
Along with their wives, Nancy and Stephanie, Jim and Michael raise cows, feeder cattle, hay, wheat, corn and soybeans. They also custom grind hay, straw, corn and bean stalks as well as custom chop hay, silage and earlage.
Jim heads up the operation and keeps everything running on the farm. Michael heads the grinding and chopping division of the operation. Stephanie takes care of the cattle and does fieldwork. Nancy handles the books and has the job of parts runner.
Michael and Stephanie have two children: Patrick and Amanda. Bobby and his wife, Shawna, have three children: Caleigh, Jhaylen and Ahnaya.
The Carlsons are active members of Hope Lutheran Church in Sunburg; Jim also works with the Sunburg Ambulance department.
Eighty-one Minnesota families were being honored as 2016 Farm Family of the Year by the University of Minnesota. The families were officially recognized in a ceremony at 1:15 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 4 at the annual Farmfest near Redwood Falls.
The Swift County Farm Family will also be recognized during the Swift County Fair at 12:45 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 21 in Appleton.
Profiles of the 2016 honorees and information on the recognition event can be found on the University’s farm family website, http://mnfarmfamilies.cfans.umn.edu/.
Families were selected by their local county Extension committees for a demonstrated commitment to enhancing and supporting agriculture and agriculture production.
“These farm families are a major driver of Minnesota’s economy and the vitality of Minnesota’s rural communities,” said Bev Durgan, dean of University of Minnesota Extension. “The University of Minnesota is proud to recognize these farm families for their contributions to agriculture and their communities.”
Along with Farmfest, University units sponsoring the recognition event include University of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, and the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Pictured: Jim Carlson (left), along with Michael and Stephanie Carlson and their two children, and representatives from the University of Minnesota.
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