Young farmers’ dedication encouraging

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, September 15, 1999

From staff reports

In a time when farming is a financial struggle, it is encouraging to see youths striving for excellence in the field of agriculture.

Wednesday, September 15, 1999

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In a time when farming is a financial struggle, it is encouraging to see youths striving for excellence in the field of agriculture.

Once agriculture takes a turn for the better, their perseverance will likely pay off – not only for themselves, but for all of us who look forward to a hot meal or cool glass of milk.

Examples are abundant.

Brett Mattson, Lance Brune, Jason Hubly and Matt Nielson teamed up to take fifth-place at the National Barrow Show this week. The local livestock judging team stepped up from seventh place last year and they’re still moving.

Also, Mattson and Hubly were joined by Jeff Nelson and Joel Busch for livestock judging at the state fair and took first for judging general livestock.

In addition to the livestock team, other awards given at the state fair included: Grand champion individual livestock judging – Jason Hubly; Reserve champion individual livestock judging – Lance Brune; Reserve champion tractor driver – Chris Hanson; Third-place tractor driver – Justin Krueger; Reserve champion showman – Jason Hubly; and Reserve champion carcass hog – Brett Mattson.

Congratulations to them all.

But there are more shining examples of young farmers in the fields, each striving to make a career of agriculture.

They include Dan Erickson, a 22-year-old first-year farmer living south of Alden, Mark Schuster, 25, who is farming south of Freeborn, and Paul Koziolek, 27, now in his second year of full-time farming in the area.

All of these young farmers and more are aiming to preserve a lifestyle that’s worth saving.

In fact, it must be saved.

For while it is easy to forget where our groceries or handily-wrapped fast food comes from, these young people know the truth.

Farming is a necessity.