By John Holler, Correspondent:
While Wright County has been known more for its population growth an urbanization in recent years, the county’s legacy is its agricultural heritage which still runs strong in many areas of the county. At the June 5 meeting of the Wright County Board of Commissioners, the Diers family of Waverly was honored as the 2018 Wright County Farm Family of the Year.
Rod Greder of the Wright County Extension Office made the presentation, honoring a family farm that has been in operation for more than 130 years. The current patriarch of the farm operation, Gary Diers, and his family were in attendance to be honored by the county. Greder explained the importance of the award to the agricultural areas throughout Minnesota.
“The Farm Family Recognition Program exists to honor farm families throughout Minnesota for their contributions to the agricultural industry and their local communities,” Greder said. “The Wright County Extension Committee selects the farm family each year and this year recognizes the Diers family dairy farm near Waverly,”
The Diers farm has 250 dairy cows with all calves born and raised on site. The total number of cows on the farm is approximately 650. In 2017, the family undertook a major renovation project to install run-off controls for their livestock operation to better protect the environment.
Greder said that the recent project could well add yet another generation of farmers that will operate land that has been a staple in the history of Wright County.
“This project and ambitious growth plans will allow the operation to grow into the future and possibly add – wait for this – a sixth generation,” Greder said. “The home operation was homesteaded in 1874 by Gary’s great-grandfather. Gary represents the fourth generation and (his daughters) Collette and Tracy represent the fifth generation to farm on the home quarter section.”
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