This project, begun in Spring 2017, took students at Gustavus Adolphus College into the field (or fields) to meet with local farmers and interview them. Click on an image below to read about these interviews and listen to selections from the interview. In order to view interviews and topics, please hover over the pictures below and press the triangle in the corner of each image with a + sign to view more than just a preview. Some excerpts are repeated in categories, so please choose to browse either by topic or interview.

Interview with Roger Schoeb

Roger Schoeb farm(s)(ed) mainly corn and wheat and he also grew (grows) oats for his cattle.  In his interview, Roger […]

Interview with Doug and Sue Schutt

Doug and Sue Schutt are hog farmers who have a successful farrowing operation and sell their pigs to other farmers. […]

Interview with Doug Schultz

Doug Schultz’ father created a legacy far ahead of its time: Polled Holsteins. Doug followed in his father’s footsteps and […]

Interview with Paul Engel

Paul Engel grew up on a dairy farm and was a full-time dairy farmer for 25 years. He milked cows […]

Interview with Jean and Rolf Annexstad

Jean and Rolf run a 200 cow dairy operation in Norseland, MN.  They are very passionate about dairy and share […]

Interview with Dale Krekelberg

Dale Krekelberg lives in Le Sueur, MN and has a small dairy operation of 24 milking cows. He was an […]

Interview with Matt Lantz

Matt Lantz owns a 2,000 sow and 3,200 acre crop operation. He is concerned about connecting with consumers about how […]

Interview with John K. and Betsy B.

Brother and sister, John King and Betsy Breaker talked to us about their family’s farm, We Three Kings, in Le […]

Interview with Bill Ruhland

Bill Ruhland milks about 60 dairy cows near Montgomery, MN.  He is the third generation on the farm and grows […]

Interview with Dale and Dot May

Dale and Dot live in New Prague, MN and they used to farm 500 acres of corn and soybeans.  They […]

Farming: A Way of Life

These excerpts illustrate some of the values and qualities associated with the farming lifestyle. Siblings Betsy Breaker and John King […]

The History

This section features snapshots from the history of farming. Dale Krekelberg describes how farmers used to go in with neighbors […]

The Present

These audio excerpts relate to present concerns in farming in southern Minnesota. John King and Betsy Breaker discuss the growth […]

The Future

In this section, farmers share their thoughts about the future of farming. Dale Krekelberg discusses the possibility of having to […]

“Boom or Bust”

These segments discuss how the economy for farm goods can rise and fall. Paul Engel explains how farm support prices […]

“Get Big or Get Out”

These excerpts address pressure on small farmers to either expand or sell in order to survive in agriculture. Paul Engel […]

Animal Welfare

In this section farmers speak about how they care for their animals. Dale Krekelberg discusses providing comfortable conditions and exercise […]

Environmental Concerns

In these excerpts farmers speak about climate change, erosion, and other environmental changes. John King, in his role as a […]

Technology

These are the different perspectives shared by the farmers we interviewed on the topic of technology. Bill Ruhland describes advancing […]

About This Project

The audio excerpts on this website come from interviews with farmers in Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur counties and […]

About This Project

Course instructor: Annika Ericksen
Assistant Professor in Sociology and Anthropology, Environmental Studies, and African Studies
Gustavus Adolphus College
St. Peter, Minnesota 56082