The Hayden Family Farm was one of two Pepin County Farms to be recognized as Century Farms this year at the Wisconsin State Fair. Pictured are, from left: Deborah Gerhke, Patricia Hayden, Daniel and Elizabeth Hayden, and Laura Hayden. Century Farm award recipients receive a certificate recognizing their farm from the Wisconsin State Fair.

Two Pepin County farms receive Century Farm award at state fair

Two farms in Pepin County received the Century Farm award at the 2014 Wisconsin State Fair.
According to a press release, the Century Farm and Home Award Program began in 1948, as part of Wisconsin's Centennial Celebration, a 23-day Wisconsin State Fair. The program honors families who have had continuous ownership of their Wisconsin farm or home for 100 years or more. For the past 40 years, Hillshire Farm of New London, Wis., has sponsored the Breakfast Awards Program.
One-hundred and thirty-six Century Farm and Home families were recognized August 5, 2014. Since the start of the program, over 8,840 Century Farms & Homes have been honored.
The Hayden Family Farm in the Town of Albany was one of two area farms recognized.
Currently owned by Laura Hayden, the approximately 157-acre farm was purchased by Hayden's father-in-law, Florin Heiden, on March 27, 1914. On November 1, 1926 the farm went to Florin's wife, Theresa, and six children.
Florin's son, Patrick, bought out his five siblings and took over the farm on May 17, 1952. Laura's name was added to the farm June 2, 2009, and Laura became the owner October 2, 2009, after Patrick passed away.
In the '80s, 80 acres were added to the farm, bringing it to a total of 247 acres.
"No one else has had the farm," Laura said. "Patrick bought out the other kids."
She also said Patrick's mother had a hired hand to help out on the farm, as Florin passed away when Patrick was just two years old. Patrick was the fifth of six children to Florin and Theresa. He was born March 3, 1924. He passed away at age 85, five years ago.
The farm is home to a beef operation, and at the most, housed around 150 head of cattle. Corn and soybeans are the major crops planted on the farm. The farm land is currently rented out.
Five of the farm's eight buildings are original. Laura's daughter, Patricia, said Florin and Theresa used to farm with horses, and now large implements are used to increase efficiency.
Laura and Patrick have three children, Deborah, Patricia, and Daniel. They have five granddaughters, and one great-grandson.
Laura said she has enjoyed life on the farm.
"It's the best place to live and raise kids," she said. "My husband was a very good worker."
Laura said when Patrick's health began to fail in 2006, a neighbor began doing work on the farm, and still works the land.
"He takes good care of it," she said.
Laura said she is surprised the farm has been in the family for 100 years. She and Patrick were married 44 years.
In the future, the farm will be divided into three parts for Laura and Patrick's children. Patricia, who was born in 1966, helped out her father on the farm, and will inherit the house, where she currently lives and cares for her mother.
Turtle Hill Farms, Inc., owned by Keith Ericson, was also recognized as a century farm.
Keith's grandfather, Adolf Ericson, purchased the 80-acre farm in 1913.
"It's always been a dairy farm," Ericson said. "I sold the cows five years ago and retired."
Originally, Ericson said his grandfather had about 14 cows, and milked by hand.
"He built the barn and sawed the wood with a steam engine," he said.
When Ericson retired, he sold 65 cows. The farm is currently 450 acres.
Ericson's parents bought the farm from his grandfather in 1945, and he bought it in 1975.
"I've been on the farm my whole life, and we always had Holsteins," he said.
Currently, Ericson farms corn and beans.
A couple of the biggest changes to the farm, Ericson said, have been the use of silos and mechanized feeding for haylage.
"Putting corn silage in the silos versus picking ears saved a lot of labor," he said. "There are also much bigger tractors and more modern machinery that help get work done in a timely fashion."
Ericson said both he and his father added land to the farm, and he sold some.
"I like the outdoor life," Ericson said. "I'm not a guy who could sit behind a desk all day."
Ericson said he submitted his century farm application early this spring.
"I think it's an honor to have the farm in the family for that many years," he said.
Ericson currently keeps busy restoring tractors and cropping 300 acres. He said he has one child, and does not know if his child plans to take over the farm.

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