‘Lester the Tester’ hangs up hat

ALBERT LEA, Minn. — Lester Perschbacher received his nickname “Lester the Tester” from a trio a farm kids the first night he tested for the Minnesota Dairy Herd Improvement Association Oct. 9, 1956, at age 22.

“I still go by that nickname the greatest share of the places I go to,” Perschbacher said. “Even the minister at church calls me ‘Lester the Tester.’”

Perschbacher wrapped up his nearly 69-year testing career at the age of 91 on May 13. Perschbacher had been testing for eight herds in Freeborn, Martin, Faribault and Waseca Counties.

One of his herds was Larcrest Holsteins, which has about 250-270 cows on test. Larcrest Holsteins, located near Albert Lea, is owned by Jon and Ann Larson.

“Lester has been at my farm longer than I have,” Jon Larson said. “Lester is a caretaker. He was put on this earth to take care of things. … He takes care of the farmers that he has served for 69 years and the cattle around. He has dedicated his life to it. There is no better friend to the dairy industry than Lester.”

Perschbacher’s doctors told him he had to retire because of health problems he has been dealing with this spring.

“That was my hardest job I had, to say (to Larson), on that Tuesday, ‘I’m forced to retire,’” Perschbacher said.

Perschbacher tested through four generations on two of his farms. Over the years, he has built deep relationships with his farmers, like Larson, whom he said he considers a second son.

Larson echoes the sentiment.

“He was here for my birth,” Larson said. “He helped me carry my father to his grave. … I always had someone here once a month who knew my family and my business in and out. … He has been a great comfort and a great friend and yes, certainly a second father to me.”

Perschbacher has seen many changes over his career. When he began testing, he was one of two testers in Freeborn County and his average herd size was 22 cows. His largest herd was 44. One of the farmers at the beginning of his career used both a milking machine and hand milked, alternating every other cow.

In the 1980s, Perschbacher became the only tester in Freeborn County and took on Faribault County’s herds, too. In 2000, he brought on Waseca and Martin counties. The most herds Perschbacher ever had on his roster was 99. Perschbacher offered once or twice a day tests.

Perschbacher’s largest herd he tested had 1,478 cows to be sampled. This required him to be in the parlor for 11 continuous hours to collect the samples before any bookwork was done.

Larson said Perschbacher had long hours at his farm too. Arriving at 3 a.m. to get set up, Perschbacher would routinely be working until 7-8 p.m. to collect samples, set up and clean up, and do records. Halfway through the day, everyone would gather for chili Ann had made for the crew.

“There would be about 10 of us, and it was a raucous good time,” Larson said. “Lester telling stories and taking it all in. … He’s got the most incredible laugh you’ve ever heard, and he’s always enjoyed a joke.”

When DHIA started using computers, Larson said Perschbacher taught himself how to use them.

“Most people at the age of 70-something would have called it a career,” Larson said. “But he fought through … and became quite good at it.”

Originally, Perschbacher tested his own samples on farm using sulfuric acid and centrifuge. After four years of testing samples on-farm, he started processing the samples in his basement, which he did for 20 years until DHIA started having all samples tested at laboratories.

Perschbacher always tried to be 20 minutes early to all of his farms. He only missed one test in his career due to weather after going into the ditch to avoid four cars stuck on the road ahead in snow.

“There would be times when I was driving, you could (only) see a little bit out of your windshield,” Perschbacher said. “But I always made it to every place I had to go. I never failed.”

Perschbacher grew up on a dairy farm near Alden. At age 14 he left home to work on a neighbor’s dairy farm and continue going to school. He graduated from high school in 1952 in a class of 12.

He attempted to join the Army, walking miles to join, but failed the physical. Afterwards, Perschbacher worked for another dairy farmer for about nine months in 1956. During those months, he attempted to buy two dairy farms, but both fell through. In September 1956, his boss encouraged him to go to a DHIA tester school being held.

The class had 28 students, and by day four of the class, Perschbacher had been offered a role in Freeborn County. Within several weeks, Perschbacher began a career that lasted over 25,000 days.

Over the years, Perschbacher has been recognized with many newspaper and magazine articles about his career, was named the Man of the Year in 2015 by the Freeborn Agricultural Society and was the Grand Marshall of the Alden parade in 2016.

Perschbacher said he had not planned to retire.

“I told everyone, ‘I hope that they find me someday lying in somebody’s barn alley,’” he said.

Now, he is unsure of what he will be up to. For now, he is focusing on getting his yard and gardens the way he wants them.

“My lifetime started at 14 to 22 (years of age), then from 22 to 91,” Perschbacher said. “Now I’m starting a new unit: retirement.”

One tradition from his time as a milk tester will not be changing: chili lunch with the Larsons and the Larcrest Holstein crew.

“(Jon) said, ‘We’ll have our two o’clock dinner, and (your girlfriend) Judy and you are to come out and have dinner with all the guys,’” Perschbacher said. “That’s what it’s going to be from now on.”