Cows by day, curling by night

PELICAN RAPIDS, Minn. — Every Tuesday night from November to the beginning of April, Adam Johnson can be found on the ice, curling with his friends and family.

“We started just coming here to practice,” Adam said. “Other people noticed us and asked us to join their team. I am now in charge of the Tuesday night league.”

About 10 years ago, Adam’s veterinarian —a curling guru— shared stories about the sport, especially during the weeks around the Olympics.

“I came to check out the local curling club one night and have been curling ever since,” Adam said. “That vet still curls, and so do my cousin and other friends.”

Adam, his wife, Sara, and three children, Olivia, Madilyn and Easton, milk 35-40 cows at their farm, Lida Acres, near Pelican Rapids. The Johnsons focus on genetics and show their registered Holstein and Brown Swiss cattle at local, state and national shows. The Johnsons help each other on the farm, in the show ring and on the ice.

Olivia and Madilyn curl with their dad locally for a league and are on a club youth team that has competed in regional and national contests.

“I started coming with my dad when I was 8 years old, and one night, a team needed a sub for a game,” Olivia said. “It’s fun because we will sit and talk with other teams after the games.”

Madilyn also started coming to the league nights a year after Olivia, and soon the girls found additional youth to start their own team.

“There are a lot of really competitive teams, which makes it fun,” Madilyn said. “But they are still nice people.”

The Johnsons curl on a league in Fargo, North Dakota, on Thursday evenings and at their local club, Lakes Curling Club, in Detroit Lakes on Tuesday evenings. During the week, the Johnsons can get chores done and still be ready for games. For weekend tournaments, a neighbor, Thad Schlauderhoff, milks the cows.

“Thad has some show cattle at our place, so we have a deal that his cows can stay at our place, if he does chores for us while we are away,” Adam said.

During the season, Olivia and Madilyn play every other weekend in tournaments across the Midwest, from North Dakota to Ohio.

“I go to as many tournaments as I can,” Adam said. “I do have to miss some of the girls’ events because I would be away from the farm for too long, though.”

Curling teams include four players who take turns at the different positions. They are either pushing the 40-pound rock, sweeping or strategizing to tell the teammates where and when to direct the rock. Each player throws two rocks, and, after all 16 rocks have been thrown, the round is called an “end,” and points are determined. After eight “ends,” the game is complete and the team with the most points wins.

“There is no official, so you call your own fouls and every game starts and ends with a handshake,” Adam said. “There is teamwork involved, but each individual has to do their job correctly or it won’t work right.”

The surface of the curling rink is sprayed with water droplets, so the surface is not smooth and every rink has a slightly different texture. Temperature and humidity can play a factor in ice conditions, too, which affects how rocks slide across the ice.

“The ice is different everywhere and you just have to learn to adapt,” Olivia said. “It’s different than other sports, but the strategy is fun to figure out.”

The Johnsons said the camaraderie is part of what makes the sport unique.

“A few weeks ago, we were at the biggest competition we had ever done and other teams were still coming up to us, giving us high fives after our game, telling us good job,” Olivia said.

Adam, Olivia and Madilyn said they plan to continue curling as long as they are able.

“I like it because it is a sport I can play with my kids,” Adam said. “There are not a lot of sports where you can competitively compete across all ages. It’s a good excuse to get off the farm and do something fun. Winters get kind of long and cold, plus, it’s a nice way to break up the week.”