Kids Corner: The Hafemeister Family

Ethan Hafemeister
10 years old
Fifth grade

When do you do chores? Sometimes in the morning and usually at night. I help push in feed when our employee is gone.

What is your favorite chore and least favorite chore? My favorite chore is logging in the winter because I get to throw the logs on a trailer. It’s usually muddy out too, and we get to play in the mud by driving through it. I also like scraping the dry cow barn. I don’t really have a least favorite chore.

What project do you enjoy helping your parents with on the farm? Cutting the lawn and selling sweet corn.

What is a fun memory you have of living on the farm? One time, my dad was watching the ducks when we were going to cross the bridge, and the manure spreader went in the ditch because he wasn’t looking. There was this weird albino duck he was looking at instead.

What is your favorite animal on your farm? The cows are my favorite, especially No. 372 because she’s friendly, floppy and funny.

What do you want to be when you grow up? A dairy farmer.

If you had a farm, describe what it would look like. It would be a 400-cow dairy farm with 600 acres. I would have a maximum of a 200-cow dairy barn with four Lely robots. I would have all New Holland tractors and Ford trucks. All the tractors would be over 120 horsepower.

What is your favorite thing to do on the farm during the summer? Help chop hay.

What is your favorite meal that your mom or dad makes? Steak.

What is your favorite thing to do off the farm with your family? Ranger riding and mudding. I like going up north and riding on trails. I also like going to Lake Sinissippi.

Are you involved in any activities? What’s your favorite? What do you enjoy about it? Basketball and flag football. Football is my favorite because it’s football.

Alayna Hafemeister
12 years old
Seventh grade

When do you do chores? I do a little bit throughout the day when I’m asked to do something. I feed the cats every night, and I also help feed calves at night once in a while.

What is your favorite chore and least favorite chore? My favorite chore is giving water and grain to the calves. My least favorite chore is washing calf panels because it takes a long time.

What project do you enjoy helping your parents with on the farm? I love to help with the field meals. My mom and I make boxes to deliver to everyone working in the fields. I like to be in the kitchen helping put these meals together. I make sure everyone has a sandwich, chips, fruit and a dessert.

What is a fun memory you have of living on the farm? When the cows got out on my birthday. It was Jan. 2, and the heifers went into town and were in the high school parking lot and on the lawn.

What is your favorite animal on your farm? My calf, Allie. She is a beef-Holstein cross. She walks really nice and is really fluffy. I am taking her to the fair this summer.

What do you want to be when you grow up? A veterinarian.

If you had a farm, describe what it would look like. I would have beef cows and a couple of horses and some barn cats.

What is your favorite thing to do on the farm during the summer? Walk my calves and go on the trampoline.

What is your favorite meal that your mom or dad makes? Chicken parmesan.

What is your favorite thing to do off the farm with your family? Going to the lake and going camping.

Are you involved in any activities? What’s your favorite? What do you enjoy about it? Gymnastics, volleyball, cheerleading and poms. My favorite is gymnastics because I like competing, and I look forward to the meets. I was Xcel Silver state champion this year for gymnastics.