The boss in the barn

FREEPORT, Minn. — While growing up, Joe Nienaber drove toy tractors around the house, with floor tiles and carpet serving as fields. Now, Nienaber is driving real tractors planting real crops alongside his dad at their family farm.

“(Taking over the farm) is all I ever wanted and planned on doing,” Nienaber said. “Before, I always just did as I was told, and now I am learning this is why we do what we do.”

The Nienabers milk 85-90 cows in a swing-12 parlor and house them in a straw-bedded freestall barn at the family farm near Freeport. Nienaber officially became the fourth generation on the family farm on March 1 when he purchased all the animals on the farm from his parents, Charles and Sheri. He also continues to work part time as a mechanic at the Greenwald Farm Center.

“I was excited for March 1,” Nienaber said. “This was a big thing that I have always wanted to do.”

Along with owning the cows, the milk check has started coming in Nienaber’s name.

“I remember the day I got my first milk check; that was a really good feeling,” Nienaber said. “I had a big smile on my face, but I had to put (the check) in the bank to start paying bills.”

Nienaber is in charge of the cows, while Charles manages the crops. The duo helps each other as needed. Nienaber purchases feed from his dad and pays the vet bills as well as rent for the barn, mixer wagon and skid loader in addition to making payments on the cows. He purchased his own tractor and combine while still in high school to contribute to the field work.

“Dad isn’t ready to retire yet,” Nienaber said. “Mom and Dad said they are young enough to help guide me, and we can take (the transition) slow.”

Upon encouragement from his parents, Nienaber attended Ridgewater College for two years in Willmar, Minnesota for the agriculture equipment mechanic program. Once he started college, Nienaber began working at Greenwald Farm Center on nights and weekends in addition to helping on the farm and going to school. After graduation, he worked there full time until this spring when he returned to the home farm.

Working off the farm also allowed Nienaber the opportunity to visit with other dairy farmers in the area. He is also learning all he can, paying more attention to the reasoning behind why his dad does things the way he does.

“Now I am paying more attention to what I should do to improve our herd,” Nienaber said. “I have learned a lot already, and I ask Dad a lot of questions.”

The Nienabers have a mixture of breeds including Holsteins, Jerseys, Red & Whites and Montbéliard crossbreds, and Nienaber is looking to add Viking Red crosses to the mix.

“I like the cows the most,” Nienaber said. “Looking at cows and knowing we have good cows is a good feeling…knowing we are doing a good job.”

Nienaber said his dad focused on breeding for components, while he is focusing on an overall balanced cow.

The cows are the reason Nienaber wants to dairy farm.

“I grew up around cows, and it is all I know,” Nienaber said. “You always have a couple of cows that are so friendly that you can walk up to them, pet them, and they will lick you. That is the best feeling in the world. It makes it all worth it.”

Every day, Nienaber gets up at 5 a.m. to start chores; then he helps his dad with projects around the farm. If time allows, Nienaber will go to head to Greenwald to work, but he says the farm comes first.

As Nienaber transitions into his new role as owner, he said he is glad to step into the farm setup that the generations before him worked to build.

“To have the fourth generation of something is pretty awesome,” Nienaber said. “It’s a lot of hard work. I’m pretty happy with what Dad has grown the farm to be. I think, once in a while, what I should do to make my mark.”