When the Benike family moved their farm from an agricultural hot spot in southern Minnesota to Birchdale, they said those who knew them were convinced they had “gone off the deep end.”
“The people down south thought farm land in this area would be full of sticks and rocks,” said Brent Benike. “During the first year we lived here, we had 75 visitors. I think they stopped by to make sure we hadn’t gone crazy.”
In 1977, Milton and Carol Benike, along with their three sons, Brent, Ross and Kent, relocated from Elgin, Minn., near Rochester to a secluded 800-acre piece of property nestled off Highway 11 not far from Rainy River.
Thirty-six years later, the family has proven that they are anything but crazy.
“Some of those same people who thought we had lost it in the beginning, now see how beautiful this area is and use it as their home away from home,” Ross said.
It may have had its ups and downs, but the farm continues to be successful and was this week awarded the 2013 Koochiching County Family Farm Award by the Koochiching County Extension program.
“The recognition is a nice honor,” Brent said. “We know so many great people in this area and we feel like we should be accepting (the award) for the entire area.”
Brent, along with Ross and Milton, Tuesday sat down with The Journal to discuss the history behind the farm that stood out to those who selected the family for the award. Kent was at work and Carol lives in an assisted living facility in International Falls. And perhaps it was symbolic that while the three recalled the memories of their farm, 85-year-old Milton sat back and let his sons do the storytelling – similar to how the three brothers have taken over many of the duties on the farm.
Right place, right time
Ross said when his parents decided to settle in Birchdale, the decision didn’t come from the couple pointing to a spot on the map and moving to wherever destiny led them. Instead, he explained, it was a classic case of being in the right place at the right time.
In the early-to-mid 70s, land prices in Wabasha County and neighboring areas had increased, interest rates skyrocketed and the window to expand the Elgin farm grew progressively narrower.
“Dad had always been fond of the northern Minnesota area,” Brent said of Milton’s preferred spot for relocation. “He used to come up here when he was 19 years old and hunt with a family friend.”
He added that Carol, originally Carol Ness, was from International Falls, and a move back north seemed like a natural adjustment for the family – they just had to find the right farm to call home.
“It was kind of funny how it happened,” Brent said. “Dad was looking at bluegrass farms in Roseau and he stopped at the Birchdale craft center on our way back to International Falls to stay with grandma (Angel Ness). He started talking to someone in the store who told dad he’d sell him his farm.”
Milton visited the property a few times and the rest is history.
A new beginning
Moving from one end of the state to another took some adjustment by Brent, Ross and Kent who were 11, 10 and 8 years old, respectively. But Brent and Ross agreed the brothers quickly embraced the change.
“Of course we missed our friends, but we were young enough that we adapted pretty quickly,” Brent said. “We loved the Birchdale area right away.”
The adolescents were in their farm-working prime. Since as young as age 5, the boys had already learned to mow lawn, drive tractor and rise with the sun for typical farm-related chores. The stage was set for a successful future in agriculture.
“I can’t imagine (farming) not being part of my life,” said Brent, who manages Northern Excellence Seed in Williams, Minn. He admitted that although keeping up crops on top of a full-time job requires a lot of work, coming to the farm feels like a vacation.
Ross, who works at the local Boise Inc. paper mill, agreed.
“I love being out here,” he said. “This area is beautiful. The work takes up a lot of time, but it’s worth it.”
However, Ross, who owns property nearly adjacent to his parent’s original homestead, confessed, “When I do take vacation, it’s nice.”
Changes in the trade
While touring the Benike farm – both by tractor and by a plane that Ross pilots – may make farming look easy, the brothers reveal that learning which crops will compliment northern Minnesota’s diverse weather is a lot of work.
“There’s our teacher right there,” Brent said pointing to Milton, who was noticeably humbled by his eldest son’s gesture. “And we picked up some stuff at college.”
Brent, Ross and Kent each attended the University of Minnesota – Crookston to further their studies in agriculture.
“We’ve learned to gravitate towards crops that can handle the weather up here,” Brent said. “They don’t call it Rainy River for nothing.”
The boys agreed that adjusting to early frosts and rainy summers has proven to be one of the bigger challenges of farming in Borderland.
“We’re always learning,” Ross said. “One thing we know for sure is never to put all your eggs in one basket. It’s important to be diverse.”
Brent added that new methods, technology and genetics are constantly being produced to enhance the agricultural business.
“If you don’t think about progression, you’ll never advance,” Milton said.
Playing their part
Brent and Ross said while a bulk of the seeding and harvesting is shared between themselves and Kent, the foundation of the farm and its required work ethic was built by Milton and Carol.
“Dad is the chief gardener and lawn caretaker,” Brent said. “He oversees all operations.”
Milton explained that health problems have kept him from driving tractor.
“I miss that,” he said.
And Carol, the brothers explained, was the domestic engineer of the Benike farm.
“Mom kept the house going and ran all the errands,” Brent said. “Whenever we needed something, she got it.”
Ross added that she ran a “meals on wheels service” and delivered countless meals to the men in her family who spent hours out in the field.
“A lot of people ask us how we all get along so well,” Brent said. “I guess we just got any disagreements out of our system when we were younger.”
At the end of the day, Brent said the farm may be a corporation on paper, but in reality it is a family farm and something each member is proud of.
“When I was 9 or 10, I may have wanted to be a baseball player, but I always knew farming would be part of my life,” Brent said. “We all fully enjoy this area, the people, and the neighborhood. We have a strong faith in God to alleviate the stress of not having a good year. But really, it is hard to have a bad year in this area. The soil is ideal – it’s northwestern Minnesota’s best kept secret.”
