ABOVE: Martin County’s 2023 Farm Family of the year—the Peters family of Sherburn— being recognized Wednesday night at the Martin County Fair in Fairmont. From left: Tony, Eliana, Lillian, Everly, Dannielle and Lucy. Commissioner Richard Koons, right, presented the family with a plaque.

FAIRMONT– The Peters family of Sherburn was recognized at the Martin County Fair in Fairmont Wednesday night for being selected as this year’s Farm Family of the Year for Martin County.

The University of Minnesota Farm Family Recognition program honors farm families from counties across the state for their significant contributions both to the agriculture industry and also to their own local communities.

The program has been in existence since 1979 and is coordinated by the University of Minnesota Extension, the College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences and the College of Veterinary Medicine.

The Peters family farm was established in 1886 and in 1986 it was recognized as a Century Farm. At 137 years old, several generations of Peters have cycled through the farm.

Right now, Tony and Dannielle live on the farm with their four young daughters. Prior to them moving to the farm, Tony’s grandparents, Willard and Jean lived there and before that, Willard’s parents, Paul and Martha and grandparents, Carl and Lina lived there.

“My grandparents were still out on the farm and my parents had a place of their own so I guess we were next in line,” Tony said of him and Dannielle moving out to the farm.

He recognized that there’s a lot of history not just with the farm, but with the house. He said the original part of the house, though added on to over the years, dated back to the 1840s.

Growing up, Tony didn’t doubt much whether he would continue in the family business.

“I just loved being outside and helping. I guess it was my goal to farm when I got older,” Tony said.

Dannielle also happens to be from a farm family. Her grandparents, George and Mavis Coners, farmed near Mountain Lake before relocating to Hendricks.

The Peters have four young daughters that help out with the family operation however they can.

“My oldest daughter is 11. She’s started to run the grain cart a little bit and she’ll run the tractor and the skid loader. My other daughters help with miscellaneous stuff,” Tony said.

The family is involved with 4-H and is also a member of the Sherburn Cemetery board. Back in the day, Tony said his grandparent operated the Sherburn Greenhouse, which sold evergreen trees.

In the very early years, cattle were part of the farming operation.

“That was back before my time. Back in the day, you know, everyone had everything,” Tony said.

Now, the family farms row crops including corn and soybeans. All family members are involved with each having their own ground. Along with farming, Tony’s father, Doug, also has hogs. Over a decade ago, Tony also started up a custom hog manure application business.

As if the farm operation, 4-H involvement and cemetery board doesn’t keep them busy enough, Tony does township road grading, just as his father has, and grandfather Willard did.

While the farm may have changed over the years, the humility of the farmers hasn’t. Tony said he didn’t necessarily like the attention, but was grateful that his family was named this year’s Farm Family for Martin County.

“It’s a nice honor. It’s nice to be recognized,” Tony said.

In addition to being recognized locally at the Martin County Fair, The Peters family, along with other 2023 farm families from across the state were recognized at the beginning of this month at Farmfest.