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High school senior's first cow led to a successful FFA career
BATTLE LAKE, Minn. (AP)--Reed Christensen got his first cow at age 8.
The animal jump-started his interest in agriculture production and led the Battle Lake FFA member to develop a 31-head beef cow herd.
Christensen's efforts were rewarded recently at the Minnesota FFA Convention when he was named the state's Star Farmer in Agriculture Production.
The 18-year-old will join the family's organic buckwheat and cow-calf operation following his high school graduation.
The herd grew through his own labor. His father, Ron, paid Christensen with livestock instead of money.
"My dad placed a value on the cattle," he said. "I was given the beef animals in return for my work. From that one animal I started with, I have saved more heifers and bought my own replacement stock."
His older brother, Ryan, was paid the same way. The brothers' 61 cows make up one-fifth of the family's 300-cow herd.
The cows are on pasture year-round, Christensen said. The herd grazes in the late fall and early spring on rye, which is a good companion crop for the farm's 2,500 acres of organic buckwheat.
Buckwheat is planted in June and as it ripens in September, rye is planted in the windrows.
Cattle are fed a mixture of hay grass and alfalfa in the winter. The cattle winter on buckwheat acres, which helps fertilize the organic ground, he said.
The organic buckwheat is sold through agents to Asian markets, he said.
Christensen says he has found many opportunities in FFA.
"There are many different opportunities in the FFA that you can be part of," Christensen said. "The people you meet and the contacts that you make in FFA are things that will stay with you throughout the rest of your life."
Christensen saw his brother's accomplishments in FFA and wanted to do the same.
"I saw what he did and thought I could also take advantage of that in high school," he said.
Ryan was his mentor and encouraged Christensen to be involved in the organization.
"He encouraged me to go (for the Star Farmer degree)," Christensen said of Ryan. "He said the worst that could happen is that I might not get it but either way, I would learn a lot."
Besides added confidence in his farming ventures, Christensen is comfortable talking to groups and has developed leadership traits.
"Reed is an exceptional leader," said Battle Lake agriculture instructor Blaine Larson. "He is one of the top leaders in his class. He demonstrates that in his actions and the way he works with his fellow students and with the faculty."
Christensen has participated in the agriculture sales and forestry contests, was on Battle Lake's fifth place parliamentary procedure team at the National FFA Convention in 2002, was on the chapter's silver place agriculture issues team and was the Region 3 reporter for 2003 to 2004. They are accomplishments that his younger brothers, Roger, a freshman and fourth grader Riley may try to emulate.
Roger has a good start. He attended the state convention in parliamentary procedure and forestry and has chosen a lawn care service operated by uncle Tony Lachowitzer as his supervised agriculture experience.
Date: 5/23/05
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