View From The Cab

By David Tollefson, Columnist

It is pretty rare to have a sitting president of the United States visit a Minnesota farm. In fact, it has never happened before.

The event happened on Nov. 1, 2023, on the Dutch Creek family farm near Northfield, Minn., owned by Robert (Rusty) Kluver and his family. Rusty is the third generation of that family to run the farm.

I was curious how that farm was selected, and how long ago did they know that their farm was to be visited. By googling the event, I guess they knew about a week in advance of the Nov. 1 visit.

Also, I was curious as to why this particular farm was chosen.

They were chosen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as an example of a farm that is implementing conservation practices and renewable energy projects. President Biden visited their farm as part of his “investing in Rural America Event Series.” He announced more than $5 billion in spending, largely in rural areas, that will go toward better adapting agriculture to climate change, as well as expanding high-speed internet access and improving local infrastructure.

Dutch Creek Farms has been involved in various environmental and conservation efforts, such as growing cover crops, practicing no-till farming, and creating riparian buffers to protect water quality. The Kluver family said they were “honored and excited” to host the president and showcase their farm which has been in operation since 1957. They also said they hope the president’s visit will help raise awareness of the challenges and opportunities facing rural America.

I’m imagining that the POTUS visit created quite a stir in that area about 30 miles south of Minneapolis. 

I heard that the day before the visit, the helicopters that transported the dignitaries from the MSP airport to the farm, the flying machines rehearsed their route to ensure the safest and trouble-free event.

The formal speech and presentation occurred in a shed on the farm. One could see a green tractor in the background, but the John Deere name and model number was covered over by another plaque or sign.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

In the Nov. 6 issue of the Tribune, Publisher Tim relates some recent sightings of a moose in the New London-Spicer, Atwater, Grove City and Dassel-Cokato areas.

Those sightings brought back vivid memories from sometime in 1997 or so. My hired man and I were chopping corn silage three miles south of my farm, and a neighbor dropped by the field to tell us that there was a moose in my back yard.

It was obviously hard to believe, (that’s not quite the exact words I used) but I went back home, and there was this young moose just relaxing in the yard behind my house. My veterinarian from Glenwood at the time, Dr. Gugisberg, verified that it was a moose.

At the time, there was a picture in the Starbuck Times of a moose sighted north of Starbuck. It could have been that one that spent the night behind my house. 

We chased the animal up, and it headed south. I had electric fences at the time, and that was no hindrance to that tall, lanky animal. Some of my heifers were in a fenced-off area, and I recall that the whole bunch came right to the fence-line to gawk at that strange sight as the animal ambled by.

My friend Vic (who used to be the ranger at Glacial Lakes State Park), said at the time that a sighting like that in this area was not normal. He thought the animal may have had a brain parasite, which would cause the animal to be sick and disoriented.

After the sightings in this area, I did hear that the animal was sighted south of here.

Barb Keller is the big game program leader for the MD DNR. She is not sure exactly why these animals wandered so far south, but with deer rifle season at hand, she wants to remind hunters that it’s illegal to shoot moose in Minnesota. People who see them are encouraged to take pictures, but keep their distance.

Keller thinks that moose will eventually move on to their natural habitat, which is mostly in the Arrowhead region of northeast Minnesota. There are only about 3,000 to 4,000 moose left in our state.

From Lake Crystal, Minn., comes a story from mid-October. Phil Radel was with his wife and kids, 10, 9 and 7, were driving on highway 60, when they spotted a young moose munching on ears of corn along the highway. 

“When my wife and I spotted it, we said at the same time ‘Is that a …….moose?’” said Phil.

“I pull over, off the road, and we watched him for a while,” said Radel.

Lindsey Radel snapped photos of the moose that is probably on a mission to get back to the woodsy terrain of northern Minnesota.

The Radel’s three children would have preferred a closer encounter with the animal that didn’t exhibit any aggression or agitation toward the fascinated family.

“They wanted to get out of the car and pet him,” said Phil, who declined their request.

Moose have earned a reputation for temperaments that turn on a dime. The animal is equipped with antlers and hooves sharp enough to fend off bears and wolves. Their sense of smell is keen, but their eyesight is very poor. If startled, they are quick to charge at a perceived enemy.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Please contact David Tollefson with thoughts or comments on this or future columns at: adtollef@hcinet.net