I grew up north of Becker on a dairy farm with Tom Barthel and his family as neighbors. We enjoyed attending 4-H with their family - children Shannon, Joel, Leah and Sarah. My siblings and I often marveled at how gifted the entire Barthel family was. Our families have had a strong connection as long as I can remember.
Tom Barthel and his wife, Gail Wilkinson, own the Kragero one-room school and graciously share the facility; allowing my family to open it up to children every summer through Becker Community Education in June. It’s a blessing for children to experience life in a one-room school and we are grateful they share this slice of Americana with local youngsters.
Tom and Gail own and operate Snake River Farm. They raise and sell grass-fed bison, beef and pastured hogs and sell it by the 1/4 direct to consumers. Tom and Gail are very committed to raising pasture fed animals to minimize stress for the animals and themselves. They have created a unique landscape of native prairie, oak savanna, wooded lowlands, wet meadows and tamarck swamp. They seasonally rotate their herds through open and wooded pastures as it is best for the animals. Their animals are humanely harvested and processed locally. They also tame mustang horses that they adopt as yearlings. They train their horses to ride, drive and for farm work and for use at Kragero one-room school, the farm museum and wildlife. They welcome visits and tours, especially for educational groups. An appointment must be made in advance. Please email for information: tom@snakeriverfarmmn.com
Perhaps my family and I have always enjoyed the Barthel family so much because our families share a love of the land, greatly value our heritage and cherish time with family. A strong work ethic was a way of life in both our households.
I sat down with Sarah Barthel earlier this week. After graduating from Becker High School in 1994, Sarah moved from Sherburne County to Lower Manhattan, where she took up residence in the freshman dorm. Sarah studied economics at NYU, graduating from the prestigious college in 1997. Sarah said: “It was an unreal experience. I loved it. I love clean air and honest, hardworking people more!” After spending eight years in Massachusettes working in the community banking business near Boston, Sarah and her husband Jordan Kortmansky moved back to Minnesota.
Sarah and her family broke ground on their beautiful house that sits on 78 acres in Santiago township in the fall of 2010. Sarah is a strong believer in doing business locally and made a point to utilize local contractors as they built their house. They actually built their 44x20 barn (complete with loft) before building the house. Sarah and Jordan have two children: Saul (8) and Hazel (2). Sarah explained that it was important for their children to feel the same dirt under their feet as she experienced growing up and to experience the same sounds and smells and their move back to Minnesota was a deliberate one.
The family has a large garden and makes a point to eat as much locally grown food as possible. They also own and operate Sand Hill Farm and raise beef, sheep and turkeys. Saul (8) helps with the chores. Saul locks up the chickens at night and waters the sheep. He helps his dad haul wood with the tractor and checks on the pigs. Sarah chuckled as she shared how raising pigs is a real asset! “I weed the garden and throw the weeds over the fence to the pigs. In turn, the pigs fertilize the garden”, Sarah said.
Sarah and Jordan are working hard to create a habitat for wildlife on their property. It’s not uncommon to see trumpeter swans and sandhill cranes in their yard.
Sarah told me it has been a joy to see familiar faces with people who share a common history as she has completed her first week in her new position as the vice president of business banking at Sherburne State Bank in Becker (additional branches located in Clear Lake and Princeton). Her strong work ethic will serve her and her customers well.
