The Brambrink family of St. Cloud has been named Sherburne County’s “2019 Farm Family of the Year” by the University of Minnesota.

Don started farming in 1963 with his parents, Louis and Marie, on their dairy farm. Five years later hogs were added. In 1973, Don and Judy were married and continued to farm with his parents, growing the dairy farm to 180 milk cows. In the late 1990s, the family stopped raising hogs. The family stopped milking cows in 2006 and concentrated on raising crops and finishing steers. Over time their sons, Travis and Glenn, joined the operation.

Don and Judy currently farm with their sons and their families. In addition to crops, Travis finishes steers, Glenn raises broiler chickens and Don has a small herd of beef cows. Don and Judy’s grandchildren are starting to farm, raising their own steers and crops.

Travis and his wife, Leaha, farm full-time with the help of their children as do Glenn and his wife, Jackie, and their kids. The Brambrinks’ daughter Kristi farms full-time on her own operation along with her husband, Jeremy Blank and their children. Don and Judy have two other daughters. Amanda and her husband, Rob Isaacson, have three children. Jodi and her husband, Rob Hennek, also have three children.

Don is a member of the county corn grower association as well as the Irrigators Association of Minnesota. Judy is active in St. Patrick’s Church.

The families were officially recognized in a ceremony Thursday, Aug. 8 at the annual Farmfest near Redwood Falls, MN. Profiles of the 2019 honorees and information on the recognition event can be found on the University’s farm family website, http://mnfarmfamilies.cfans.umn.edu/.

Families receiving honors were selected by their local county extension committees and have demonstrated a commitment to enhancing and supporting agriculture and agriculture production.

“These farm families are a major driver of Minnesota’s economy and the vitality of Minnesota’s rural communities,” said Bev Durgan, dean of University of Minnesota Extension. “The University of Minnesota is proud to recognize these farm families for their contributions to agriculture and their communities.”