Close to the home farm

HAYFIELD — In modern times, it is special to have a farm family that stays close to the homestead with each generation. The Kramer family is one of these, with their fifth generation living and helping on the land, and for their support of the area community, they have been given the 2026 Dodge County Farm Family of the Year award.

“We’re honored (and) humbled,” Tom Kramer said. “There are a lot of good farms out there, and … we’re just trying to do the best we can.”

Although the Kramer family farm was officially established in the 1950s by Don and Donna Kramer, Don grew up on the land and farmed it with his father, Gus Kramer, taking it over when he passed away. Don and Donna raised four sons: Terry, Tim, Tom and Ted Kramer.

“My dad started us doing stuff in the field when we were very young,” Tom said. “I was driving a tractor … out in the field, doing tillage, and we had dairy cows and hogs. It was a typical family farm. … Even as a teenager, I wanted to farm.”

After their college educations at the University of Minnesota Waseca, both Tom and Ted returned to the farm — Tom in 1977 and Ted in 1983 — and eventually co-owned it with Don. Today, the farm is co-owned by Tom and Ted, as well as the fourth generation: Tanner Kramer, son of Tom and LaVae Kramer, and Kody Kramer, son of Ted and Jane Kramer.

Don continued helping with the farm until he passed away March 29 at 99 years old.

“He did tillage for us at 95,” Tom said. “He was pretty remarkable, still driving truck (and) semis at 95. … It’s always nice to have someone there you can ask questions, because he’s seen it all.”

When Don took over the farm, it occupied about 600 acres, but it has since increased to about 6,000 acres. The family grows corn and soybeans along with raising hogs; they sold the dairy cows in the late 1970s during a dairy buyout. In 1993, the Kramers’ hog operation expanded as the family added a 2,000-head finishing barn, and since then, Tanner and Kody have added a pair of 2,400-head barns.

Despite the thousands of acres, the Kramers’ farmland is located tightly around the home farm.

“That’s hard to do these days,” Tom said. “When you think of 6,000 acres, some people are traveling 20-plus miles to farm a farm. … The farthest we go away is about 4 1/2 miles, so everything’s in a pretty small radius.”

Much of the extended family settled close to the farm as well. Tom and LaVae’s four children all settled within 4 miles of the home farm, and Tom and Ted have 20 grandchildren between them; the family often helps during the busy spring and fall seasons.

“We really don’t hire outside labor,” Tom said. “We hired one guy to help run the grain cart, but other than that, … this operation is basically 99% family. … Our grandkids are now old enough to pick rock for us, which is huge.”

One way the Kramer family gives back to their community is through the farm itself. They have provided one of their farm buildings for local events such as church groups, Lions Club meetings, class reunions and more.

“I built a building 30-some years ago for our kids, kind of a recreational building, but over the years, it’s grown so much that it’s kind of turned into a community center for the Hayfield area,” Tom said. “We just open it up for people to use.”

Additionally, the Kramers are involved in Hayfield Community Schools, especially its athletics, and have helped with fundraisers for the Hayfield Vikings Booster Club. They have also supported the local FFA, area food shelves, churches and community projects and are active in the Hayfield Lions Club, the Minnesota Corn Growers Association and the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association. Tanner and Kody support The Oaks Golf Club in Hayfield and have fundraised for it.

“The more you give to the community, you always get rewarded in some way,” Tom said.

While the Kramers are honored to be named as Dodge County Farm Family of the Year, the biggest reward for them is the fact that they are a multi-generational farming family in the first place.

“My mom and dad were the ones who kept Kramer farms going; it was a joy they got to see a little of the fourth generation helping out, and now the grandkids will be the fifth generation,” Tom said. “It’s heartwarming to see it continue on, because there are fewer and fewer family farms out there. … It’s crucial we keep it going.”