Faces & Places in the Country

Faces: Andrew & Ruth Freyholtz

Places: Hewitt, Todd County

Tell us about your farm. We have 350 acres and grow corn, soybeans and hay. We also have pigs, chickens, ducks and rabbits at our home. The “home farm” is in its third generation and where my dad, Harold “Sonny” Freyholtz, tends the beef cows in his retirement years.

What are moments during the year that you really cherish being on the farm? Working together as a family with our 10 kids and living the rural lifestyle. From gathering the eggs, feeding the animals and picking rocks to driving tractors, it is a family affair. We bale a lot of small square bales, and that is an opportunity for physical labor together with building memories, something that is gone in many places, even rural areas.

What are some accomplishments you are proud of? Our faith and family are the priorities, and rural life supports this. Ruth and I have been married for 22 years, and we are still each other’s best friend. Our children, ranging from 1 to 21 years old, are beautiful fruits of our faith and our relationship. These are what we are most proud of.

Tell us about your daily routine on the farm. Andrew works from home at an off-the-farm job at our farmhouse down the road. Ruth homeschools the children during the day and takes care of the home. The evenings and weekends shift to farm priorities.

What is the hardest and best part of your day? I cannot think of the hardest part of the day. It can be challenging getting all the kids to get up at an appropriate time given the wide range of ages. The best part of the day is when Ruth and I go on our daily walks, when the whole family is together (the oldest two are on their own now) and when we can relax together after a hard day’s work. Personally, I always enjoy sunrise with a cup of coffee.