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Left to right: Olivia, Joanna, Faye, Harper and Pat Bakeberg.

Left to right: Olivia, Joanna, Faye, Harper and Pat Bakeberg.

WAVERLY, Minn. —  There seems to never be a dull moment on a dairy farm. That sentiment rings true on Goldview Farms, located six miles southwest of Waverly, Minn.

Pat Bakeberg is the fifth generation to work the fields and milk cows on the farm started in 1873. Bakeberg, along with his wife, Joanna, and his mother Faye, run the operation.

Bakeberg is the youngest of five and felt the call to pursue a life in agriculture. “I was the only one that wanted to farm.” He went to school at Ridgewater College for Ag Business with a dairy emphasis. After that, he went back home to farm with his parents. 

A farm can be a well-oiled machine with each family member doing their job to get tasks done. When there is a loss, it affects all aspects of the operation. Goldview Farms is still reeling from an untimely transition. Bakeberg's father, Greg (Butch) died in December. His passing left a hole the Bakebergs are trying to adjust to. Butch was not only an integral part of the farm, but a trusted advisor and an ardent supporter of agriculture in the community — serving for years on the Wright County Fair board, Wright County ADA, member of the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted FFA Alumni, founder of the Wright County Breakfast on the Farm and starting a pumpkin patch fundraiser.

The immediate Wright County area has dairies which have stood the test of time. “We’re a dairy community. Within a half-mile of this road are four dairies.” All the dairies are in their fifth generation. Bakeberg relished what it’s like to grow up on a dairy farm and is thrilled to be bringing up his kids, Harper (age 3), Olivia (age 2), the same way. “It’s neat to raise the kids on a dairy farm.”

In addition to milking 120 cows, the Bakebergs saw an opportunity to sell beef direct to the customer. “We started pushing it during Covid.” Before that, they would sell a few cows for meat a year. “Last four years it became more consistent.”

Customers like to know where their meat comes from and appreciate the way the Bakebergs care for the animals that care shows in the flavor of the beef. “We have a lot of repeat customers. Once they do it, they know what they’re getting,” Bakeberg said. The customers are typically people in the community.

The processing is done at North Folk Custom Meats in Howard Lake, Minn. On the Goldview Farms Facebook page, Joanna posted information by the University of Minnesota which spells out how much freezer space is needed for various amounts of beef. It takes the guesswork out of trying to figure out the space required for that much meat.

Dairy prices are holding their own and Bakeberg likes what he sees. “Right now, it’s great.” Though it has to be pointed out high prices aren’t just in the cost of dairy. “Price is good, inputs are high,” Joanna said. Bakeberg wonders if these dairy prices are sustainable. “Prices have really gone up, but will it maintain?”

The dairy recently began utilizing the CowManager System. “It’s basically a FitBit for cows,” Bakeberg said. The ear tags provide data on each cow that is available to view in an app; from the cow’s temperature, eating times, activity and heat detection. This new piece of technology allows Bakeberg to have access to herd health whether he’s near or far from the farm.

All the milk from the dairy goes to the Paynesville, Minn. Associated Milk Producers Inc. location. Bakeberg has been selling milk to AMPI since the early 2000s and serves on their division board. 

A wet spring delayed planting this year, which alone is much different than last year when rain was in short supply. Bakeberg is still concerned about the moisture in the soil as there was such a deficit last year. “Last summer we were dry. We were hurting this spring. Sadly we’re still dry.” Bakeberg points out that the fields don’t need four inches of rain at a time, which has happened this spring — just timely rains.

Bakeberg farms 850 acres, growing corn, soybeans, and alfalfa. “We do some cash-cropping.” When it comes to field work, Bakeberg’s brother, Dave, and nephew Kaleb are instrumental in getting the ground ready, as they handle all the tillage. 

What began as an FFA project suggested by Butch turned into a custom baling business for Bakeberg, “It started in 2000 when I was in high school.” The demand for baling continues to grow. “Last year I baled more than I did my first year.” He has help with the custom baling from his second cousin, James Winterhalter. 

Bakeberg and business partner Sean Groos operate Hammer Down Chopping, LLC. They custom chop for area farmers and the business continues to grow each year.

Butch had a notion about 12 years ago to plant a pumpkin patch and give the money earned from the sales to better the community. “One hundred percent of the money goes to the local Toys for Tots toy drives,” Bakeberg said. This year could be the biggest pumpkin patch at the farm yet. “I plant 150 to 200 hills,” Joanna said.

Breakfast on the Farm was started by Bakeberg’s parents and county ADA organization in 2009 as a way to educate the public about farming. Over the years, the Wright County Breakfast on the farm has grown with support from countless other organizations and continues to move from farm to farm. Bakeberg and his wife continue to serve on the core committee, organizing the annual event. In 2018, Wright County merged with Carver, creating the Wright Carver Breakfast on the Farm. This year’s event will be hosted by Halquist Farms in Belle Plaine on June 11, and are expected to serve 2,000 attendees.

In 2020, when Covid-19 derailed the annual Howard Lake Waverly Winsted FFA fundraising auction at the Wright County Fairgrounds, the Bakebergs stepped up and offered to host the auction at their farm. That year's consignment auction raised between $15,000 and $20,000. Bakeberg is a fervent supporter of the organization as it provided him a foundation in leadership as well as many good memories. 

If Bakeberg wasn’t busy enough on the farm, in 2021 he ran for and won a seat on the Wright-Hennepin Electric Co-op Board. “I wanted to try to keep it local. I ran against 19 people, and I was the only country boy.” He feels it’s important to have rural representation on the board and give voice to agricultural issues in the electric utilities arena.

For 149 years and counting, the Bakebergs have grown crops and raised animals on their land. There’s pride found in all those decades dedicated to having a successful farming operation as well as the hopefulness that future generations will find that same success and contentment that the Bakebergs feel today.  

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