The Hannahs

My Mom was the one who told me the news… I was sitting at my desk at work and I got the phone call.  She said that Myrna had stopped over and was so upset.  Well, who wouldn’t be? I can’t imagine this area without the Petersons.  Then I heard it was the Fuengers, and Emily and Stewart and then the Stafsliens and Jackie… I still can’t believe it.  I had the privilege to grow up on and learn from this land; the land that my Great Grandfather settled on and cleared with his own blood and sweat.  I remember the stories that my Grandpa Ken told about the land and how much it meant for his family to live here.  I have had the honor of representing the farmers in this community as the Vernon County Dairy Queen and the Wisconsin Holstein Princess- to give them voice and glean knowledge from their expertise.  I have the privilege to raise my family here and purchase our first home here. When my Grandma passed away, I was devastated- I missed her and her stories so much.  But I had the comfort in being able to purchase her house and keep my family on the Volden farm. I knew that I would be able to raise my kids on the land and show them the value and sanctity of life on the farm- life on West 56.  It is a pleasure to see my kids learn from the land as I did and to live next to the people whom I have grown up with and come to know as friends.  It is an honor to live here- to reap the rewards of everyone whom has worked to make this farm land what it is. I have come to know that farming is not just what we do- it is our past and our future, our passion, who we are and what we want to pass along.  What a disgrace it would be if that was all a waste.