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Volume 27, No. 6
“All dairy, all the time”™
Conservation focused
Safety measures born from tragedy
May 10, 2025
Brother’s death prompts bunker setup change for Hendel By Amy Kyllo
amy.k@star-pub.com
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Wendy and Forrest Briard gather in August 2024 at their farm near Frazee, Minnesota. The Briards were named the 2024 Outstanding Conserva�onist for East O�er Tail County.
Briards recognized for on-farm efforts By Tiffany Klaphake tiffany.k@dairystar.com
FRAZEE, Minn. — On 2,000 acres of sandy ground, Forrest Briard has planted cover crops for the past 15 years, looking to make an impact on the ground where he irrigates and grows his harvest. Briard, and his wife, Wendy, milk 120 cows near Frazee. They are also parents to 10 children and have 11 grandchildren. The Briards were named the 2024 Outstanding Conservationist for East Otter Tail County. “We are very proud to receive this award and will continue to preserve the soil for the future,” Briard said. “We live in a unique area with this sand ground and every year you can see the top layer just get blown away. To receive this award reminds us that we are doing the right thing.” The Briards have been working with the East Otter Tail County Soil and Water Conservation District for many years. In addition to utilizing cover crops on 90% of Briard’s crop ground, he also has installed buffer strips, and formed a nutrient management plan and Turn to BRIARDS | Page 6
AMY KYLLO/DAIRY STAR
Ma� Hendel shows what the new ll line will be on bunkers April 18 at his 430cow dairy near Caledonia, Minnesota. Hendel will leave about a foot of space at the top of the bunker so that workers cannot slip off the top.
CALEDONIA, Minn. — Brothers Matt and Karl Hendel always wanted to dairy farm together. “We grew up farming together in the sandbox and we never quit,” Matt Hendel said. “Farming together, we took our own areas and that was pretty good gig for both of us because we always had (each other’s) back.” The Hendels started farming together in 1991. Last fall their partnership came to an end when Karl passed away in a farming accident. In the aftermath, Hendel has been implementing safety protocols and changes across the operation to protect from a tragedy again. Turn to HENDEL | Page 2
Christmas in Titletown Riewe savors NFL Draft experience By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
OCONTO, Wis. — For as long as he can remember, Charlie Riewe has bled green and gold for his beloved Green Bay Packers. Attending the NFL Draft, hosted by the Packers last month, he said was like celebrating a family holiday. “You feel like they are part of your family,” Riewe said. “It’s so ingrained, you feel so invested, it’s part of our culture. There’s no big fancy owner (of the Packers). The fans own the team. I bought my kids stock in the Packers the last time. We’re all shareholders. It’s our team.” Riewe and his brother,
Kenny, are the fourth generation to operate their farm near Oconto that has been in their family since 1915. The brothers milk 140 cows. They transitioned into ownership from their parents, Rick and Diane, two years ago. The dairy farm is a 35-minute drive from Green Bay’s Lambeau Field. “The rst season I really remember actively following through was in 1989, when we had Don Majkowski, the Majik Man,” Riewe said. “Then he got hurt and Favre came along — everyone just fell in love with Favre. He was like us. You just felt like he’d sit down and have a beer with you.”
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The Riewe family — Charlie (from le�), Keriann, Greyson and Benne� — a�ends the NFL Dra� April 25 in Green Bay, Turn to RIEWES | Page 5 Wisconsin. They said their experience at the NFL Dra� felt like a�ending a huge game-day tailgate party.