Saturday, October 19, 2024 | Country Acres • Page 1
Country Acres Saturday, October 19, 2024
Volume 11, Edition 15
FAMILY farming FOOTBALL BY RAE LANZRATH STAFF WRITER
CARLOS — Sibling relationships are unique in each family; the Yohnke brothers live, work and play together, literally. From being teammates to roommates to coworkers, they are never far from one another. Chuck and Sandy Yohnke raised their four sons, Grant, Travis, and twins Preston and Spencer, on a farm near Carlos. The boys have spent their entire lives doing farm work, playing games and competing with one another. From playing baseball in their grandma’s yard to swimming in the river, they have never sat still. Today, Travis and Preston both attend the University of Sioux Falls and play football. Grant and Spencer both work for Thoennes Mason-
ry and work on the family farm. “That farming mindset of dedication and staying positive when things aren’t looking good has always set me apart from my competition,” Travis said. Travis, a graduate student, is working on getting his master’s degree in business administration. Preston is majoring in criminal justice and minoring in psychology. Travis plays as a tight end for USF and Preston is a defensive lineman. Following high school, Preston went to North Dakota State College of Science, where he played football for two years. When he had completed his time at NDSCS, he wanted to transfer to another school. Travis spoke with the coaches at USF and got his brother a spot on the team. “That day, two years ago, when I found out Preston and I would get
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Focusing on Today’s Rural Environment
Yohnkes raise cattle, athletes
to play together again is one of my favorite football moments,” Travis said. “I never thought that would happen again.” Travis and Preston are both in Sioux Falls, but the farm is still running without them. The Yohnkes raise around 20 cow-calf pairs as well as calves from the previous year. The total herd typically numbers 60 head. “We feel guilty being away from the farm,” Preston said. “Our dad and other brothers have had to pick up so much slack from us being gone. We sit in our apartment and just know they’re out there baling hay or doing chores.” Being raised on a farm shaped the brothers into who they are today, teaching them life lessons they wouldn’t have gotten otherwise. “We always had to figure
PHOTO COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF SIOUX FALLS ATHLETICS
Chuck (front, from left), Travis, Micaela, Grant holding Camden, Preston, Sandy and Spencer Yohnke; (back, from left) Eddie Madsen, Nancy Collins, Eleanor Yohnke, Lonny Collins, Ron and Donna Yohnke gather at a football game Aug. 29 at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. The Yohnke family raises beef cattle near Carlos.
out who was the best at what, what each other’s strengths and weaknesses were,” Travis said.
Yohnkes page 2
PHOTO BY RAE LANZRATH
Cattle gather Sept. 16 at the Yohnke farm near Carlos. The Yohnkes manage calves from previous years with their cow-calf pairs.
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Publications The newspaper of today is the history of tomorrow.
5
Roasting done right Sauk Centre
15 Generations of sweetness Murdock
COUNTRY:
7
A “Lovely” dog Tiffany Klaphake column
18 Fall fieldwork
Watch for the next edition of Country Acres on November 2, 2024
11 A dip into resourcefulness Starbuck
This month in the
21 Country cooking Carlos
22 Across the acres Q&A 25 Spooks and scares all good fun at Wicked Woods Royalton