Saturday, March 18, 2023 | Country Acres • Page 1 PRSRT STD ECR U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #861 Sauk Rapids, MN
Country Acres Saturday, March 18, 2023
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Focusing on Today’s Rural Environment
Volume 10, Edition 03
PHOTOS BY JAN LEFEBVRE
A ewe shows her curiosity at the fence of her pen March 8 at the Oelkes’ sheep farm near Barrett. Bret and Lorie Oelke currently have a flock of about 130 Suffolk sheep.
Sharing
their love of sheep Oelke family shows Suffolk breed for three generations
Barrett, they share that interest with their 16 grandchildren. The oldest, Jacob, has aged out of youth showing. Three grandBY JAN LEFEBVRE | STAFF WRITER children are yet too young but are already starting to learn. They can begin showing when BARRETT – When Bret a Suffolk lamb to raise and show. they are 3 years old. The other Oelke was 4 years old, his par- Today, Bret is still raising Suf12 grandchildren travel with ents gave him and his sister each folk sheep and has been working their grandparents to show sheep, and the show schedule is long and expansive. They start the show season in June at the Midwest Junior Suffolk Show in Sedalia, Missouri. Then, they travel to the All-American Junior Sheep Show in Madison, Wisconsin, and compete at the State Suffolk Show at the Rice County Fair in Faribault. Several more shows follow, and the season ends with the North American International Livestock Expo in November in Louisville, Kentucky. While on the road with thei grandchildren, Bret their an Lorie make sure to and ta them to vacation take e of their si sites. Bret and Lorie Oelke gather with threrne, Scarlet “The grandkids 16 grandchildren – Maverick Hawtho Bergstromhne Bergstrom-McKee (center) and Dap near Barrett. h have traveled lots of Oelke – March 8 at their sheep farm pl places with us – Idaho, old are who n ildre All of the Oelkes’ grandch K Kentucky, Massachus. enough show sheep in competition se setts,” Lorie said. They stopped at Yell Yellowstone National Park when showing in Idaho and Niagara Falls when show-
ST R
Publications bli ti The newspaper of today is the history of tomorrow.
This month in the
with them for over 60 years. His wife, Lorie Oelke, has been doing the same for over 50 years, since she was 10 years old. In fact, the couple came to know each other through showing sheep in their youth and fell in love over their mutual interest. Today, on their farm near
COUNTRY:
Watch for the next edition of Country Acres on April 1, 2023
6
From settlers to sesquicentennial Town
7
Harbinger of poor winter weather Grace Jeurissen column
ing in Massachusetts. “I could have charged people to look at our sheep at Niagara Falls,” Bret said. “We pulled in there with a trailer full of sheep and two cars full of kids. People were crawling all over each other, looking at our sheep.” Showing gives Bret and Lorie stretches of time with their grandchildren. “It’s quality time,” Lorie said. “We often get to spend several days with them.” Bret and Lorie’s five children showed sheep as well. They now have their own families and live as far away as Rochester, Minnesota, but they make sure their kids are able to take part in the family hobby. Two of Bret and Lorie’s daughters have flocks of their own. While the Oelke’s are dedicated to their flock and showing, they have careers off the farm. Lorie works as a registered nurse. Bret has a consulting business as a farm management coach, is a professional speaker and manages the largest purebred sheep sale in North America – the Midwest Stud Ram Sale in Sedalia, Missouri. Needless to say, they are plenty busy.
Oelke page 2
10 Twigger tales Nancy Packard Leasman column
23 Country cooking Town
11 Goats bearing gifts Grey Eagle
25 Yielding for years Benson
17 First generation farming Holdingford
30 People behind the pages