Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Penterman, Kuczer, Perkins, Daniels, Searls, Klussendorf, Hafemeister, Schlender, Thieding, Holterman, Meyer
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 2/01/2012
Pentermans Honored as Outstanding Young Farmer (Runners-up - 2012)
The 2012 JCI Wisconsin Outstanding Young Farmer winners were (l-r) fourth runner-up, Sander and Amy Penterman, Thorp; third runner-up, Ryan and Cheri Klussendorf, Medford; second runner-up, Laura Daniels and Jarred Searls, Cobb; first runner-up, Brian and Stephanie Perkins, Richland Center; and winners, Adam and Rebecca Kuczer, Pulaski. (Contributed photo)
Junior Chamber International (JCI) Wisconsin Jaycees 59th Outstanding Young Farmer (OYF) Awards Weekend was hosted by JCI Greenfield Jan. 20 to 22 in Marshfield at the Holiday Inn & Conference Center.
Runners-up in the OYF recognition were Sander and Amy Penterman of Thorp in Clark County. The Pentermans operate Dutch Dairy LLC in partnership with Sander’s brother Rolf, milk 850 cows and have another 500 heifers on their 790-acre farm. Sander and Amy have four children – Seth 13, Brooke 10, Evan 2 and Izaak 3 months. They were sponsored by Clark County University of Wisconsin Extensions (UWEX).
Coming in first were Adam and Rebecca Kuczer, Pulaski (Shawano County), who run a 443-acre grain and beef operation.
Other runners-up were Brian and Stephanie Perkins, Richland Center (Richland and Grant Counties). The Perkins have an operation consisting of 2,300 acres where they grow cash corn and soybeans, of which 300 acres are devoted to organic corn and soybeans.
Laura Daniels and Jarred Searls, Cobb (Iowa County), maintain a herd of 300 Jerseys and operate 549 acres of land with nearly half of that for grazing.
Third runner-up was Ryan and Cheri Klussendorf, Medford (Taylor County). The Klussendorfs run a 246-acre and 120-cow grass-based dairy farm.
“Speak up for Agriculture” winners were Laura Daniels and Jarred Searls, Cobb (Iowa County), for their outreach and education efforts on behalf of production agriculture.
Other finalists in the state event were David and Kathleen Hafemeister, Hustisford; Troy and Ashley Schlender, Watertown; and Todd Thieding, Loganville.
A “Speak up for Agriculture” training session for the candidates was led by Laura Daniels, Daphne Holterman and Bob Meyer, WDLB radio in Marshfield. Candidates also toured Norm E. Lane Inc. (dairy), Nasonville Dairy (milk/cheese processing plant) and Weber’s Farm Store, all in the Marshfield area.
