In Minnesota, two sisters saved their family farm after their father, Perry Altermatt, died in a boating accident. Miranda and her sister Kaycee were only 20 and 22 years old back in 2012 when their grandfather Mark asked them if they wanted to farm after the passing of their father.
The two sisters first answered their grandfather, “We’re going to help.”
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“That ain't what I'm asking you,” Mark says. “I know you'll help us take the crop out, but I want to know if you want to farm.” The two stepped up and said yes.
When they decided to take over the farm, Kaycee had just completed her bachelor’s degree and planned to be a CPA. Miranda was working on her associate’s degree in agriculture business. Things took a very different path for the sisters.
At the time, they knew somewhat about working on the farm, however, they had never planted corn or driven a combine when their father unexpectedly passed away. But this fourth generation of farmers stepped up to save the family farm.
“I wasn't sure if they were up to it, but I am now,” says their Uncle Scott Haas, who also drives out from the Twin Cities to help during the harvest season.
In 2016, Kare 11 told the story of the young sisters who had just completed their fifth harvest. “If we didn’t take it over,” Miranda says. “Then who would?”
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The sisters’ grandparents, Barb and Mark, spent over 50 years building the farm that Mark took over from his father. The two had two sons, Perry, Kaycee and Miranda’s father, and Doug, who sadly was killed in a skid loader accident in the 1980s at the age of 23. “I knew that Mark probably wouldn't have lived himself if he would have had to say, 'We're going to sell and rent it all out,'” Barb says.
But they didn’t have to worry about that. Kaycee and Miranda, two sisters who saved their family farm, stepped up to the plate. Mark, Barb, and the whole family were beyond proud of the girls. “They’re learning fast,” Mark said back in 2016.
Since taking over the farm, the two sisters have had farm weddings and had one child each in 2016. The grandmothers helped watch them when they were out in the fields. “I’m sure we’re stronger than we ever thought we could be and do more than we ever thought we could,” Kaycee says.
Today, in 2024, each has grown their family, with Kaycee Pfarr and her husband Josh having four children and Miranda Loose and her husband Jereme having two. And they are still very much in charge of the farm. When their grandfather Mark passed away last year at 85, he knew he had left the farm in good hands.
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“Tradition,” Mark said back in 2016, "When you build something, you want it to continue to be built.” And because of the strength and commitment of his granddaughters, his farm will continue for years to come. And what a tremendous blessing that is.
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:31
h/t: Kare 11
Photo Credit: YouTube/Land of 10,000 Stories: The Complete Collection