Lyman Paulsen has been named this year’s Pipestone County Conservationist of the Year. He said it came as a surprise when he found out a few weeks ago that he’d been selected to receive the honor.

Paulsen and his wife, Roxanne, live southeast of Hatfield and grow corn, beans and oats. Their son, Nick, farms with them and raises stock cows and chickens.

About nine years ago they switched one portion of the land they farm to no-till with a corn and bean rotation. The rest of their land is strip tilled in the fall for corn and not tilled for beans. Over the last year, they’ve also planted cover crops on all the acres they farm, using a multi-species mix.

In addition to that, they recently reshaped a waterway with assistance from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Pipestone County Soil and Water Conservation District, and Nick has done rotational grazing for his cattle for three years. Paulsen’s farm became a certified water quality farm last year.

Paulsen said Nick has been influential in the family’s implementation of conservation practices. Nick said he started learning about no-till at Lake Area Technical College in Watertown. Then he started reading books about it after a neighbor recommended one. From there, he said, it was “down the rabbit hole.” His conclusion: “More soil health is better for the farm and it’s better for us,” Nick said.

Since implementing the various conservation practices, Paulsen said he’s cut costs, saved time, and seen no difference in production. Economically, it’s made sense.

“The fuel and time savings is just unbelievable,” Paulsen said.

He said the ground is firmer with strip tilling and no tilling, which makes it easier to get equipment through. He’s noticed a difference in water infiltration as well. He recalled driving home from Pipestone last year after the heavy rains early in the summer and seeing standing water in fields along the way. There was no standing water in their fields and he believes it was due to the conservation practices they’ve implemented and increased worm activity.

Paulsen said some farmers are hesitant to change from the way they’ve always done things, but that he would recommend the use of conservation practices to others. He said the NRSC and SWCD have programs available that can help.
“It’s very well worth trying,” Paulsen said.

With the honor of being named the conservationist of the year, Paulsen has the opportunity to attend the annual Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts convention and trade show in Minneapolis in December. There, he and other outstanding conservationists from around the state will be recognized.

Kyle Kuphal | Staff reporter
kkuphal@pipestonestar.com

Brad and Kim Kruisselbrink, and their son and daughter-in-law, Austin and Allison Kruisselbrink, are this year’s Pipestone County Farm Family of the Year.

The family found out they’d received the title earlier this year. Brad said it was an unexpected honor.

Brad was born and raised on the farm just north of Woodstock where he and Kim live. The farm was homesteaded by Brad’s grandfather, Henry Kruisselbrink, who came to the U.S. from the Netherlands. Henry and his wife, Annetta, lived in Iowa for several years before moving to the family farm in 1944.

They bought a half section for around $65 an acre back then, Brad said. He said his grandparents, who had eight children, had some hard times and Henry sold off 80 acres of the land to a neighbor to get by. Austin, who lives on a farm within the Woodstock city limits, was able to buy that 80 acres back a few years ago, giving the family the whole half section that Henry had originally owned.

Henry’s son, and Brad’s father, Willys, and his wife, Aleanor, took over the operation after him, and Brad and Kim took over after that. Then Austin decided to continue the family tradition. He said he enjoyed riding in the tractor and helping on the farm from an early age.

“I always wanted to be a fireman and a farmer,” Austin said.

He’s now both and said he’s fortunate to have had the opportunity to farm available to him.

Today, the Kruisselbrinks feed about 1,500 cattle. Austin and Allison operate Over the Brink Beef, through which they sell quarters, halves and whole beef directly to customers. The family also grows corn, beans, alfalfa, small grains and rye on about 1,600 acres, and produces their own feed. They use conservation practices including planting cover crops and what Brad referred to as doing “less recreational tillage.”

In addition to all that, the family does custom chopping. Austin said his cousin is involved in the chopping business and they do some farming with his cousin and uncle as well. Austin and Brad said the family has also been fortunate to have good quality help over the years.

“We’ve had a lot of hired help and all have been good and important to where we are today,” Austin said.

While the operations have changed over the years since Henry and Annetta established the farm, some of the older structures remain and have been well-maintained, such as the barn. Brad said the old red barn, now clad in tin, is still used and is like a centerpiece of the farm.

“People love that barn,” he said. “They drive by. We were on Barn of the Week one time.”

In addition to their agricultural work, the Kruisselbrinks are very involved in their community. Brad is a member of the Pipestone County Soil and Water Conservation District and was a firefighter in Woodstock for many years, and he and Kim are very involved in Woodstock Community Church. Austin is the mayor of Woodstock and a firefighter there. Allison is part of the Woodstock Community Club and a first responder. The family has also been involved in 4-H.

“We’re community minded people,” Brad said.
Brad and Kim are a blended family and have five children and 11 grandchildren between them. 

Kyle Kuphal | Staff reporter
kkuphal@pipestonestar.com

Matti Boomgaarden is the new agriculture production systems Extension Educator in the Agriculture Natural Resources Department of the University of Minnesota Extension, serving Pipestone and Murray counties. She began her new role on June 9 and filled the position previously held by Melissa Runck, who became the beef production systems Extension educator at the regional office in Worthington.

Boomgaarden said she’ll be learning about both counties and working with the community Extension committees in each county to determine what kinds of agricultural education and programming are needed. She’ll then develop programs and educational events based on those needs. She said that might involve working with other people or groups within the communities.

Boomgaarden previously worked as an agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at Pipestone Area Schools for two years and, before that, she taught for five years at Clark, S.D. She thinks her teaching experience will help her in her new position.
“In my previous job, I really had a plethora of knowledge across all different topics of agriculture, so I get to take that into this position and run with it,” she said.

She was interested in the role of Extension educator because she thought it would work better with the plans she and her significant other, Kyle Blume, have to take over her family’s farming operation, which includes cattle and sheep. She said she’ll still be able to volunteer to work with kids and FFA, which she enjoys.

“I’ll be able to get the best of both worlds,” she said.
In her new position, Boomgaarden said she’s looking forward to working with producers and helping them solve problems. She said she has a wide network of Extension educators that she can call upon to help and to learn from.

“I get to surround myself with people who are incredibly knowledgeable and smart, and I’m a lifelong learner — I love to learn, so that’s something I also look forward to, is learning from the other professionals in the Extension,” Boomgaarden said.

Her immediate goals include getting to know the people in the counties she’ll serve and their needs, working with the county commissioners, and holding some programs, including some that are new.

“I’m really excited to finally be in the position,” Boomgaarden said. “We’ve kind of been waiting for the end of school to come around for me to start. Everyone’s been very patient and I appreciate that. I’m excited to finally be here and to be started and to begin a new role, and to meet new people.”
Boomgaarden grew up in Pipestone and graduated from Pipestone Area Schools in 2014. She now lives near Ruthton on a family farm that previously belonged to her grandparents, Ralph and Leona Boomgaarden.

People can contact Boomgaarden at boomg022@umn.edu. 

TJ Ostrem is sending his senior year of high school out in style.

Ostrem, a senior at Heron Lake-Okabena High School, recently wrapped up his year of service as a member of the HL-O FFA Chapter’s officer team, received the state FFA degree at last month’s Minnesota State FFA Convention and was just named his chapter’s star in agribusiness.
Ostrem said he joined FFA after being urged to do so.

“For the experience,” he said, “and because somebody said I should and would be a good leader.”

Turns out, that somebody was right, as Ostrem ended up serving as the HL-O FFA Chapter’s 2024-2025 reporter. As a chapter officer, Ostrem said he enjoyed being in a leadership position and especially liked helping plan and lead chapter activities and events.

He was also a member of the chapter’s crop team, which he said was a great learning experience.
“My knowledge of different crops and plants and a lot of other things has grown, as well as how to be patient and make good choices,” he said.

Ostrem said his future plans involve going to college and starting a family.