Meet This Issue’s Diarists
One of the regular features in Farm & Ranch Living is “The Way We Live.” In each issue, four farm and ranch families keep a month-long diary and tell how they live. A selection of photos accompanies each diary.
North Carolina Diary
Hey, Ya’ll! The Stepp family from Hendersonville, North Carolina greets you with warm southern hospitality. Nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in western North Carolina, our cool nights are ideal for growing apples with great flavor.
My name is Rita Stepp. I joined this family in 1971 when I married Mike, the youngest son of JH and Yvonne Stepp.
J.H. Stepp Farm’s Hillcrest Orchard prides itself on being the original pick-your-own apple operation in Henderson County.
South Dakota Diary
Hello from South Dakota! Our farm is located in the northeast part of the state between Bristol and Andover. My name is John Horter. I am 25 years old and always knew I wanted to farm.
I started farming right after high school when a couple of neighbors wanted me to rent their land and take some of their cows on shares.
My parents and I grow wheat, corn, soybeans and hay for our cow/calf operation. I also grow registered and certified wheat and soybean seed. Dad and I do custom planting and combining.
I have a love for antique tractors, which I started restoring while in high school My hobby has turned into a business —Horter Restoration Co.
Wisconsin Diary
I am Mary Brazeau Brown. My husband, Philip, and I have two children, Stephen and Allison.
Stephen recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison with a degree in Horticulture. He now works here with us at Glacial Lake Cranberries, Inc. Our cranberry marsh—one of the oldest in central Wisconsin—has been producing cranberries since 1873.
Our land includes 3,000 acres of reservoirs, 320 acres of producing cranberry vines in 92 beds, and 1,200 acres in a forestry management plan. The remaining acreage is used to support the cranberry operation.
Tennessee Diary
Welcome to Muddy Pond Sorghum Mill near Monterey, Tennessee. My name is Sherry Guenther. My husband, Mark, and I are part of the family that operates the mill.
Everyone in Mark’s family helps run the mill.
Mark and I travel to festivals and demonstrate how sorghum was made years ago. We press the cane with a horse-drawn mill and boil it down to syrup right there at the festival. We bring sorghum cane from our home mill to sell. We also sell baked goods and candy that I make with sorghum syrup.
Editor’s Note: You can read the complete month-long diaries in the December/January 2007 issue of Farm & Ranch Living.
