The Secor family, of Fort Dodge, and the Duitscher family, of Rolfe, were honored with The Way We Live Awards, which recognize outstanding farm families who exemplify hard working farm values and a love for the occupation of farming.

The Secors were recognized Monday and the Duitschers were recognized Friday on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

The Secor Family

The Secor family, of Fort Dodge, has a rich farming history spanning four generations. From a 40-year hog operation to a current wine-making operation, the family has successfully managed grape production along with corn and soybean farming. They currently raise 10 acres of grapes and are owners of Soldier Creek Winery north of Fort Dodge.

Front L-R: Melvene Duitscher, Dr. Dean Duitscher, Ashlyn Duitscher, Jolene Duitscher Back L-R: Dan Duitscher, Nancy Duitscher, Dr. Dave Duitscher, Annika Duitscher Fehr

Megan Secor, wife of Robert Secor, nominated the family for the award, and said farming has always been a major part of who they are.

“I think the world of the family I married into and it was a complete surprise to find out we would be receiving the award,” she said. “The Secor family has been farming for years; my father-in-law, Bill, has been working on this farm all his life and has worked with the changing times to raise livestock and tried different kinds of crops to diversify.”

Megan Secor said that while her husband and father-in-law take care of many of the day- to-day farming operations, and she and her sisters-in-law Anne (Secor) Zwink and Amanda (Secor) Warren handle the majority of the winery business, it is still very much a family operated farm.

“Bill and Rob do the traditional farming with corn and soybeans,” she said. “The girls run the winery, but it is not unusual to find us helping out in all areas of the farm, we’ve been out in the tractors, and our husbands help in the winery when needed as well.”

The Secors first started growing grapes in 2007 when Bill and Rob Secor attended an Iowa State University Extension program on grape growing. They then planted their first seven acres of grapes, and from that the Soldier Creek Winery was born. Their first wines debuted in 2014, and the winery opened to the public in a small space with a tasting room near the family farm. Now 10 years later, Soldier Creek Winery is a family operated business with Anne Zwink serving as winemaker and Amanda Warren as event coordinator. Their facilities include an event space, tasting room and production facility where they regularly make wine for not only their own winery but six other wineries across the state.

“We started small, but it has turned into something larger than we ever anticipated in the best possible way,” said Megan Secor. “It is an honor to be recognized for our continued efforts to produce quality products while keeping some traditions and changing with the times. We are proud to have started as a small self-sufficient farm that has grown and that we share as a family and with our community.

The Duitscher Family

The Duitschers, of Rolfe, started with Dr. Dean, a veterinarian, and Melvene Duitscher on a traditional Iowa farm which included raising pigs and a feed lot with beef cattle. They raised their sons, Dave and Dan, on the family farm.

When Dave Duitscher, graduated from Veterinary School at Iowa State University in Ames he moved to Wisconsin where he developed an interest in dairy cattle.

“Dave lived in Wisconsin when he was first out of school and fell in love with working with dairy cows,” his wife, Jolene Duitscher, said. “He knew it was something he wanted to do back in Iowa.”

Dave Duitscher returned to the Rolfe area in 1998 and the Dutchland Dairy was started on the same family farm where he grew up.

“We’ve been milking 26 years this month,” said Jolene Duitscher.

Two years after Dutchland Dairy was established, Dan Duitscher also returned home to help operate the farm. Today, Dan helps with the dairy, but also handles the crop management. The Duitscher family farms around 2,000 acres of corn, alfalfa and soybeans.

The dairy consists of 2,000 cows and focuses on a specialized cross breeding production. The cross-bred cattle consist of Holsteins, Jerseys and Brown Swiss dairy cattle.

The dairy employs between 20 and 25 people.

“We are very thankful for our employees,” said Jolene Duitscher. “They play a big role in what we do every day.”

Dutchland Dairy is the milk provider for The Caves of Faribault, a Minnesota-based cheese manufacturer. Dutchland milk is used in the production of the Caves’ Amablu and St. Pete’s Select blue cheeses.

There are five veterinarians and future veterinarians in the Duitscher family who have all played a role in various aspects of the farming operation.

The Duitschers play an active role in teaching their community about dairy farming and agriculture, giving multiple tours each year to schools, families, 4-H clubs, church groups and senior citizens groups.

The Duitschers were nominated for the award by Mariah Busta with the Midwest Dairy Board.

“We are honored to be recognized along with all of these family farmers,” said Jolene Duitscher. “It is neat to see the many different types of farming and how it impacts each family.”