Marlow & Donna Christensen – Farm Family of the Year

The Marlow and Donna Christensen Family of Beresford were named the Farm Family of the Year by the Chamber’s Agri-Business Division. They will be recognized at the Mayor’s Round-up & Sale of Champions as part of the Sioux Empire Farm Show. Pictured from L to R: Taylor, Darcy, Tyler, Doug, Marlow, Donna, Kaysee, Don, Dean, Dale and Sheree Christensen.

Farming is a family affair for the Marlow and Donna Christensen family of Beresford. Their three sons were involved in the farming operation while growing up and now their four grandchildren help on the farm after school and during the summer.

The Christensen’s were named the Farm Family of the Year by the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Agri-Business Division. They will be recognized during the Sioux Empire Farm Show at the Mayor’s Round-up & Sale of Champions Jan. 30 at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel Exhibit Hall.

The four Christensen families live within five miles of one another. The farm where Marlow and Donna live was his mother’s home place and has been in the family since 1887. Marlow’s 93-year-old mother, Lucille, now lives in Sioux Falls. Middle son Doug now lives on the farm where Marlow grew up.

The Christensens are not incorporated; they all operate separately, but work together. From corn and soybeans to alfalfa and cattle, it is truly a family-run business. The Christensens farm about 2,700 acres of owned and rented land in Clay, Lincoln, and Union counties. They also custom chop silage with good friends the VanderLaans.

The day generally starts at Marlow and Donna’s home and often times ends there, too, as the family says they eat a family meal together 80 percent of the time. Each of the wives also plays a part in the operation as well, though they also have jobs outside of the farm.

Marlow had no doubt that he wanted to farm for a living and neither did his three sons. Dale started in 1983, Doug in 1989, and Don in 1997. Donna grew up on a farm near Centerville.

Farming has changed tremendously over the years. When Marlow first started farming he hand-fed 140 cattle, used a four-row planter for his crops, and a “trip bucket” loader. It wasn’t until the 1970s that they had a scale on the feed wagon. Donna and Marlow also farrowed about 400 pigs each year and in 1998 were farrowing more than 3,000 feeder pigs per year when they dispersed the hog portion of the operation.

Today, the Christensens use a 16-row planter and are able to finish 2,300 head of beef cattle each year. They attend sales and purchase their own cattle to feed. The Christensen sons also have a 100-head Angus cross-stock cow herd and feed out the calves. Technology has helped the family in preparing feed rations, equipment, seed selection and banking.

They feel fortunate to be able to farm in a region with agri-businesses that support farmers. They are proud to do business with Sioux Falls Regional Livestock and feel blessed to have such a facility in the area. The Christensens also credit good neighbors, family and friends for the assistance they received with farm activities. In their spare time, they all enjoy riding horses together.

“We were married in 1964 and started farming in 1965,” Marlow said. “It’s what we always wanted to do and we still love doing it. What a joy it is to see my grandchildren take an interest in the operation.”

The Christensens are familiar with the Sioux Empire Farm Show as they have purchased cattle there in the past and now their grandchildren take part in the 4-H show. The Christensens have previously taken home the bull buyer’s portion of the Supreme Row purse, which is awarded to the buyer and producer of the best bull and heifer of all the purebreds at the Sioux Empire Farm Show. The Supreme Row purse is also announced at the Mayor’s Round-up and Sale of Champions. Tickets are $30 per person. Call the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce at (605) 336-1620 for more information.

BY AMY SMOLIK
Marketing & Communications Manager