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DAIRY ST R
October 24, 2020
“All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 22, No. 17
Heinz advocates for mental health after losing partner to suicide Dairy farmer remembered as seless family man By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
BROOTEN, Minn. – Sept. 16 is a day Becky Heinz would just as soon forget. Yet, the events that occurred that fall evening have become a platform for her to talk about mental health. “I want people to know of the aftermath. Yes, the pain of depression is terrible. But the pain doesn’t go away, it just transfers; and now, it’s transferred to hundreds of people,” Heinz said through her tears. Heinz is grieving the loss of her partner Casey Tangen, who died by suicide in September after completing evening chores on the couple’s 43cow dairy farm in Stearns County near Brooten. “I wake up sometimes and think, ‘Is this real or is it all a dream?’ But then
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Becky Heinz and Casey Tangen embrace each other in a photo taken in June at their dairy farm near Brooten, Minnesota. Tangen died by suicide in September, and Heinz wants to tell his story to advocate for mental health.
I see the owers and realize this is my life now,” Heinz said. “It’s completely and utterly indescribable the thoughts and what ifs that go through your mind; the could’ve, the guilt. It’s overwhelming.” In the month that has followed, Heinz has reected on Tangen’s life and wants others to know his story. “There’s a lot of complete and utter selessness that he had, especially for his family,” Heinz said. “(Tangen) always tried to do right by other people. It was that constant doing and thinking for other people.” Heinz and Tangen’s journey began in April 2017 when the two met through work. Tangen was dairy farming in western Minnesota, and Heinz was spending her days as a nutrition consultant. Over the years, the couple grew closer and envisioned a life in the dairy industry for themselves and each other’s children. Turn to HEINZ | Page 5
Passage of omnibus bill includes full Section 179 conformity State tax provisions to fall in line with federal law By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
ST. PAUL, Minn. – In its fth special session, the Minnesota legislature approved an omnibus bill Oct. 15 that has many farmers relieved. As part of the $1.87 billion bonding bill, passed in bipartisan support, farmers across Minnesota will soon feel relief as the state is now in full conformity with Section 179 of the federal tax law. At the time of this writing, it was waiting Gov. Tim Walz’s signature. “For many years, we’ve been advocating for at least $250,000 federal expense cap because we felt that was the amount that was the most helpful most of the time for Minnesota dairy farmers,” said Lucas Sjostrom, Minnesota Milk Producers Association executive director. “What was really problematic was the 80% add-back which reduced the current benet to not that much. It is so nice to see this nally come to fruition.” Turn to SECTION 179 | Page 6
A Day in the Life of a Dairy Farmer, see Second Section
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Jim Pfeifer unloads corn from a gravity box at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 16 on his farm where he and his wife, Jan, milk 50 cows near Owatonna, Minnesota. Pfeifer planned to nish his harvest that day.