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DAIRY ST R “All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 23, No. 12
August 14, 2021
A marriage promise: Through sickness, in health Boesl donates kidney to ailing husband By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
BRANDON, Minn. – Jeff Boesl stole Julie’s heart 35 years ago, and now he has her kidney. The couple’s strength and devotion to each other was reaffirmed when Julie became an organ donor for her husband Jan. 19. “I tell her, ‘Thank you,’ every day,” Jeff said. “I’m unbelievably thankful for this small miracle, and I show my appreciation every day.” Jeff suffers from an inherited disorder known as polycystic kidney disease, where clusters of cysts develop on his kidneys, ultimately resulting in organ failure. Yet, with the successful transfer, the 54-yearold is back to completing farm chores as if he was in his 30s. “This is a game changer,” Jeff said. “I’m a completely different guy now. I felt absolutely better immediately after surgery.” The Boesls milk 400 cows with Jeff’s family
in Douglas County near Brandon. They also crop farm and have a herd of beef cattle. In Jeff’s family, polycystic kidney disease is quite common; his grandfather, mother and six of seven siblings were affected by the illness. Jeff’s first inkling of being a carrier was when he enrolled in the local fire department and was flagged for high blood pressure during the physical assessment. “At first we thought it might be related,” Julie said. “We had it in the back of our minds of what could be causing his high blood pressure.” Jeff’s health worsened eight years ago, so he began doctoring with a specialist to monitor his situation. At the time, he was visiting with his doctor every six months, and with vitamins and a strict diet, Jeff was able to prolong the use of his kidneys. “In the last five years, I could see it getting worse, but honestly I thought it was just me aging,” Jeff said. However, in 2019, Jeff’s kidneys were functioning at 10%. He was consulting with his doctor every two months and developing a plan. He was in need of a transplant or needed to be put on dialysis. Turn to BOESL | Page 6
MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR
Jeff and Julie Boesl are recovered from kidney transplant surgeries earlier this year. Julie donated one of her kidneys to Jeff. The Boesls dairy farm near Brandon, Minnesota.
Done with daily hauling Curriers’ new pit makes manure more manageable By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Ben (le ) and Jay Currier stand in front of the new manure pit facility on their 110-cow dairy near Mantorville, Minnesota. The brothers finished the project in December 2020.
MANTORVILLE, Minn. – Brothers Jay and Ben Currier are thankful they no longer have to haul manure each day. “You get a lot of hours back in your life,” Ben said. “And it’s nice not to have to haul in the winter time.” In December 2020, the Curriers finished their new manure storage facility on their 110-cow dairy near Mantorville. Their project was one of four funded at 90% through the Lower Mississippi River Feedlot Management in Minnesota Regional Conservation Partnership Program project. The one-basin pit holds 1.4 million gallons, and measures 108 by 252 feet and is 8 feet deep. A ramp into the pit allows access to the bottom to haul out solids when they are
cleaning. “We bed with sand so whatever is left we can haul out with slinger spreaders,” Ben said. The project also included pouring sloped concrete to connect their animal housing and allow any runoff to drain into the pit. Wastewater from the milkhouse is also pumped to the pit, and a clear water diversion diverts clean rainwater to a different area. “We haven’t had much rain this year to see how well it works, but it’s supposed to keep as much clean runoff water out of the pit,” Ben said. After graduating from high school in 1972 and working off the farm, Jay returned to make dairying his career alongside his mom in 1976 after his dad passed away from cancer. Turn to CURRIER | Page 7