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Farm Credit Services of America
IOWA FAMILIES - 2021
THE HOOGLAND FAMILY
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Sioux County, March 2021
Highland Milk Inc. of Sioux Center is going strong after many decades. Over the past 18 years, Alvin and Verla Hoogland’s sons – Justin, Aaron and Andy – have strengthened the overall operation by building a custom forage chopping business.
The business grew quickly after Aaron bought a used cutter in 2003. Over the years, Northwest Bank supported them as they grew Hoogland Custom Chopping. Today, the brothers have four choppers and a harvest crew of around 30 cutting silage and grinding corn for cattle producers. “We all like the harvest aspect of farming,” said Aaron. “When we were little kids, we’d come home from school and you’d want to go out and ride the cutter with dad. The bigger the equipment gets, it just captures your attention more and more.”
In the old days, neighbors would harvest together using 1, 2, 3 and 4-row cutters. “Today you’ve got a 1,200-horsepower cutter on 14 rows just being brought to its knees. Everyone loves to see that,” said Andy. “It’s not a glamorous life, but it’s an honest one.”
Alvin Hoogland and his sons, Justin, Aaron and Andy.
