Northwest Bank

THE SCHROEDER FAMILY

Plymouth County, May 2021

Dean and Linda Schroeder operate a wean-to-finish hog operation and grow corn and soybeans between Remsen and Le Mars. They farm with their sons, Bryan and Camden. Dean said the farm relies on “a good work ethic, paying attention to detail and working with great employees.” Linda said, “Dean took the time to teach the boys well. You do it right the first time so you don’t have to re-do it.”

Bryan could never get enough of farm work, even when he was little. Linda said, “He’d fall asleep on the stairs on the way into the house because he’d be so tired. It’s just in his blood and he loves it so much. He just has a passion and desire for it.”

She added, “A great deal of our success you can see here on Sunday night when you sit around this table. All of our kids are here for supper. That’s so important to us. They remind us of what we are truly grateful for – faith, family and farming.” If it’s part of the farm, acreage or livestock operation, turn to Brad and Kevin for the best financial services for your agriculture business. Make Northwest bankers who know farming.

On the tractors in front: Cooper, Brynnlee and Easton. Seated: Mark and Jeanette Schroeder and Sue Hodgen. Standing: Bryan, Crystal, Dean, Linda and Camden Schroeder; and Kimberly and Camden Kuchel.

YOUR AGRICULTURAL BANKING EXPERTS

Wishing you a safe harvest season.

BEGINNING FARMER | OPERATING | MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT | FACILITY & LIVESTOCK

111 Central Ave. NW, Le Mars 712.546.7811 | 242 N Main Ave, Sioux Center 712.722.2791 NW.bank

ABUNDANT HARVEST PHOTO BY BOB FITCH

LaDonna Cleveringa, owner Christal Van’t Hul and Gail Dacken.

COUNTRY SIDE GARDENS

Sioux County, May 2021

Twenty-three years in the greenhouse has taught Christal Van’t Hul that running a business is a serious proposition and that precision is needed to ensure her flowers are ready for customers at just the right time. However, while the work is hard and life always has its worries, standard operating procedure at Country Side is to enjoy the work. Employee LaDonna Cleveringa said, “You absolutely cannot be an atheist and work in a place like this.”

When Christal and her husband, Mike, opened Country Side, “This started out as a way for me to stay at home with the kids and to pay for groceries. We never dreamed it would turn out to be this big.”

In the spring, when you’re ready to let go of your winter blues, the Country Side crew is ready to help you re-discover the joy found in the color of flowers. From the opening day in April all the way through to the closing days of June, Christal and her team of family and friends are ready to help you adopt the mindset of “don’t worry, be happy.”

THE DEN HERDER FAMILY

Sioux County, July 2021

The Den Herder family is proud of Sioux County and how its residents – city and country – understand how livestock production is linked to prosperity. “Think of all the jobs tied to livestock, from the bankers and co-ops to the construction and cement people to insurance and manufacturing,” said Brad Den Herder. “Sioux County’s towns are strong compared to other areas, not because of the farm ground, but because of the livestock.”

Brad’s dad, Gary, was one of the early producers to begin custom finishing hogs, backed by critical support from Farmers Cooperative Society. Gary’s younger son, Jacob, said, “Custom feeding is a way for young guys to get started in farming. It provides cash flow and builds equity.”

On top of a strong conservation ethic, there’s another family value that’s timeless. Brad said, “Faith is a big part of all the decisions we make.” Gary said, “We’ve been blessed. You can’t be a farmer without faith. You put thousands of dollars in the ground and you’ve got to have faith that it’s going to produce year-after-year.”