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A Supplement to the Star Shopper
Friday, Nov. 3, 2017 • Edition 16
Focusing on Today’s Rural Environment
It's planting season - for garlic growers Ahrndt, Neff, Falk raise vegetable near Litchfield By ELIZABETH HOAG Staff Writer LITCHFIELD – In the fall, when other farmers are harvesting their variety of crops, Luke Ahrndt and Brian Neff are planting theirs. Starting as a hobby in 2008 and quickly turning into a passion, Ahrndt and Neff established Harvest Moon Garlic in 2011 and currently plant 11 different varieties of garlic on a quarter-acre lot of a 130-acre farm near Litchfield. “I attended the Minnesota Garlic Festival in Howard Lake in 2008 and purchased some fresh garlic,” Ahrndt said. “That is really what started it all.” Neff agreed. “The Harvest Moon refers to the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox, which helped early farmers harvest their crops late into the night before there was harvest equipment with lights. We feel this name roots us to our long family his-
PHOTOS BY ELIZABETH HOAG
Luke Arhndt (from left), Adam Falk and Brian Neff work together at Harvest Moon Garlic near Litchfield. Ahrndt and Neff started growing garlic in 2008, while Falk joined in helping out this year.
tory of farmers and their traditions,” he the garlic cloves by plowing the ground order to develop properly,” Ahrndt said. “We follow organic practices. We don’t said of the company’s name. and spreading manure. As fall approaches, the two former “Garlic needs to be planted in the fall PLANTING SEASON continued on page 5 high school classmates prepare the soil for because it requires a cold treatment in
PHOTO BY DIANE LEUKAM
This keepsake book is filled with photos and other information about Erv Kerfeld’s time spent stationed in Germany. He served in the 3rd armored division of the 52nd infantry, where he drove a personnel carrier.
Serving with Elvis Kerfeld was stationed in Germany with rock ‘n roll legend By DIANE LEUKAM Staff Writer ST. ROSA – As Veterans Day rolls around each year, it’s natural for veterans to reminisce about their days in the service and Erv Kerfeld, a retired dairy farmer from St. Rosa, is no different. He has an involved set of experiences to remember, but one unique aspect of his military life has been carried with him since he was discharged in 1960. Tucked in his wallet is a worn black and white photo taken in 1959 of himself as a young man, alongside fellow serviceman Elvis Presley. “He was older. He got drafted but I volunteered; I figured I would get drafted anyway,” Kerfeld said. A graduate of the Class of ’57 in Mel-
rose, Kerfeld had made up his mind to do something before he started farming. He was inducted on Feb. 8, 1958 at the age of 18. “Dad was kind of ticked off when I did that. He said, ‘Do you know what happens in war? It could be eternity,’” Kerfeld said. In July 1958, after training at Fort Hood, Texas, Kerfeld was stationed at Ray Barracks in Friedberg, Germany. The barracks was used by the German military for training in the ‘40s. A month later, Elvis was stationed there as well. “I was on guard duty at the back gate the day he got there,” Kerfeld said. “There was a railroad that came to the back part of the barracks and nobody was supposed
SERVING WITH ELVIS continued on page 6