ountry C cres A
A Supplement to the Star Shopper
Focusing on Today’s Rural Environment
Friday, October 5, 2018 • Edition 14
From hobby to business
Tabatts sell variety of fall décor By KATELYN ASFELD Staff Writer
LONG PRAIRIE – A sure sign of fall is when the weather becomes cool, leaves begin to fall, days get shorter and pumpkins are in season. Amongst the fields of large green leaves and yellow flowers, one can spot bright orange pumpkins peeking out, ripe and ready to be picked. Many Americans enjoy the brightly-colored fruit, from home décor to
carving and baking. For over 25 years, the Tabatts in Long Prairie have been growing and selling pumpkins, as well as squash, gourds and other fall décor, to those who relish autumn activities and décor. As a child, Jerome Tabatt had a garden with his family where they grew a variety of produce, including pumpkins. “It started out as a hobby,” said Jerome’s wife, Brenda. “He would try growing different varieties of pumpkins, ornamental squash and gourds.” Jerome began selling his produce out of the back of a truck along Highway 71. His side business flourished. “I became involved as soon as Warty pumpkins are one variety of pumpkins the Tabatt family sells at their farm near Long Prairie.
we were married, which was 25 years ago,” Brenda said. When they first began, the Tabatts grew pumpkins, a few squash, mini pumpkins and gourds on two acres. “We would get our family and friends to help pick and it was done within a week,” Brenda said. “Now, it takes us almost all of September and half of October to pick.” The Tabatts now have 25 acres dedicated to pumpkins, gourds, squash and fall decorations, such as corn shocks, straw bales and ornamental squash. “We both have jobs outside of this, so we set up a small building at my parents’ farm,” Brenda said. “My dad is a farmer and my mom is retired, so they are there to watch the stand.” The stand, however, is a selfserve system, open Sept. 15 to Oct. 31 from sunup to sundown, where customers can stop, select the items they want, then place
PHOTOS BY KATELYN ASFELD
TABATT continued on page 3
Brenda Tabatt cuts a pumpkin from a vine Sept. 27 at Tabatt Pumpkin Farm near Long Prairie.
A BREED APART By KATELYN ASFELD Staff Writer
KIMBALL – On the rolling hills east of Kimball, Bob and Diana Lange’s home overlooks the Clearwater River where they have lived for more than 40 years. Diana enjoys the hills, while Bob likes
seeing the wildlife. Both enjoy being surrounded by the peace and quiet of nature. On the hillsides are pastures where the Langes raise a unique breed of cattle – the Normande. The cattle possess distinctive markings of spots and blotches in
Langes raise Normande cattle
cy and climatic adaptability. Ad- them out here.” The Normande is a dual-purditionally, they found the breed was relatively new to the Unit- pose breed that can be raised for ed States. The first importation milk or meat. They have a high of Normandes to the U.S. from butterfat and protein content their place of origin in Norman- in their milk which is ideal for dy, France began in cheese making. Their 1974 and 1975, acmeat is lean, with an cording to the North average of 1/4 inch in American Normande back fat. Association. The characterThe Langes pur- “We wanted istic of the cattle the chased their first two Langes desire most is to raise a purebred Normande calving ease. breed of heifers in 1976 at “We haven’t lost a beef expo in Des a calf in four years,” cattle that Bob said. Moines, Iowa. “Every cow would be “We were the was able to give birth first people in Minnewithout any problems easy to sota to begin raising and the calves were take care of all healthy and lived.” them,” Bob said. Their cow-calf N o r m a n d e and easy to operation grew and calves average 70 to handle” became more refined 90 pounds in birth through selective however, - Bob Lange weight, breeding. At their through selective peak, the ranch had breeding, the Lang50 cows; they now operate with es’ calves are between 65 to 20 cows and two bulls on 60 80 pounds at birth. Other cattle acres of pasture and 100 acres of breeds can be up to 100 pounds grassland. in birth weight. “We sell our cattle for breedPHOTO BY KATELYN ASFELD LANGE A Normande Normande cow looks down curiously ing stock,” said Diana. “We keep No about five steers back and finish Sept. SSe ept. 27 in a pasture near Kimball. continued on page 6
white, black, brown and brindle (brown color with streaks of another color). All of the cows have dark pigmented hairs around their eyes, offering protection from the sun and from pinkeye. The Langes, originally from Montevideo, moved to the area after both took up work at a nuclear plant in Monticello. They found the perfect area to build their home and farm and raise their three daughters, Julie, Tanya and Kristy. The couple wanted to raise cattle on the grassland they owned. “We wanted to raise a breed of cattle that would be easy to take care of and easy to handle,” Bob said. The Langes first heard about the Normande breed when they went to the Minnesota State Fair and saw a bull on display. “He was huge,” Diana said. Normande cattle had the characteristics the Langes desired, such as good temperament, easy calving, high feed efficien-