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Grote Family Farm

Joe and Emily Grote are the 6th generation of Grotes to farm on the homestead since it was founded in 1856. Joe and Emily currently work with Joe's parents, Fred and Barb, on the day-to-day operation of the farm.

The original Grote farm was homesteaded by Wilhelm Grote. The Grotes came from Germany in 1852 and settled just South of Nerstrand, Minnesota in 1856. Throughout six generations, the farm has expanded, and the main location of the farm moved across the field in 1939. The original granary on the homestead is still located on the farm and has been changed to house some awesome antiques from the yesteryear of farming. The Grotes were some of the early members of the local St. John's Church, and to this day Joe and Emily remain engaged in the local community. The farm has grown and changed over the years from a dairy farm to a farrow to finish hog operation.

The operation now consists of nursery hogs, cattle and cash crops of corn, soybeans and alfalfa. In 2015, Joe and Emily were able to build a new 2,400 head hog nursery facility, which when added to existing buildings created a 3,600 head nursery hog operation. We get new piglets every 8 weeks and raise them from about 12 pounds to 50 pounds. The hogs keep us busy year round.

Our cash crops of corn, soybeans and alfalfa have been staples on the farm since its beginning in 1856. We are lucky to have some great soil, and most years we are blessed with great crops. Most of our corn ends up being sold locally at Jennie-O Turkey Store for turkey feed or in Claremont, Minn., for ethanol. Our alfalfa is baled in small square bales and sold locally for horses and calves or fed to our own cows and calves in the winter.

Grote Family at Joe and Emily's wedding