7-28-25 JUICE Tewes Family  

Jeff, Jen, Meta, and Kade Tewes join the Morning Juice to talk about being named Jackson County's 2025 Farm Family of the Year by the University of Minnesota. 

 

 

 

 

 

Tewes Family recognized as a 2025 ‘U of M Farm Family’

The Jeff & Jen Tewes family of Jackson have been named Jackson County’s “2025 Farm Family of the Year” by the University of Minnesota.  The Tewes Family Farm began in 1967, when Robert and Marlene Tewes began raising pigs and growing corn and soybeans outside Jackson, Minnesota. Years later, their son Jeff returned to the farm after earning a degree in applied economics from the University of Minnesota. While working as a local ag lender, he started adding cattle to the mix, slowly shifting toward a cow-calf operation alongside the row crops. In 2001, Jen joined the farm when she and Jeff married, and together they have continued to grow the operation while working for Sanford Health for over 20 years.

Today, the Tewes farm is home to 100 cow-calf pairs, 60 breeding ewes and a mix of corn and soybeans. The Tewes’ family bought Bob’s Fleet Supply in 2022 when no other buyer could be found. Bob’s Fleet Supply is a hardware/farm store focusing on the Ag and Commercial needs of the community. Their kids, Meta and Kade, have been deeply involved in raising and showing livestock. Kade exhibits and raises purebred Angus and club calves. Meta showed and now raises Dorset-cross sheep. Now in college, Meta is studying Ag Education and Animal Science at South Dakota State University, while Kade plans to attend Butler Community College this fall to study Animal Science and to compete on their livestock judging team. Whether they are making decisions in the field or the show barn, the Tewes family runs on hard work, relationships and a love for the land. The next generation is already carrying the same commitment their family has lived by for over 50 years. 

Jackson County 4-H and Extension welcome the public to show their support on Tuesday, July 29 during the Jackson County Fair at their Annual 4-H Winner’s Circle event (an award ceremony for grand and reserve champion 4-H'ers exhibiting general projects) which takes place at 5:30 p.m. in the Olson Pavilion on the Jackson County Fairgrounds - 78748 550th Ave, Jackson, MN 56143. In addition to being recognized at the Winner’s Circle event, the Tewes family and all Minnesota Farm Families will be officially recognized in a ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 7 at the annual Farmfest near Redwood Falls. Profiles of the 2025 honorees are featured at z.umn.edu/farm-families-2025.

Honored families are chosen, one per county, by local University of Minnesota Extension committees based on their demonstrated commitment to their communities and to enhancing and supporting agriculture. Honorees cover a wide spectrum of farming, from traditional crops and livestock to community-based ventures and operations producing an array of fruit, vegetables and flowers.

“This year’s 86 Farm Families of the Year reflect the breadth and variety of agriculture in our state,” said Extension Dean Bev Durgan. “The University of Minnesota is proud to honor these families and their innovation and dedication to Minnesota agriculture.”

Along with Farmfest, the program is sponsored by three University of Minnesota units focusing on agricultural research, education and outreach – University of Minnesota Extension, the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences and the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Farmfest runs Aug. 5-7 at the Gilfillan Estate, near Redwood Falls. Event hours are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $8 in advance or $10 at the gate and ages 17 and younger are admitted for free. More information on Farmfest is available at www.farmfest.com.