As the year draws to a close, the Rio Grande Sun is reflecting on the stories that have shaped Espanola and Rio Arriba County. These stories are like the threads
Photos courtesy of Wisconsin OYF
OUTSTANDING FARMERS: Five couples competed for Wisconsin’s 2021 Outstanding Young Farmer Award. They are (front, from left) runners-up Joe and Ashley Dudkiewicz, Crivitz, and winners Jennifer and Shane Sauer, Waterloo. In back (from left) are Leslie and Scott Svacina, Deer Park, and Jenny and Michael Jenson, Elk Mound. Clint and Erin Hodorff, Eden, are not in the photo. Shane and Jennifer Sauer farm 650 acres and milk 150 cows.
Shane and Jennifer Sauer of Waterloo, Wis., were selected as the Wisconsin 2021 Outstanding Young Farmers during the 67th annual OYF awards weekend, held Jan. 22-23 in Neenah, Wis.
Shane Sauer is the third generation to run his family’s dairy farm at Waterloo.
The Waterloo dairy farmer recalls spending many hours watching and admiring his grandfather for the many skills he had operating the farm. Sauer also remembers helping with the milking at a very young age.
Sauer credits those early years on the farm for developing his work ethic and for teaching him that there will be good days and bad days but that it was the career and lifestyle he wanted.
When Shane was 15 he started receiving a percentage of the milk check for his contributions to keeping the farm going. During that time he began looking for ways to take over the business.