Two millennial aged girls surprised their family by taking on the responsibility of their family farm after their father passed away.
The calling to take on the 1,300 acre ranch happened when Miranda and Kaycee Altermatt were 20 and 22, days after their father was killed in a boating accident, local NBC Minnesota affiliated station stated.
And after their grandfather, Mark asked, “Do you want to farm?”
Originally the two ladies said, they would be up for helping. Until their grandfather stated a follow-up question, so the two women would know how heavy of a responsibility this would be.
Stating, “That ain’t what I’m asking you.”
“I know you’ll help us take the crop out, but I want to know if you want to farm.”
Both agreed to be “farmers” so they could preserve their family tradition near and dear to their heart.
After agreeing to do so, no one was sure what would happen and many were betting against them. But, the proof is in the pudding. The young girls proved that they were up for the challenge, by winning at their fifth season harvest, showing family and neighbors that they were up for the task.
Their uncle Scott Haas openly admitted, “I wasn’t sure if they were up to it, but I am now.”
The doubts were also based in the young women’s limited farming experience, because neither one had planted corn or driven their new 24-7 vehicle, a John Deere Harvester on their Minnesota farm.
On the first ride out to harvest, Kaycee categorized the experience as “terrifying.” But now that is just a distant memory and what kept them going and interested in conquering their fear is, “If we didn’t take it over then who would?”
Now realizing, “I’m sure we’re stronger than we ever thought we could be and do more than we ever thought we could,” Kaycee explained.
The young girls are the only surviving children, they had a brother but he passed away from a skiing accident.