Photo by Deb Gau Paul Lanoue, at right, presented Robert and Paula Gee with a plaque recognizing the Gee Family as the 2020 Lyon County Farm Family of the Year. The Gee family farm was founded in 1902, and today the Gees still raise both crops and livestock.
MARSHALL — The land has been in the family for generations. But Robert Gee said the running the farm is more than just a family business — it’s something he loves doing.
“All I ever wanted to do was farm,” Gee said. “I got to work alongside my dad all of his life, and now I am working with my son.”
Last week the Gee family of Cottonwood was honored for all their hard work as Robert and his wife Paula accepted a plaque recognizing the Gees as Lyon County’s 2020 Farm Family of the Year.
“They’re a very fitting family for Farm Family of the Year,” Paul Lanoue said, as he presented the plaque on Tuesday. Normally, the Farm Family of the Year would be recognized during the Lyon County Fair, and at Farmfest. But with no fair or Farmfest events this summer, the award ceremony was instead held at the start of the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce’s State of the Agriculture panel.
The Gees were among 82 families from across Minnesota who were honored as Farm Families of the Year this year.
The Gee Family Farm is a century farm, established by Robert’s great-grandfather back in 1902, and Robert, his father and his grandfather all worked the farm over the years. Robert and Paula raised four children — Bette, Coreen, Roxanne and Jason — who all helped on the farm growing up. Today, all four are still involved in some type of agriculture, and Jason and his wife Tara are working the farm together with Robert and Paula.
“My son will be the fifth generation on the farm here,” Robert Gee said.
Robert described the Gee family farm as a diversified farm. The Gees grow corn, soybeans, alfalfa and wheat, as well as raising hogs and cattle. They have a farrow-to-finish hog operation, and have a herd of 110 registered Angus cows.
Working the farm is tougher now, Robert Gee said.
“But we keep on going with it,” he said.
Keeping the farm going is something the whole family helps out with, Robert and Paula said. While Robert and Jason work the farm, all the Gee children and grandchildren help out when needed. Paula manages the farm’s bookkeeping, and delivers machinery and equipment parts to the farm.
In addition to working on the farm, Robert is involved in local government and community organizations. He’s a supervisor on the Stanley Township Board, a member of the St. Clotilde Church Cemetery Board, a member of the Lyon County Farm Bureau, the Lyon County Cattlemen’s Association and the Minnesota Angus Association.
He’s worked hard over the years, but Robert Gee said he’s loved working the family farm.
“I wouldn’t have traded those years working with Dad for anything,” he said. And now, Jason is about the same age Robert was when he started farming with his father. It’s a good feeling to continue the tradition, Gee said.
Paula and Robert Gee said they wanted to thank community members, the University of Minnesota Extension and organizers of the Farm Family Recognition program.
“It was an honor for us to receive that award,” Paula Gee said.
The Link LonkAugust 31, 2020 at 12:16PM
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