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Faribault County’s Farm Family of the Year

Bill Rosenau’s great-great grandparents started their farm in 1873

By Kevin Mertens - Staff Writer | Sep 17, 2023

Susie and Bill Rosenau are pictured on their farm southwest of Blue Earth. The Rosenau family’s history of farming in Faribault County goes back to 1873 when Bill’s great-great grandfather purchased land northeast of Blue Earth. Later, Bill’s great-grandparents purchased the land where they farm today,

With roots that run back to the 1800s, the Rosenau family has long been a part of Faribault County’s agricultural history.

This past summer, the Bill and Susie Rosenau family of Blue Earth was recognized as the 2023 Faribault County Farm Family of the Year. The Rosenaus were honored at the Faribault County Fair on July 27.

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.

“These farm families are a major driver of Minnesota’s economy and the vitality of Minnesota’s rural communities,” Bev Durgan, dean of the University of Minnesota Extension, says. “The University of Minnesota is proud to recognize these farm families for their contributions to agriculture and their communities.”

“My great-great grandparents, Johann and Anna, first settled in Faribault County northeast of Blue Earth somewhere near Immanuel Lutheran Church,” Bill explains. “That was in 1873.”

It was Bill’s great-grandparents, Emil and Albertina, who purchased a farm and a log cabin southwest of Blue Earth. A picture of the log cabin hangs in Bill and Susie’s home.

“That log cabin was actually across the road to the east from our house,” Bill says. “Emil and Albertina did live in the cabin, but it was torn down in 1903 when they moved into a new house.”

That “new” house was actually moved onto the present farm site using a team of horses.

“My grandfather, dad and I all grew up in that house,” Bill notes.

Bill and Susie are the fourth generation of Rosenaus to farm the land.

The couple met while attending South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. Bill had graduated from Blue Earth Area in 1994 while Susie graduated from Bon Homme High School in Tyndall, South Dakota.

“I was in the pharmacy program at SDSU,” Susie comments. “It was a six-year program.”

Bill actually changed his plans while attending the university.

“I originally planned on going to vet school,” he shares. “But then I got a banking job and decided to stick with it.”

Bill and Susie both worked at a HyVee in Brookings and had different groups of people trying to set them up.

“Apparently our friends thought we would make a good couple,” Susie says with a smile.

They were married before they finished college and Bill took his first banking job in Graceville, which is located in Big Stone County in Minnesota.

In 2003, the Rosenaus moved to Blue Earth.

Bill’s father David and his mother Paula had been operating the farm since the mid-1960s, when David returned from serving in the Marine Corps and took over the farming responsibilities from Bill’s grandfather, who was pulled out of school at age 12 to help on the farm.

“My parents had a farrow to finish hog operation. They built a new finishing barn in the early 1970s but by the mid 1990s they had quit raising hogs,” Bill explains. “My father also had a cow calf herd which we still have today.”

Although Bill and Susie moved back to the area in 2003, they did not take over the farming operation until 2012. They built a new house on the farm in 2016.

“Even before we moved to Blue Earth, Bill was coming back to help with the farm whenever he could,” Susie comments.

Bill adds, “I always have enjoyed it (the farm). I thought I would come back someday.”

Turns out, Bill is not the only one in the family with a farming background.

“I grew up on a dairy farm,” Susie says. “I would bottle feed calves every night and I also had the responsibility of feeding the heifers.”

Today, the Rosenau farm consists of 300 acres of corn and soybeans along with their 30 head cow/calf operation. They also have 75 acres of pasture around their building site.

“We actually split the pasture into seven different pastures,” Bill explains. “This allows us to rotationally graze our cattle during the summer. We also cut and bale about 25 acres of pasture prior to grazing so we have grass hay for the winter.”

A further exploration of the farm will lead a person to find there are also some 4-H chickens and rabbits occupying some of the available space.

While all of the activity occurring on the farm might seem like enough to keep them busy, the Rosenaus also have full-time jobs off of the farm.

“I have worked full time at First Bank Blue Earth as an Ag and Commercial Loan officer since 2003,” Bill says.

“And I work as a pharmacist for United Hospital District and Blue Earth Drug,” Susie adds.

With all of the work to be done on the farm, Bill and Susie have been busy training the next generation to help out with the necessary work.

“Our oldest daughter, Kylie, chops stalks in the fall,” Bill comments. “She was active in 4-H and is currently attending SDSU where she is studying bio-chemistry.”

Two children, Carter and Brooklyn, are still in school at BEA where Carter is a sophomore and his younger sister is in seventh grade.

“They are both active in 4-H,” Susie says. “Carter is also in FFA and plays football and baseball. Brooklyn plays tennis, basketball and softball, is in dance and plays the piano, flute and violin.”

If the Rosenau children seem to be active and involved in a variety of activities, it is probably because of the example set by their parents.

Bill has been an active member of the Blue Earth Fire Department for 18 years and has served as both a lieutenant and captain. He has also served on the Blue Earth Economic Development Authority since 2005 and he has been a member of the Blue Earth Kiwanis Club since 2004. He has also served as an elder at church, a youth baseball coach and a girls youth basketball coach.

Susie served on the BEA School Board for four years and was a founding member of the BEA Tennis Association and has been a girls youth basketball coach. She has taught Sunday School for several years and leads a Community Ed class every year for the Science Fair. She is a member of the post prom committee and along with her children she has been a part of Relay for Life since 2009.

Of their involvement, Susie says, “My parents were always involved in our church and I think Bill and I learned to be involved in college. When you live in a small town, you see the need to help others. It’s how things get done.”