The Tim and Kay Rolf family of McIntosh has been named Polk County’s “2020 Farm Family of the Year” by the University of Minnesota.
Tim’s parents, Truman and Agnes, took over the dairy farm from Truman’s parents in 1950. The couple grew the dairy to 65 cows. Tim and his brother, Dave, purchased the dairy farm from their parents in 1989. Seven years later, the brothers started a 200-sow farrow-to-finish hog operation. Later, they added buildings for a 3,000-sow farrow-to-wean pig business.
In 2016, Tim, along with his son, Derek, launched Golden Sunrise Dairy Incorporated. This year they moved into a new milking facility featuring robotic milking, feeding and manure cleaning. The Rolfs also grow corn and hay for their livestock.
Tim and Derek take care of the field work and the dairy. Tim’s wife, Kay, handles the bookkeeping. The Rolfs’ daughters, Ashley and Brittany, are employed at Greater Minnesota Management in Mentor, Minn., and help on the farm when needed.
Tim served on the McIntosh Creamery board for 20 years and Derek was a member of the local DHIA board. The Rolfs are members of Trinity Free Lutheran Church near McIntosh where Derek serves as board secretary. Tim is a member of the board of directors of Bethany Bible Camp.
Though COVID-19 has forced cancellation of the annual Minnesota Farmfest, where the awards are presented each August, this year’s honorees will be celebrated in an online video tribute. The recognition, lead by University of Minnesota President Joan Gabel, will be available at 1 p.m., Aug. 6 at mnfarmfamilies.cfans.umn.edu.
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.
“We’ll miss the face-to-face ceremony for the 2020 Farm Families of the Year, but nothing diminishes pride we take in celebrating their accomplishments,” said Extension Dean Bev Durgan. “These families represent the best in agriculture. They’re innovative and dedicated to their communities; they are stewards of the land.”
A complete list of the 2020 Farm Families of the Year will be available at mnfarmfamilies.CFAMS.umn.edu.
Along with Farmfest, University units sponsoring the recognition event include University of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, and the College of Veterinary Medicine.
