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Meet our Members

Welcome to our Members Spotlight!

This is where you will be able to "meet" the members we have at The Blackberry Farm. They will be sharing many different things like how long they've been a member, what they do, or what their favorite part of the show or memory is.

Hi! My name is Amy Ruzynski!​

I work at Farmers insurance in Grand Rapids. I have been in the customer service industry for over 25 years. I also cook and do dishes at the Swan River Red Eye, part time.​

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You may have seen me around here snapping photos! I also created the farm club calendars and I have been capturing this year's events!

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At the threshing show, Volunteer Kelly Mickelson and I were serving up Oinkers and Potato tornadoes! As first-time volunteers, we had a lot of fun firing up the fry shack!

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I really have enjoyed all the events! The bake sale goodies are the best in town.

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I learned a lot at education day (a day set aside as a field trip for schools and homeschooled kids). I was fascinated by all the different stations, and I could tell the kids were actually interested!

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I moved into the blackberry area in 2020. This has been a fun place to meet the people of the community!

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The members have been very welcoming, and I am very proud to be a member of The Blackberry Farm Club!

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Hello! My name is Robert Learmont​

I have attended the show with my family since I was a small child in the mid 1990's. I have since attended 6-10 shows per year across 9 different states as I moved around for work, with a bucket list of attending a list of tractor shows in several other states, as well as a few in Canada and across the pond in England. I have also attended steam schools at Rollag, MN, Pontiac, IL, and Forest City, IA.

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That being said, this show in particular is special to me, having been the show I grew up with. I finally became a member in 2022 while I was living out of state in the Corn Belt in western Illinois, and started volunteering by helping with the steam tractors when I had time. In 2023, I moved back to Minnesota, and was able to bring one of my own tractors to display in the show for the first time.

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My interest isn't only based around classic tractors- I also enjoy attending agricultural trade shows and keeping up with new equipment, technologies, and methods as agriculture continues to evolve. I run a small farm and make hay with vintage equipment outside of my "day" job, and also enjoy driving to differet areas to observe farmers from different areas and learn about what they are doing and what they are producing. I also enjoy exploring other primary industries and transportation. Agriculture has a way that is as age-old as hand-threshing wheat or hand shelling corn, of people making decisions in a way that will not only better themselves, but also better and leave a good legacy for those generations down the line. The antique tractor hobby follows suit, and outside of the feel, sounds, and smells of working with vintage equipment, this is what draws me to this hobby and towards this organization.

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During the show, you'll often find me taking photographs of all the equipment at work, preparing the steam tractors for a day of work, hauling water or wood to the steam tractors, or up on one of the steam tractors working as an apprentice with one of the engineers on my journey to getting my Minnesota Historical Boilers license.

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I firmly believe that knowledge and understanding of history and strong historical empathy are vital to our societ's future, and a great way to learn about history is to experience it, be immersed in it, and watch it in action. The threshing show, of course, offers a much broader look into life in days gone by than just old equipment, offering a good glimpse into rural and small-town life through the years and things that made such life possible. It is great to experience, great to be a part of, and it keeps us coming back. All the stuff might be old, but the experience never gets old, as there is always something new to learn, and it is fun. I am proud to be a part of this organization and to have a hand in preserving our past.

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Hi! We're John & Theresa Howrey

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We have both been members for about 15 years.

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We each grew up on farms. Theresa grew up in the northwest section of Iowa (Crawford County) and I grew up in north central Iowa (Calhoun County). The farms were the typical small farms that raised corn beans, oats, and hay. Also, we raised the typical cow, hogs, sheep and chickens for livestock. As a result, we were both exposed to the traditional way of farming. We retired in Grand Rapids Minnesota.

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During our marriage, we purchased a 1952 B John Deere from Theresa's Father. 

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Theresa, along with some of the ladies in the Association, care for the flowers you see around the grounds during our annual show in August.

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John has served on the Board of Directors for 11 years and is generally seen operating the threshing machine during the annual August show.

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We have a good bunch of guys (very smart and talented), who work well together and teach each other new things. We have learned a lot from working with them on Workday Wednesdays.

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We would like everyone to know that you don't need to own an antique tractor to be a member here. If you have any interest at all, come and join us! We usually have meetings the first Monday of each month at 7pm (there are a couple exceptions to this rule). For future reference, the Association is also starting to be known as "The Blackberry Farm".

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Hi! I'm Bruce Gould

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I have been a member for 20 - 25 years. It's been so long that I can't remember the exact number!

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I originally started out by collecting toy tractors before I found out that the real tractors were cheaper! As a matter of fact, I bought an Allis Chalmers G from a club member in the beginning, and I still have it to this day.

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During the show you will most likely find me in the announcer's booth, but I will also help out in a lot of different areas around the grounds. You will always be able to tell it's me from all the orange! 

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I originally joined the club because I love tractors and preserving the past, but it's really all the people! There are so many talented and helpful people out there. I still love tractors, but now with so many other pieces of history around the grounds, you don't need to be a tractor guy to enjoy the show.

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A dream of mine is to get the younger generation interested in preserving the past. So come on out and learn something new! We are a welcoming bunch and would love to share what we do with you!

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Hi! I'm Jenna Madoll

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I have been a member of the club for my entire life. From running around just being a kid, to helping Mom in the Kitchen, working with Dad in the Barn with our horses, running the printing press, and now helping run the social media for the club. 

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I used to give field demonstrations using Draft Horses. If you came to the show in 2021, there's a good chance you got a wagon ride with me! Now, I can be found giving wagon rides with the tractors or working towards getting the old printing press up and running.

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There are so many amazing aspects to The Blackberry Farm, that it is impossible to pick a favorite. Although, I do really enjoy getting to hear all the different stories from back in the day from all these different people. I learn something new every year!  

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