Goodridge family owns two Century Farms

13435 260th Ave NE is the place Brian and Tracy, along with their two kids, Isaac and Emilea, call home. It’s the place where Brian grew up, and it’s the exact spot where many members of his family have called home, too. 

Then

Originally homesteaded by Brian’s great grandfather, Rasmus Johnson first moved to the farm after emigrating from Norway. He actually first homesteaded in Laverne, Minnesota, but after getting hailed out two years in a row, he made the move to Goodridge when the land became available. The final proof of homestead entry says November 3rd, 1904, which made it a century farm status in 2004, but the paperwork wasn’t filed at that time. Rasmus and Betsy Johnson established their home, farm and family. Doing most of his field work with horses, Rasmus also raised hogs for butchering, chickens and cows. The farm even operated with dairy cattle in the 70’s when Brian’s parents owned it! When a chunk of land became available nearby in 1910, Rasmus took advantage of the opportunity and expanded his acreage.

Across the road straight south, was a piece of farm land that was originally homesteaded by Anton Skog in the early 1900’s. The only building on the land was a small 10x20 (if even that big) building that was used as Anton’s home. (This building was eventually moved over to the other farm where it still sits today and is used for storage.) 

With just 148.55 acres in the original parcel, Anton Skog had first paid $6.85/acre. It was then sold to Rasmus Johnson, who paid $20.25 an acre in 1910. This site gained century farm status in 2010, but again, paper work wasn’t filed at that time. After farming that land for some years, Rasmus’ son, Bert, and his wife, Josephine, became the owners in 1929. It was Bert and Josephine Johnson who got the land established with a home, barn and all of the outbuildings. They resided on the farm and raised their four boys (Richard, Robert, Danny and Gary) until they went to a nursing home in the early 90’s. The farm’s major crops and products included wheat, oats, barley, alfalfa, dairy cattle and corn for silage.

The next owners of that farm were sons, Robert and Richard Johnson, who owned it for 24 years before selling it to Brian and Tracy. Currently, Brian’s cousin, April Ballard and her husband, Tom, live in the original house after buying the yard portion of the farm from Brian and Tracy, who still own and farm all of the tillable land. 

As mentioned, paperwork wasn’t filed around the time of the 100 year mark for each farm, but as of today, both are official Century Farms.

Now

Farming is the way it’s always been, currently is and, hopefully, will continue to be, Brian says. Growing a soybean and wheat rotation, Brian farms with his dad, Gary, who also lives on the property in another home. The original house was built in 1922. Brian’s parents remodeled it in the 90’s. Brian and Tracy moved into the home in 2002 and did a big remodel job in 2016. The original house still stands, but much has been updated and built around it. As for the barn on the property, it was originally built in 1917, and has undergone many remodel projects to make it what it is today. Along with a new foundation, floor and insulation, it’s also been lowered and had a new roof put on. It’s currently used as a shop on the Johnson farm. 

Brian, along with his siblings, all attended high school in Goodridge. After graduation, he went to school in Crookston to learn how to fly and was an aerial crop sprayer for many years, in addition to farming. Although he still has the hanger and plane, Brian got out of the spraying business about four years ago. He and Tracy married on the farm in 2002. In fact, the lights are still hanging on the rafters in the airplane hangar! They laughed and said, “It was the party of the century!”

When looking towards the future, the Johnsons say it would be their hope that one of their children would want to take over the family farm, but, of course, you can’t make them. Isaac will be a freshman at Goodridge High School this fall and Emilea will be in 7th grade. The entire family helps out on the farm and knows the routine well. Tracy, who is retired as a nurse, did daycare for a while and then worked as a para at the Goodridge School. “The kids keep us busy…the farm keeps us busy. I’m a farmer’s wife…Brian’s gopher now!” She laughed.

With both farms now being official Century Farms, the Johnsons have a plaque and certificate that read: “Let it be known that this farm (Brian and Tracy Johnson) has been in continuous agriculture operation - signifying more than 100 years of contributions to the community, state, nation and world. 

There might be some luck in the farming business, but it takes much more than just that to have land stay in a family for a full century. It takes dedication, commitment, great work ethic and a hope for the future, too. And the Johnsons have that hope as they look towards a new century.

About the Century 

Farm Program

Produced by the Minnesota State Fair in conjunction with the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation, the Century Farm Program was created to promote agriculture and honor historic family farms in the state. More than 10,000 MN farms have been honored since the program began in 1976.

Family farms are recognized as a Century Farm when three requirements are met. The farm must be 1) at least 100 years old according to authentic land records, 2) in continuous family ownership for at least 100 years (continuous residence on the farm is not required), and 3) are at least 50 acres in size an currently involved in farming. 

Century Farm families receive a certificate, along with an outdoor sign signifying Century Farm status.

Applications are available online at mnstatefair.org (click the “Recognition Programs” link at the bottom of the home page); at fbmn.org; by calling the State Fair at 651-288-4400; or at statewide county extension and county Farm Bureau offices.