David and Sandy Knutson named Red River Valley Outstanding Leaders
Tue, 04/07/2020 - 1:07pm
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By Darlene Sawyer Farmers Independent
David and Sandy Knutson of rural Clearbrook have been named Clearwater County’s Red River Valley Outstanding Leaders (formerly Valley Farmer and Homemaker) for 2020, according to Al Paulson of the Clearwater County Fair Board. The award is from the Red River Valley Development Association, of which Clearwater County is a member. The award will be presented to the Knutsons on March 28 at the University of Minnesota-Crookston.
David Knutson, 73, is a lifelong farmer from Leon Township near Clearbrook. He was the son of Carl and Mabel Knutson and has one sister, Karen Cook, in Waverly, Minn. David is a 1965 graduate of Clearbrook High School. He noted, “I did not participate in any extra-curricular activities in high school because I was needed to help with chores at home.” However, by the age of 20, he did own a small herd of beef cattle which he had helped raise.He attended the Wahpeton School of Science where he studied plumbing, and then worked for six years for Northern Pipeline, followed by carpenter work around Clearbrook.
In 1980, David went to North Dakota where he bought a Simmental bull and to Canada where he bought a purebred heifer. His herd eventually “calved out” to over 100 cows. During this time, David started buying more pasture and hay land. He also constructed some cattle sheds and began cross-breeding Simmental cattle with Red Angus so he had a good Red Angus commercial herd. Then he met Sandy Larson….a friendly, pretty widowed neighbor.
After a brief courtship, David and Sandy were married in 1981. They built a new home on David’s farm. The newlywed couple also shared fun in riding a Polaris snowmobile during the winter. During the summer they rode their Harley-Davidson motorcycle to the Black Hills in South Dakota and took several trips to various Wisconsin sites. Their farm grew to 500 acres on which they raised hay. Eventually, they retired in 2019 by selling over 60 cows to two grandsons, and their acres of land were sold to one neighbor and three grandsons. Both nodded their heads and smiled, “That was the best thing.”
According to David, “The biggest changes in my farming career have been in animal genetics and the computerized farming equipment. As far as wild animal problems in Leon, they were non-existent.”
The Knutsons are long-time members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Clearbrook.
David added, “I’m not a member of any boards. I’ve tried to avoid that! In retirement, I enjoy watching TV and visiting with our grandkids. I also enjoy the cattle shows at the Clearwater County Fair.”
Sandra (“Sandy”) Knutson was daughter of Harlan and Inga Nelson who farmed in Greenwood Township. Her one brother is deceased. She graduated in 1959 from Clearbrook High School and married Ray Larson in 1959. They had three children: John, Kim and Kay. Sandy and Ray raised both cattle and grain on a farm in Leon Township.
Ray passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack in 1978. Sandy and her son John farmed together until 1981 when she married David Knutson. She sold the Larson farm to her son John and moved to the Knutson farm. At this time, she began a 15-year career at the Good Samaritan Home in Clearbrook as a general caregiver and as an assistant in rehabilitation.
She is also known for her great cooking. She said, “My favorite thing to cook and to eat is roast beef with the gravy and mashed potatoes. It is David’s favorite meal, too, as well as our grandkids’. I also like to read a lot. I love detective stories. The only technology we have now is an I-Pad. We check it every day and keep track of our 12 grandkids and 10 great-grandkids. Our great-granddaughter McKenzie plays basketball and volleyball for the Clearbrook-Gonvick Bears.”
The Knutsons don’t travel much now; however, Sandy’s favorite tourist place was Washington, D.C. “I loved the cherry blossoms and their odor as they were blooming….We saw all the statues and memorials, including President Kennedy’s grave at Arlington and the changing of the guard at Arlington. Both David and I like old-time country music.”
Sandy was treasurer for Leon Township for 34 years and retired last year. She was a member of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church’s WELCA, and an active parent in 4-H with the Leon Ramblers 4-H Club when her children were young. Her children liked to show cattle. She still enjoys seeing the 4-H exhibits.
They appreciate the recognition and thank the people who nominated them.