Rick and Cheryl Hessler from the Silver Valley area have won the Saddle Hills County 2021 Family Farm Award!
The Hessler homestead has been around for 75 years, starting with Rick’s parents after WWII.
Operations have transitioned over the years: in 1971 Rick first purchased his own land and now with Rick and Cheryl’s adult children and grandchildren, there are many helping hands on the farm.
Around 120 cow/calf pairs and 3200 acres for pasture and crop are shared between the extended family. Wheat, canola, peas and oats are the main crops that are rotated through the farmland along with hay.
The family has been heavily involved in the small communities of Silver Valley and Savanna over the years with the Lutheran Church for six generations, Savanna School sports teams, Savanna Minor Hockey and Baseball, Savanna Agricultural Society, Savanna 4-H Beef and 4-H Foods Clubs and countless other organizations and groups.
Rick and Cheryl were guests on the River Country Ag Show speaking about the history of the farm and about winning the award.
When asked about how it felt to win in a small community they said “It’s something we never, ever expected. You know you go through life and farming not expecting any type of reward like that, and it’s nice people are out there that think of you in that capacity.”
You can listen to the full interview with the Hesslers below as well as on the River Country Ag Show, airing every weekday during the noon hour.
-Erika Rolling, Trending 55 Newsroom
