David and Judy Livingston
David’s father, Melbourn, purchased the farm in 1944. He raised crops, dairy, hogs, sheep, chickens, and one year, a flock of turkeys. The family farmed this way until David and his brother introduced purebred Yorkshire and Hampshire hogs plus purebred Suffolk sheep when they participated in 4-H and FFA. When David returned from service in 1965, he purchased the farm from his parents. Soon after, he got rid of the chickens, then the hogs, the sheep were sold to a neighbor and David expanded the dairy herd.
With David and Judy’s three daughters in 4-H at a young age, the family added Holstein, Jersey and Ayrshire cows and the daughters showed the animals at the Dodge County Fair, open shows in the area, and the Minnesota State Fair.
Currently, David and Judy along with their daughter Sheryl and her husband Brad, own a cow/calf beef herd, raising purebred Limousin and Lim/Flex cattle. The cows are located on the Livingston farm; the calves, after being weaned, are sent to Brad and Sheryl’s place to be raised.
The Livingstons put up round bales of hay and corn stocks and they grow corn for silage. David and Judy’s grandchildren have shown beef at the Dodge County Fair in addition to the Minnesota State Fair along with Limousin shows in Iowa and Nebraska. They have also shown garden produce, sheep and goats. Judy and David’s great-granddaughter, Annabelle, began showing sheep last year.
Sheryl, Brad and their children, Courtney and Devin, are very involved in the day-to-day operation of the farm. Courtney and Devin have received their American FFA Degrees. David and Judy’s daughter Sheila and her husband Paul, along with their children, Shea and Shelby, all have helped around the farm and now mostly work in the family’s large vegetable garden. Shelby and her husband Alan’s son is too young for 4-H but loves the animals on the farm. David and Judy’s youngest daughter, Shawn, helps with baling and other chores on the farm.
David and Judy are involved in the First Presbyterian Church in Hayfield. David has been a member of the American Legion in Dodge Center for 54 years, was a founding member of the Lions Club and is still a member and volunteer. He has served on the Dodge County Soil and Water Conservation Board for 16 years and volunteers with the Cedar River Watershed District. David is a member of the Triton FFA Alumni. Sheryl is the superintendent of the sheep show at the Dodge County Fair.