John and Mary Sopkowiak
John and Mary both grew up on dairy farms in central Minnesota, but their path led them north to Lake of the Woods after college in 2002. A decade later, they returned to farming. They began small, with 160 acres of land, 100 of which were tillable. They planted their first crops in 2013. In 2016, the family had built a home and fully moved onto the farm. Over time, they added acres through both purchases and rental agreements, expanding their operation to 420 owned acres and 140 rented acres.
Today, the farm grows around 200 acres of crops in a rotation that includes soybeans, wheat, canola and oats. They also produce about 80 acres of hay and straw, marketing their small square and round bales locally. Deliveries are a regular part of the operation, especially to other farmers and horse owners. Part of their land is in the USDA Conservation Reserve Program and a wooded section is leased out for hunting.
Though both John and Mary work full-time off the farm, the whole family is involved. John and his two sons, Daniel and Jacob, handle most of the crop and equipment work. Everyone helps with making hay, moving hay and delivering to customers. The family stays active in their 4-H club, exhibiting animals at the county fair. The family is also a proud member of their local church and volunteers with programs at Lake of the Woods Schools.