Dean and Jean Braatz Family
Before they began farming, Dean managed a team of computer programmers and Jean taught first grade. They had a large garden and shared food with family, friends and food shelves in the area. In 2009, they decided to start feeding people through a CSA program, which quickly grew to 350 members in addition to marketing at the Prior Lake and Mankato farmers markets. Their kids helped a lot during those wonderful and busy years.
The Braatz family has a large sheep and cow operation, raises a number of pigs, processes about 500 broilers, and during the winter raises 1,500 laying hens. They have 10 high tunnels, and a beautiful greenhouse, and grow their crops following organic practices. They use composted manure as fertilizer, use crop rotation and grow cover crops. They also have 25 acres of alfalfa.
Dean is the operations livestock manager and the “go-to” man for everything. Jean manages the greenhouse, produce production, and is the lactation consultant during the lambing season. The Braatzes are a large family, with seven children: Abigail, Samuel, Andrew, Lucas, Joshua, Jonny and Elizabeth. Everyone works together on the farm. Some family members are involved in 4-H, participate in the Shining Frontiers Club, and the kids show animals at the fair. Their farm is a stop on the 4-H Agronomy on Wheels tour this year. Jean is on the board of the Mankato Farmers Market. The Braatzes are also part of the Growers Network in Mankato.
Dean and Jean Braatz truly enjoy having people visit the farm and invite schools from the cities for field trips. They have even hosted a group of farmers from Africa. Their Fun Farm Days such as ‘Puppy Snuggle Day’ or the annual ‘Baby Animal Day’ usually bring in about 1,000 people. The Braatzes use these opportunities to educate visitors about how farms run, how animals are taken care of, and how different produce is grown.