Boot Lake Farm LLC
Boot Lake Farm was established in 1947 by Lester and Phyllis Rydeen. With their three daughters and two sons, they farmed 160 acres and milked 30 cows. In the late 1960s, an addition was added to the barn and the family started milking 60 cows. Three kids were in college at the same time and tuition was needed.
All five kids attended college, and all remained involved in agriculture at some level. Lester and his son Gary added 40 acres in the early '80s. Supplemental income came from heifer sales. Gary started farming immediately after graduating from the University of Minnesota in dairy science. In 2019, he sold the remaining cows and stopped milking after 47 years.
The Rydeen family farms 250 owned and leased acres. They grow corn, soybeans and hay. They partner with a few other producers to breed red and white Holsteins. The family owns 25 registered Holsteins that are milked at another dairy farm and shown at district, county and state dairy shows.
Current family members involved with Boot Lake Farm are Gary, his sister Sandy Holcomb and their brother Brian. Sandy is a retired teacher and has been involved with the farm’s bookkeeping. Along with her late husband, Jim, Sandy has contributed labor to the farming operations as well. Brian has been involved in fieldwork and a variety of chores. Gary has been the primary lead with dairy operations.
All Rydeen siblings were involved in 4-H. After graduating from college, Gary coached the county 4-H dairy judging team for several years, taking one team to the national competition. He has leased dairy cattle to 4-H youth for 30 years. Gary has been a co-superintendent of dairy at the Washington County Fair for 30 years. He’s been a member of the National Holstein Association for over 50 years, a member of the MN Holstein Association and served as president of the Washington County Holstein Association. Gary is a member of the MN American Dairy Association and served as president of the county ADA. He was also president for four years of the Washington County Dairy Herd Improvement Association.