McCarney Family
James and Margery McCarney, the first generation of McCarney farmers, emigrated from Ireland during the Potato Famine and settled in Harvey Township in 1867. Michael and Diana McCarney are the fifth-generation McCarneys on the farm. Their son, Joe, and his wife, Jammie, are sixth-generation McCarney farmers. Joe and Jammie’s children—Justin, Charlotte, Olivia and Hannah—are the seventh generation. Over the years, the farm has produced a variety of crops such as corn, soybeans, alfalfa and small grains, as well as livestock including cattle, pigs, and turkeys. This diversity between crops and livestock has created a nice balance for the McCarneys.
Michael has been farming his whole life, even putting in the entire crop as a senior in high school when his father fell ill. Michael has farmed full-time since graduating from the University of St. Thomas with a business degree. Joe started farming full-time following graduation from Southwest State University where he received degrees in accounting and ag business management.
Michael and Joe both run the day-to-day operations of the farm. Diana retired as principal and music teacher from the School of Saint Philip in Litchfield. She helps the farm by babysitting, making meals, and giving rides to and from the field. Jammie works full-time at Meeker Cooperative and enjoys driving a tractor and doing tillage in the spring and fall.
The McCarney family lives their lives with a focus on faith, family and farming. The family has always been actively involved in the Church of Our Lady in Manannah. In fact, James McCarney helped establish the church in 1876.
Today, the McCarneys are busy with local organizations. Joe serves on the board of directors for Central Counties Co-op, is a supervisor for the Harvey Township Board, and chairs the parish administrative council. Jammie serves on the school committee for the School of Saint Philip and volunteers with the school, church, and 4-H. Diana plays the organ at the Church of Our Lady and volunteers on several committees for the parish and the Diocese of New Ulm. Justin and Charlotte are 4-Hers in the Litchfield Satellites club (Joe was a third-generation Harvey 4-H member). Joe and Jammie are members of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association.