Eric and Carla Zirbes Family
Eric’s great-great-grandfather, Anton, started farming on the family’s current land in 1912. Anton milked about 30 Holstein cows and raised cattle, pigs and chickens. His family farmed 200 acres growing all the feed they needed for their animals. Anton sold the farm to his son, Joe, around 1922. Joe continued milking cows and farming the 200 acres. About 1946, Joe sold the farm to his son, Hubert, who continued the same operation and expanded the farm by purchasing the neighbor’s land, adding 160 acres. In 1965, Hubert purchased another 120 acres of woodland, where he grazed cattle in the late summer and early fall. Eric’s dad, Michael, purchased the farm in 1974.
Growing up, Eric and his family milked about 35 Holstein cows and finished out about 40 head of Holstein/Angus calves each year, they also grew corn silage and grain, alfalfa, oats and wheat. Eric’s parents sold the dairy cows in 1996 and continued raising about 60-70 head of youngstock. They also grew cash crops.
Eric purchased the farm in 2001 from his parents. He switched it over to an Angus beef cow/calf operation, finishing out about 100 cattle a year. Eric expanded the farm in 2018 by purchasing a neighbor’s 40 acres, and again in 2022 by purchasing another 107 acres.
Eric served in the Marine Corps from 1995 until 1999, stationed in Camp Pendleton, California. He attended Alexandria Technical College and earned a degree in criminal justice. Eric worked full-time as a Melrose police officer and a Stearns County deputy.
Eric currently runs about 100 Angus and Sim/Angus cow/calf pairs. They keep all the calves and raise them to their finished weight. The family sells most of the finished cattle directly to consumers through two local family-owned meat processing facilities--the St. Joseph Meat Market and Schaefer's Market in Sauk Centre. On average, the Zirbeses supply high-quality beef to about 250 families a year. They own about 780 acres and rent another 240. All the land varies from corn, seed soybeans, alfalfa, wheat, oats, pastures, low land and forest. Eric also plants about 100 acres of cover crops every year.
Carla works a full-time job from home. She takes care of household chores and responsibilities, feeds and takes care of her horses, helps with chores and at planting and harvest season as needed. Eric’s brother, Chad, helps with chores and at planting and harvest season as needed.
Eric and Carla’s daughter, Makayla, helps with chores and at harvest when needed or is available. Eric and Carla’s daughter, Cassidy Busche, helps with chores and at harvest when needed or available. The Zirbeses’ son, Laramie, feeds the cats! (He's 5 years old)
Eric receives calls from younger farmers in the area asking questions about certain farming practices or cattle health care. He enjoys the opportunity to mentor younger farmers.