Michael and Denise Menze family
The Menze family farm was started in 1914 by Mike’s great-grandparents, Chris and Dorthea Menze. Over the years the farm continued and was run by grandparents Herman and Ema. The couple had five children, Verlin, Arvin, Marlyn, Delvin and Sharon. Delvin and his wife, Bette, along with their children, Daniel and Michael, farmed alongside Delvin’s brother, Arvin, his wife Nancy and their daughter, Peggy, into the early 2000s. Together, the brothers and the families grew the farm by building a milking parlor in 1964. They upgraded feeding systems to computer-run feeders and purchased more tillable land.
Hired hands and neighbors have helped during harvest and in family times of need through the years. The farm has been home to many kinds of animals, but most of the farm’s success comes from Holstein dairy cows and rotational crop farming.
Michael and Denise are the fourth generation of the family on the farm. They have two children, Jacob and Makayla. Michael spends much of his time managing the finances, cattle paperwork and land management aspects of the operation. He’s built dry cow housing and a new calf barn. Denise is the domestic engineer making sure family and employees are well taken care of.
Taylor Sweazey has been the main dairy farm manager for 13 years. The Menzes’ nephew, Jared, has worked for Michael and Denise for the past four years focusing on calves and general maintenance.
The Menzes milk 80 Holsteins and farm 1,100 irrigated and non-irrigated acres. The family raises their own replacement heifers and finishes their Holstein steers. In the past year, Taylor and his wife, Shai, along with Jared and Jacob, started their own beef herd.
Jacob and Makayla are both involved in various aspects of the farm and have their own 4-H animals. Mike is on the local DHIA board and an elder at the family’s church. Denise is a volunteer with East Otter Tail County 4-H, is working toward becoming a Master Gardener, and serves as a youth group leader at church.