Rachelle learned the value of hard work and dedication growing up on a hobby farm near Winsted, the third of five children. She was active in the Winsted Jolly Juniors 4-H Club and McLeod County 4-H, including showing beef cattle. After graduating from Holy Trinity High School, she took courses at St. Cloud State University. She fell in love with and married a farmer - and despite never having so much as milked a cow, she dove feet first into dairy farming.
As Prairie Dairy has grown over the years, Rachelle has been invaluable to helping the management of the business evolve. She keeps the farm’s books, recruits and schedules employees and takes an active role in participating in the Dairy Profitability Enhancement Program and Farm Business Management with her husband. She has taken farm-specific Spanish language classes to help support the dairy’s largely Hispanic workforce. She goes the extra mile with little things that improve the work environment.
In addition to management and business functions, She is part of daily production operations. Calf care is her area of expertise, and she works to stay current on best practices and help the farm’s youngest animals thrive right from the start.
She is a member of the board of education at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, recently helping lead the search for a new Director of Christian Education in addition to regular duties supporting Sunday School and religious education programming. She has been a member of the Howard Lake Waverly Winsted FFA Alumni group since 2017, playing a supporting role in fundraisers like the annual alumni auction and tractor pull. She is a past 4-H Club Leader for the Winsted Jolly Juniors 4-H Club. Ever the dairy producer, you can count on her to provide a dairy snack or beverage at church or other local community events.
Farming is nonstop, and so is She. In her farming career, She has done more than 600 herd checks. She has worked all hours of the day and night in the barn, behind the wheel of the tractor, in front of the computer while raising three kids and supporting her community.
She doesn’t just care for the animals on the farm. She’s a dedicated mother who is there for band concerts, soccer games, FFA awards night and every single day of the McLeod County Fair. She's spent at least two decades packing lunches, trekking to orthodontist appointments and helping with class projects for her three kids. She’s also a devoted wife, daughter, sister and auntie (and always brings the best food to family potlucks).
From her nominator: "I'm always amazed by her tenacity and her commitment to the farm and her family. Whatever life throws at her, she keeps showing up and giving it her best."
