Johnsons add two farms to Century list

Curt Johnson and his sister, Brenda Sammon, stand outside of a barn located on the farm the pair grew up on. The farm is still owned by the siblings’ mother Mary Lou Johnson. Staff photo by Jonny Clubb
Curt Johnson and his sister Brenda (Johnson) Sammon grew up and learned the business of farming on one of two Johnson family farms in Steele County.
“I guess (I learned by) riding on the tractors and watching how it was done. Every chance I’d get and a tractor was sitting there I’d jump on,” Curt said. “Pretty soon my dad just let me do it.”
“That’s all he did day and night,” Sammon said. “He played farm in the house even, and when you’d walk in it, he’d say ‘Don’t step on my field.’”
The Johnsons’ farms are located about 12 miles north of Ellendale on a gravel road separated by less than a mile and both are now recognized as Century Farms.
The program has existed in Minnesota since 1976. In that time, the organization has recognized more than 11,000 farms. In order to become a Century Farm, a family must continuously own 50 or more acres for 100 years. This year, the state will be adding 89 farms to that list.
With the addition of the Johnson farms, Steele County will have 216 Century Farms on record.
Curt is the current operator of both farms, along with his wife Amy Johnson. Their sons Cole and Kellen also helped on the farm when they were growing up.
Curt owns one farm and takes care of the other farm for his mother, Mary Lou Johnson. His farm has been in the family since 1891 when it was owned by Charles Johnson, Curt’s great-great uncle. The farm was then passed down to Harris Johnson, Charles’ nephew and Curt’s great uncle, in 1945. Curt then took ownership in 1988.
The farm was originally 60 acres. Over the years, the farm has grown to 97 acres and has raised chickens, hogs and dairy cattle alongside crops including hay, oats, corn and soybeans.
The second farm has been in the Johnson family since 1899 when it was owned by George and Sophia Johnson, Curt’s great grandparents. The farm then was passed to Richard Johnson, Curt’s grandpa, in 1942 before being passed down to Ray Johnson, Curt’s father, in 1960. Mary Lou Johnson, Ray’s wife and Curt’s mother, became the sole owner of the farm in 1984 when Ray passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack.
The second farm also began as 60 acres and has since grown to 203 acres with a mix of chickens, hogs, and dairy cattle. The second farm has also grown hay, oats and corn.
“The best thing as a kid was to grow up on a farm. I mean we were tied down, but dad always had kids over to bale hay, pick rock, pull weeds. The summers were filled with neighbors and it was a fun experience,” Sammon said. “I don’t think there’s any better life. Just to raise a family on the farm is the best thing.”
The Johnson family's farms will be honored at the Steele County Free Fair in a ceremony by the Livestock Hall of Fame at the Cattle Show Arena at 2:30 p.m. on August 15. According to the Minnesota Farm Bureau, the Johnsons will be receiving a “commemorative sign, as well as a certificate signed by Minnesota State Fair and Minnesota Farm Bureau presidents and Governor Tim Walz.”