Harguths honored

The Adam and Anne Harguth family was celebrated with the Waseca County’s Outstanding Young Farmer award during the 2023 Waseca County Farm and City Luncheon Thursday, March 16.

“I think I knew [I wanted to be a farmer] since about three,” Adam remembers. “I tore my mom's carpet up to be deck with small tractors, and then we just kind of went from there.”

The Harguth farm enterprise consists of a cattle feedlot, hog operation, and crops.

Named A & A Farms, the business thrives on the efforts of Adam, Anne, and their seven kids: Jacob, Nicholas, Claire, Joseph, Noah, Alex, and Charlotte.

“I followed Adam’s drive,” Anne chimes in. “I grew up on a farm, so it was kind of just naturally ingrained.”

In addition to helping at home, Anne works full time as a dietitian consultant. 

Like any family farm, there are many, familiar moving parts. The Harguths share and exchange equipment and labor with Adam's parents, Greg & Sue Harguth, and uncle, Matt Harguth, who have their own cattle feedlot and crop operations. The farm has only one full-time, non-family employee, Don Hoehn.

Before the Adam and Anne Harguth farm became the Harguth farm, however, it was the Below Farm.

In 2018 the family purchased the Below farm and Adam made the transition to full-time farmer, while Anne continued her work while also taking on the bookkeeping end of the operation. 

Adam says he counts the Below family among his mentors in farming, one of the reasons he stayed “in the field.”

“Our parents, grandparents, the Below family,” Adam responded when asked about who had influenced A & A’s success. 

“I would agree they’ve had a big impact,” Anne added. 

Both Adam and Anne grew up on family farms and were active in 4-H and FFA as children. The couple went to high school together with Adam graduating first. After high school, the couple went separate ways, but found their way back to each other. They’ve now been married for 14 years.

“I would also include Charlie [Priebe],” Adam said. “He was our marriage mentor.”

What is the secret to a successful marriage? 

“Mentorship, right?” Adam jokes with a smile. 

“You have to have a lot of love and faith and compassion,” Anne explained.

The Harguths have successfully planted the farming seed in their kids, who are actively involved in 4-H.

“They have their own little calf operation,” Adam smiles. “They’re very hardworking and very enthusiastic in school activities.”

The Harguth family has also been heavily involved in the Taste of the Farm event in Waseca County for many years. They are active members of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waseca and Knights of Columbus. 

As for the secrets to farming, Adam admits it’s much like marriage.

 “A lot of faith, hard work and dedication,” he speculated. “And then diversity too. Keeping up with technology and a willingness to think outside the box.”