F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 9 24 POTATO GROWER 300 to 350 during summer. That makes the 100 rail car order between 30,000 to 45,000 pounds in just one order. By the way all those potatoes were picked by hand. Earl celebrated his 101st birthday this past year on the golf course. Earl is a year round golfer spending his winters in Weslaco, Texas in the Rio Grande Valley and his summers here. Earl said he plays golf as much as he can when he is in Texas he plays nine holes six days a week. He says he walked them until this past winter when his knees started to bother him. As recently as June Earl finished fourth in his age division in an 18 hole tournament in Grafton, North Dakota. Earl says he didn’t even take up the sport until he was 75 years old, he said he was too busy with work to play before that. Earl still plays with the first clubs he has ever owned, he bought them at a flea market. Earl took to golf right away hitting the ball straight off the tee around 200 yards. For those of you that are not golfers that’s pretty good at age 75. Now he says it is more like 140 to 150 yards. Good friend Justin Dagen from Karlstad, Minnesota says “Over a career span- ning many decades, Earl was the consummate gen- tleman of the seed potato industry in the RRV. In regards to quality or price, Earl’s word was something you could take to the bank, no question. He continues to inspire us with his energy and pro- gressive farming tech- niques as well as an incredible golf game.” Earl has three daughters, Barbara Schmeck lives in Baxter, Minnesota and is 69 years old. Sharon Miller lives in Donnybrook, North Dakota and is 68 years old. His third daughter, Krista Montgomery lives just out- side Manvel, North Dakota and she is 56 years old. Earl as a small child at his father’s farm in Oslo, Minnesota in the early 1900’s. 800-437-4685 Fax: (701) 746-5767 The Choice is yours! SALES BY:
Greg Holtman • Jeff Lazur • Tim Johnstone • Bryan Miller - CEO The Choice is yours! You’ll love our red potatoes • Jeff Lazur • Tim Johnstone • Bryan Miller - CEO For dependability and professionalism your choice should be Associated Potato Growers. With operations from three locations, Associated has been the largest packer of red potatoes in the Red River Valley since 1949. Make us your choice for all your red potato needs.