In 1971 Klaus Jonsson came to Sidney, MT as a trainee from Denmark to see the world and gain some new experience.  By 1972, Klaus had married Charlene Odenbach and they set out farming on their own the same year.  The first opportunity to purchase a farm, aside from the rented land, was in 1974.  This was the year the Grow farm was purchased to add dryland cropland to an irrigated rented base.  As the story goes Charlie Grow would only sign final document if the realtor gave Charlie his new boots, if he did then he would finalize the deal…. the boots went and the journey started.  Two years later Klaus was helping a neighbor harvest his crop and mentioned if he ever wanted to retire, he would sure like the opportunity to buy.  The following spring of 1976 that opportunity came and the main farm that we operate out of today was purchased.  Before the final paper was signed it was said that it needed to be known that once purchased all that was there would be tore down and a new place would be the start of Jonsson Farms.  Nels Leivstad had no qualms with progress being set in motion and the deal was done.  Not many Farms can say they started with a patent and not a deed but that can be said here, Nels had a patent on this place and that was then transferred to the first deed for Jonsson Farms.  From then on out there were good years and bad and as the years went on farms were added to the base.  Farming is about taking care of the land for your time and passed onto the next generation to do the same.  As a farm we are proud to still have fields and farms named after the previous farmers who did it before us.  Thank you to Grow, Leivstad, Sorenson, Whitaker, Jessen, Crumpacker, Brown, Darnell, Oliver, Carter, Moran, and Hagler who are now part of Jonsson Farms.  It’s still a few years away but it’s possible that the 3rd Generation of caretakers for Jonsson Farms are already in training with Kyler and Karsten. 

In 2022, we celebrated our 50th year and it was bittersweet to say the least as it marked the final sugar beet harvest for Jonsson farms. Although when one door closes another one opens, the transition from sugar beets to canola, corn, soybeans, and wheat began in full swing for 2023. As for 2024 and beyond, I don't know that we have it all planned out yet, but I can say that farming as a family with my two sons, although still in school, has been a joy only a father can explain.

Farms cannot operate alone; it takes a team. The credit goes out to the many employees and friends that have helped Jonsson Farms along the way.

 

Kjeld Jonsson