Carol and Peter Jelinek named 2020 Carlton County Farm Family of the Year
BARNUM, Minn. — University of Minnesota Extension and Carlton County is proud to announce the 2020 Carlton County Farm Family of the Year is Carol and Peter Jelinek.
WHERE IT ALL STARTED
Carol and Peter purchased an old dairy farm near Barnum in northeast Minnesota in 2001. They brought their five horses and one goat and made a home there. Eventually, the Jelineks added a couple of lambs for their boys to raise as part of their 4-H involvement. Those lambs quickly led to a flock of about 35 ewes. Later, Carol and Peter purchased two Nubian goat kids from a cousin in New York and started a goat herd that later became a Boer goat herd of 35-40 meat goats.
The farm is now home to the goat herd, a Morgan horse, a donkey, and four chickens. The meat goats are raised for a long list of clients who enjoy goat meat. The Jelinek family has enjoyed showing goats at the Carlton County Fair.
DAY-TO-DAY CHORES
Carol oversees all animal management from daily feeding, stall mucking, and delivering kids in the spring. Peter runs the machinery, moves bales, fixing fences and many other tasks. Until they graduated from college, Peter and Carol’s sons, Nicholas and Nathan, helped with a variety of chores.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Carol served as chair of the Build the Barn effort in Carlton County that joined 4-H, community members and the Carlton County Fair Board to improve the 4-H show experience at the fair. She served as chair of the Carlton County Extension Committee and as a member for six years. She has continued to be active in 4-H as a leader and volunteer.
Carol was president of the Barnum PTA and is the president and former vice president of the Willow River Education Association. The Jelinek’s farm was a featured stop on the Sustainable Farming Association’s Grazefest a few years ago and the Jelineks are members of the American Boer Goat Association.
STAY IN TOUCH WITH THE 2020 CARLTON COUNTY FARM FAMILY OF THE YEAR
The Fleece Force Flock/Galaxzee Goat Farm is on Facebook, where you can stay up to date with the farm family and enjoy watching the various critters on the farm.
The Farm Family Recognition Program has existed for over 30 years and honors farm families from throughout Minnesota for their contributions to the agriculture industry and their local communities. All of the honored farm families have made significant contributions to Minnesota agriculture and their communities.
— University of Minnesota Extension
Last modified: 08/18/2020
