The Berry family cultivates 60 years of tradition

What does it take to make it 60 years in the agriculture industry in rural Wisconsin? According to Ralph Berry it’s as simple as loving what you do. And he would know. He and his wife, Darlene Berry, started farming in Curtiss with dairy cattle six decades ago before switching to production agriculture in 1998.

Their daughter, Cathy Berry, returned home to join Ralph and Darlene on the farm about ten years ago when the seasons in her own life changed, bringing her children Ashlee, Tanner and Lexi on board with her.

“Mom and Dad are wonderful people, hardworking, dedicated, passionate about farming,” Cathy said. “I got my love of farming from them.”

It’s a family effort, each member recognizing the value in the other. “She’s doing a fantastic job,” Ralph said of Cathy since she’s returned and taken over the farm. He’s taught her everything he knows, and if a piece of machinery tills, plows, sprays, rakes or harvests, Cathy can, and will, run it.

“I never thought I’d love it as much as Dad,” she said. Cathy recalls hearing people say she’d never be successful, never make it in the agriculture industry. But their doubts fueled her, and on Saturday, August 9, the family gathered their family, friends, neighbors, and former employees to celebrate their success together with them, sending everyone home with a burlap back of sunflower seeds as a special gift.

For Darlene Berry, their success is attributed to the family itself. “You have to have enough kids to leave it to, if we didn’t we wouldn’t have a farm,” she said.

Darlene put her hands on Cathy’s shoulders. “She’s our pride and joy,” she said.