CITY KID TAKES TO A COW

Just six months ago, Brad Rugg knew very little of Liam Linge, a 10-year-old from Owatonna. But by the end of this year’s county fair, the two had developed a relationship that will likely last a lifetime.

Rugg is a retired 4-H program director for the University of Minnesota who worked in the state 4-H office in St. Paul for 33 years. He got pulled back into the 4-H program—by choice—earlier this year when Steele County asked for his help in filling a vacancy.

It was an opportunity Rugg couldn’t pass up. And it was a time where Rugg’s life intersected with the young boy who had no experience with 4-H or farming.

Rugg’s wife, Lorrie, is a friend of Jennifer Linge, who is Liam’s mother. “Liam came to our house, and I bought him a treat from Kwik Trip,” said Brad Rugg. “He was fascinated with cows, and I asked him if he wanted to help with calf chores.”

Rugg assists on a dairy farm owned by Jon Schmidt of rural Owatonna. Rugg brought Liam Linge out to the farm, and he has been hooked ever since.

“I’ve always had a fondness for kids willing to learn,” said Rugg. “He asked lots of good questions and told his parents all about calves.”

No one in Linge’s family had ever been connected with the 4-H program until Rugg came along.

The unlikely mentorship has flourished in a short period of time. In March, Linge started to help feed the newborn calves with Rugg’s assistance. He quickly took a liking to a calf, whom he decided to name, “Strawberry Sweetheart” because of the red dots all over the calf’s body. He also began washing the calf and clipping her hair.  

By May 15, Linge had decided he would show the calf at this year’s county fair. He has been working with the calf at least twice a week since school got out in June. Linge has been diligent in checking the bedding and providing fresh water and grain.

Last week Linge earned a first place and two reserve champions with his calf at the Steele County Fair. Rugg shared how Linge had problems with the halter during the junior show. After some adjustments were made, Linge had the calf showing “like an All-American,” Rugg said.

While Rugg is impressed with Linge’s first time of showing, he cautioned how showing isn’t about the color of animal or ribbon. “It’s about the life skills they are getting,” Rugg said. “They are going to be good kids because they have responsibility. They have learned how to make good decisions. Sometimes it’s about a cow, but it transfers to life.”

Rugg credits Schmidt for opening up his farm to complete strangers. “It takes a whole family to raise the dairy village we have,” said Rugg, who grew up on a dairy farm south of Austin.

Rugg knew Schmidt when he was a young 4-H member, and then they didn’t connect again until Schmidt was a senior in college. Rugg chaperoned a college trip which brought them together again. “It was an instant friendship,” Rugg says. “He is the kind of like the son my wife and I never had,” he added.

Despite being limited to the use of one hand, Rugg still goes out to the Schmidt dairy farm several times a week. And now he has a new companion with Linge to bring with him.

Rugg hopes to continue with his mentorship of Linge. “Every child is going to have a mentor whether it’s good or bad,” he said. “Why not have a positive person in their life?”

The veteran 4-H educator has been impressed with Linge’s eagerness to learn. “He’s probably not going to be a dairy farmer, but he is going to be a good young man,” Rugg said.

Linge, who will be a fourth grader at Wilson Elementary School in Owatonna, plans to continue with 4-H as a member of the Meriden Meadowlarks. Rugg said he is already looking at taking additional 4-H projects next year.

Linge’s mother, Jennifer, became emotional when she reflected on what Rugg has meant in her son’s life.

“I’m beyond blessed that someone wanted to do this for my son,” she said with tears in her eyes. “I’m so taken by this entire process. We are so fortunate to do this.”

She has already noticed a change in her son’s life since Rugg started mentoring him. “He has stepped up with responsibility,” Jennifer Linge said. “He is taking more ownership, and he is wanted to be more involved,” she said, adding, “Who knew a city kid would take to a cow?”

Jennifer Linge said her son is involved with sports. However, she has noticed he doesn’t dwell on a game lost or look ahead to the next game. “He is thinking about feeding his cow,” she said.

Said Jennifer Linge of Rugg: “I love it when people share their love of something. Thank you isn’t enough for what he has done.”

For Rugg, 4-H is all about creating lifetime experiences and memories.

Linge isn’t Rugg’s only mentoring experience. Rugg also mentored Kelton Erler, who showed the grand champion Holstein at this year’s fair. Rugg began mentoring Erler when he was 8 years old. Rugg got him hooked one year when he purchased him a halter for Christmas.

Over the years, Erler also became involved in FFA and went on to earn his state degree. He graduated from JWP earlier this spring and plans to become a pilot.

“4-H offers a ton of hooks,” Rugg says. “I would have never guessed Kelton would be a pilot. 4-H led him to another hobby—flying. It’s what you love for when you spend your life with kids.”