Two inducted into Livestock Hall of Fame

Robert “Bob” Chladek and Ronald “Ron” Van Nurden were inducted into the Livestock Hall of Fame last week at the Steele County Free Fair.
The Tuesday afternoon program also recognized FFA and 4-H members, the Farm Family of the Year and conservation award winners.
The new Wayne and Betty Kubicek Family Cattle Haven was also officially dedicated.
Brad Rugg was emcee for the afternoon events.
Chladek, Rugg said, was a “steady Eddy” who worked behind the scenes to get things done. Many members of the Hall of Fame are there, he said, because of a legacy of breeding livestock or a long list of leadership positions.
Chladek’s legacy, he said, is his passion for young people.
Upon his death in 1994, he gifted his farm to the Owatonna High School Foundation for support of the FFA and 4-H youth in Steele County.
Chladek spent his career as a registered Holstein breeder and Dairy Herd Improvement Association member. He served on the board of the Steele County Holstein Breeders, Owatonna Elevator and was an active member of the Steele County Farm Bureau.
His farm is now the site of the Owatonna Allina Hospital, Mayo Health Center, Koda Living Community and Hospice House. Funds from his estate also provide scholarships for Steele County High School graduates to further their education.
Chladek’s Hall of Fame plaque was accepted by the 761 School District Foundation.
Van Nurden spent 44 years as a high school ag teacher and adult farm management instructor. He was also the Minnesota Dairy Initiative Team leader for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, a contributor and presenter for the National Farm and Ranch Business Education Association.
He was named Southern Minnesota Ag Ambassador of the Year in 2010, awarded the Outstanding 4-H Leader in 1999 and received the Steele County American Dairy Association Milk Pitcher Award.
He also was a Steele County Free Fair director for 22 years. In 2008 he received the National NAAE Outstanding Post-Secondary/Adult Farm Management Program.
Glenn Johnson and Deb McDermott-Johnson were also honored at the Farm Family of the Year. Their Clover Glen Farm is located in Steele County near Claremont. The dairy herd started out as 100% Guernsey and has now added Holsteins and Brown Swiss and includes 70 milking cows and 90 heifers on 220 acres.
The Johnsons are known in the area for their annual “Cow Camp,” which is a hands-on experience for young people to learn about life on a dairy farm.
Conservation awards, presented by the Steele County Soil and Water District, included Dale and Mary Ramsey as Outstanding Conservation Farmer; Larry Stebbins, Outstanding Windbreak and Lynn Miller, Outstanding Wildlife Conservationist.
FFA award recipients recognized were Greg Larson of Medford and Kayla McGivey of Medford for the FFA American Degree; Beth Ann Hanson, Medford, FFA Proficiency Award; Tim West and Kaiden Finley, both of Blooming Prairie, for the Minnesota FFA State Degree.
Also recognized were 4-H National Dairy Conference winners Kylie Kruckeberg and Hannah Mundt, both of Owatonna.
Lexi Ignaszewski of New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva High School and Anthony Manderfeld of Medford were recipients of the Robert Chladek Scholarship/761 School District Foundation.