Catholic Minnesota farm family 'in it for the long haul'

Published: 2004-11-09

KIMBALL, Minn. (CNS) -- Frank Schiefelbein had no farming experience when he and wife Donna bought a 140-acre plot of land in Kimball in 1956. The neighbors did a lottery on how long they'd last. "Their guesses ranged from a week to three years," said Frank, 71. "Now we own their property." Even Donna wasn't convinced they'd make it when the couple and son Frank III moved into the "cardboard box" house. "I sat down and cried," said Donna, 71. "Oh, we'll fix it up," she recalled Frank saying. Fix it up they did. Frank and Donna now have eight sons, 27 grandchildren, 1,500 head of cattle and 4,000 acres. And it's only the beginning, according to the Schiefelbeins' farming slogan, "in it for the long haul." Said son Dan: "None of us plan to sell it."

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