Photos courtesy of Bruce and Sherry DeVos Bruce and Sherry DeVos, pictured with their sons Curt and Brian.

MARSHALL — Caring for the land and for family have been a big part of life for Bruce and Sherry DeVos. Four generations of the DeVos family have worked to help their farm in rural Fairview Township thrive. It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been rewarding, they said.

“We’ve always felt we’re very simple people,” Sherry DeVos said. “It doesn’t take very much to make us happy.”

Today, Bruce and Sherry farm the original 200 acres of land that Bruce’s grandfather Richard bought in 1924. Three Mile Creek runs through the farm, which meant Richard could have water access for his cattle and other livestock.

The DeVos family faced some challenges early in their farm’s history. In the summer of 1925, 20 cattle on the farm died of anthrax. Richard and his 10-year-old son Harry also contracted the disease after skinning a carcass. They were both treated at the Mayo hospital in Rochester, and survived.

The anthrax outbreak didn’t only have an impact on the DeVos farm, but on the surrounding community as well. Neighbors were warned to tie up their dogs and watch for signs of sudden illness in farm animals. Richard’s surviving cattle were vaccinated for anthrax, and newspaper accounts from 1925 said cattle and farms within a two-mile radius of the DeVos farm were also vaccinated to keep the disease from spreading.

Photos courtesy of Bruce and Sherry DeVos In 1964, the DeVos family moved their original farmhouse off its foundations and constructed a new house that still stands today.

Richard DeVos continued to farm until 1952, when Bruce’s father Harry took over. They farmed the homestead with Bruce’s uncle Joe for a few years, raising mainly cattle and hogs. Bruce helped on the farm, and stepped in even more after his father suffered a heart attack. In high school he would do chores before and after school, cleaning barns, grinding feed and planting crops.

In 1964, the DeVos family farmstead saw a big change when the DeVoses built a new house. The old farmhouse, which had once been a train depot in Green Valley, was moved off its foundations before the family built the current farmhouse that stands today.

“That was a big undertaking,” Sherry DeVos said.

The cost of the house was $16,000 in 1964.

When Bruce married Sherry in 1976, Bruce’s parents Harry and Irene moved off the farm to Minneota. Sherry was from town, but learned how to care for the animals and run machinery. The DeVoses picked corn – they didn’t get a combine until later, Sherry said – and ground up corncobs for

Photos courtesy of Bruce and Sherry DeVos Bruce and Sherry DeVos spend time with their six grandchildren on the family farm in Lyon County.

animal bedding or in farrowing crates. Running the farm involved lots of manual labor.

Bruce and Sherry’s sons Curt and Brian also had chores on the farm, like picking rocks, pulling weeds and baling hay. However, the family also took time to eat meals and spend time together.

A lot has changed on the farm over the years. The DeVoses constructed buildings like hog barns, grain bins and a

machine shed. Advances in machinery have changed a lot about farming, Sherry DeVos said. Today, Bruce and Sherry no longer raise livestock, and focus on crops of corn and soybeans. Bruce and Sherry enjoy spending time with their sons and daughters-in-law, as well as visiting with their six grandchildren.

One part of the farm that is special for the DeVos family is about 18 acres of pasture land where Three Mile Creek runs through the property. The DeVoses have never used that part of the farm for crops, Sherry DeVos said. Because of flooding, planting in that area would be bad for the land.

Photos courtesy of Bruce and Sherry DeVos The DeVos family used to pick corn at their farm. Here, Sherry DeVos is shown picking corn.

“(Bruce) has got a passion for the land, and preserving it,” Sherry said.

Today the pasture is a place where the DeVos family can relax and spend time together.

“It is so peaceful and so serene,” Sherry said.

In 2016, Bruce and Sherry built a “shack” in the pasture for their 40th wedding anniversary. Besides the shack offering a place to enjoy the pasture landscape, Bruce and Sherry also spend time with their grandchildren at the shack during family Christmas celebrations.

This summer, Bruce and Sherry also celebrated the centennial of their farm together with family, friends and neighbors. Their oldest granddaughter even drew a picture of the old farmhouse, that was printed on cards for the occasion.

Bruce and Sherry DeVos said they hope their family’s farm and legacy will continue with future generations.