Staff photo by Fritz Busch 2024 Brown County Century Farm co-owner Joel Schroepfer, right, is interviewed Thursday by KNUJ Radio Program Director Brian Filzen at the Brown County Free Fair Senior Day Program at the New Ulm Civic Center.

NEW ULM — A 103-year-old World War II veteran, a farm established 140 years ago south of Sleepy Eye, and the 2024 Brown County Farm Family of the Year were honored at Brown County Senior Day Program Thursday.

Paul Wojahn of New Ulm was named the 2024 Outstanding Senior Volunteer.

“We thank Paul for his contributions to our community and our country,” said master of ceremonies Brian Filzen of KNUJ Radio.

Wojahn was not able to attend the event but later told The Journal he was feeling well. He continues to volunteer with the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Chapter 15 of New Ulm clothing collection program on Wednesday mornings.

He is also a Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), American Legion, DAV member and Christ the King Lutheran Church member.

“It’s enough to keep me busy,” Wojahn said.

Wojahn worked as a farmhand near Comfrey and St. James before World War II began. He soon moved to Southern California with a friend and worked at restaurants, then at an aircraft plant.

After moving back to Minnesota and doing farm work, he talked to a U.S. Marine Corps recruiter about enlisting after the fall grain harvest.

He served in the First Marine Division, digging foxholes and setting up tents.

Wojahn rode a converted passenger ship with the U.S. Navy from San Diego to the Western Pacific in 1943. On the way, he stopped at the South Pacific islands of New Guinea and Palau. Driving trucks on islands with roads made of crushed coral was his job for much of his wartime service that included combat with Japanese forces.

He said a song my mother taught him, “God Will Take Care of You,” helped him cope with combat.

Wojahn married Emmy Lundberg in March 1946. He farmed a few years, drove a truck cleared rocks from farm fields with a caterpillar and dug basements with a shovel loader.

A Swift County game warden before moving to New Ulm, he retired in 1983 and began volunteering with the DAV chapter, filling nearly every position including commander.

“The good Lord kept me going one day at at time. I do what I can do,” Wojahn said.

The 2024 Brown County Century Farm operated by Joel and Marti Schroepfer in Stark Township south of Sleepy Eye began 140 years ago when Franz Schroepfer bought 160 acres for $7.50 an acre after immigrating to the U.S. from Austria.

The five-generation farm that produced corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, dairy products and swine was later owned by Frank and Albert W. Schroepfer. Brothers Joel and Randy Schroepfer have owned the farm since 1997.

Joel Schroepfer is a lead newspaper press operator at House of Print in Madelia and has worked there for 39 years besides farming 224 tillable acres, raising wheat, corn and soybeans. Marti Schroepfer works at Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s School.

Schroepfer talked about why he farms.

“Just the satisfaction of it. You see what you can get out of good, hard work,” he said.

The Brandon and Jody Anderson family of rural Comfrey were recognized as the 2024 University of Minnesota Extension Brown County Farm Family of the Year.

The farm was established at its current location in 1934 by Jody’s great-grandfather, Henry Hanson. She and Brandon and transitioning into ownership from her parents, Jim and Jeri Hanson.

Always consisting of crops and livestock, the Anderson children are learning to help with the daily responsibilities of growing up on a farm and working with Hereford show cattle.

Brandon is a Shriner, on the Comfrey Public School Board and a Brown County Soil Water Conservation District supervisor.

Jody is a Sunday school teacher, Minnesota Hereford Breeders Association Board member and 4-H club leader.

The Andersons were unable to attend the senior program. They were busy showing cattle at the fair.