Krause family reaches special trifecta through FFA

By Carol Stender
cstender@agrinews.com

Date Modified: 06/25/2012 1:57 PM

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BUFFALO, Minn. — The Krause family of Buffalo have achieved a trifecta with FFA.

Warren Krause, his son, Charles and Charles' son Andrew have all been Buffalo FFA chapter presidents and have received the State FFA degree. Andrew is the current president.

The uniqueness of the multi-generational connection isn't lost on Andrew.

"There is a lot of pride in this knowing you are following in the footsteps of your family," he said. "You are doing something that they did that impacted them and it is impacting me."

The three work together and milk 175 cows and run 600 acres. They plan to expand later this year.

Warren knew little about FFA before joining Buffalo's chapter in 1951 — a couple years after it was founded.

"I was interested in agriculture," he said. "And, we had a real good ag teacher in Wynn Streif...I think that without FFA, I wouldn't have pursued going to the university. It opened doors for me that would've been closed."

His classmates said the program also was important for them.

"They said that without vocational agriculture, they wouldn't have continued in school," Warren said. "It has had such a positive impact on their lives."

Warren was a member of the crops team and was chapter president in 1954.

Charles joined in 1983. He was elected president and received his State Degree in 1986 and earned his American degree in 1990. He attended FFA's leadership camps and showed cattle through FFA.

Andrew will be a high school senior this fall. He has been on the chapter's dairy evaluations team and has been a regional officer for two years.

Although Warren didn't show dairy animals, both Charles and Andrew have through 4-H.

Warren didn't have to encourage Charles to join FFA. His son was anxious to be part of it.

"We did encourage him to be involved in as much as he could," Warren said. "I think the self-confidence of being able to get in such a group and to participate is important and leads to personal growth...I think my wife and I have tried to instill in our kids and grandchildren not to just sit back and let the world go by, but to be involved and to try to be an asset with humility," he said.

The school's FFA program has been challenged. When Charles was an officer during the nation's economic recession, the school considered closing the program. He recalls joining another officer to speak to the school board.

Like his father, Andrew said he needed little outside influence to join the chapter.

"I knew from my dad that it was a great program," Andrew said. "My ag teacher knew me before I met him in class. He got me on the dairy evaluation team. I really felt I had a place in FFA."

Andrew plans to attend the University of Minnesota-St. Paul majoring in animal science and dairy production management. He wants to return to the dairy.

Charles' daughter, Morgan, is starting her FFA career.

Charles is excited about the support he received from his father.

"He led by example," Charles said of Warren. "He gave me a strong work ethic. He helped co-sign on a loan and encouraged me to buy cattle. He helped spark my interest in agriculture. He was always there and made my transition into the operation a good one. It's a privilege to work side by side with him everyday."