Meet our family! We would like you to be able to put a face with a name and know who is

helping you to have the best service around when you stop for a visit!

Ron and Barb started the farm as Nelson-Shine

 Holsteins in 1984 shortly after they were

married, and milked cows until 2001.  In 2004 the

poultry processing started in full swing with

completion of the new building, purchase of a

large freezer, and the hiring of staff.  They also

in that time started the greenhouse and have

expanded the poultry processing.  While Ron runs

 the greenhouses and poultry processing during

 the week, Barb works at Lakes Printing.

Magnus and Krissy live just down the road

from the main farm and raise our chickens for

processing. He helps manage the poultry

 processing business as well as oversees the

greenhouse operation. Krissy works in Brainerd at

Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union.  They

 welcomed their first child, Olivia Marie Nelson

into the family on July 26th, 2010.    

Nick and Gretchen recently purchased a farm of

 their own that was actually where Ron grew up

and is a "Century Farm."  Gretchen is a Certified

 Veterinary Technician at Lakeland Veterinary

 Hospital in Baxter. Nick has an electrician degree

 but stays home to manage and run their farm and

 strawberry operation. They were married in

October of 2007.  If it is beef or strawberries you

 are looking for, they are the ones to go to!

Maggie and Leo were married in May of 2008. In

 August 2009, Catherine Joan joined the Nelson

family as the first grandchild. Leo grew up

farming near Deerwood and helps out around

 Nelson-Shine Produce as needed. He recently

 graduated from NDSU with his mechanical

engineering degree.  Maggie is enrolled at the

School of Veterinary Medicine in St. Paul,

specializing in large animals. Maggie's passion

around the farm is the goats. 

Ben likes to say that he's the middle child of the

 family, which is true.  He is in the United States

 Marine Corps and is stationed at Twenty-Nine

 Palms in California. He was our official "dirt

 maker" for all of our pots and baskets at Nelson-

Shine Produce so we've had to pass the title on to

 others who help out around the farm.  He and his

fiance, Kirsti, have a wedding date in May 2011

planned. 

Veronica will probably be around to help you out

with your green house purchases when you stop

for a visit.  She plays saxophone in band at

Forestview Middle School, and is starting her

freshman year of high school this year. Her

favorites around the farm are the rabbits, goats,

 and egg-laying chickens. 

John Paul is in 4th grade this year.  He helps

 out wherever he can around the farm, even

 helping Nick with planting and picking

strawberries . 

Simon is the youngest of the Nelson family,

but don't let him fool you,  he's got some

pretty fast comebacks! He is in 3rd grade

this year.  He loves to tag along on horseback

rides and on the tractor, and could probably

run the tractor just as good as anyone if he

could reach the pedals.