Rural Grinnell family recognized with the Jim Urfer Spirit of Farming Award

GRINNELL — A rural Grinnell family who has impacted many lives from young to old are the recipients of the 2025 Jim Urfer Spirit of Farming (Farm Family) Award.

Janelle Graff and her late husband, Dale, and the couple’s three children, Michelle, Curt and Kyle, were recognized for their contributions to the farming community. This family lived and breathed the country life from the moment they started to walk.

Janelle, her three children, and a host of grandchildren and family members were present at the annual Grinnell Ag Day Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025 to receive the award.

“I was surprised to be honored,” said Janelle.

“Receiving this honor is pretty special,” added Curt.

The family does not know who nominated them for the farming award, but said they appreciate the recognition. It’s a sure bet that Dale would feel the same way.

Janelle recalled the many Sundays that she, Dale and their three children spent the day cleaning out the barn and grinding hay. They would finish the day together sitting around eating popcorn and apple slices.

“That sweet and salty combination is a good representation of their lifelong love of farming: hard work and long days but so many proud memories,” said the Grinnell Lions during the presentation.

At a young age, Dale milked cows. As his older siblings (one brother and one sister) left home, Dale took over caring for the beef cattle, pigs and some chickens on the family farm north of Grinnell.

While in high school, Dale worked the night shift at Holland Plastics in Gilman. It just happened that Janelle was babysitting for a co-worker, and that is how the couple met.

The couple had been married just two weeks shy of 53 years when Dale passed away Nov. 3, 2024.

After high school, Dale went to work at a local co-op and then at GTE for 48 years until he retired in 2018.

While working in town, the Graffs raised their kids, cattle and crops on the family farm. When Dale retired, he traded his town job to do what he truly loved — farming full-time.

Janelle said time spent with the kids and later the grandkids on the four-generation farm are the sweet memories she has stored away in her heart.

Dale’s grandfather, Henry Graff, purchased the family farm in 1938. It is located in Sheridan Township.

Kyle and his family now live in the family farm home and handle the farming operation. The family raises corn and soybeans and has 20 head of cattle.

The couple has 12 grandchildren.

“I always say they are cheaper by the dozen,” said Janelle with a chuckle.

In the early years, the Graff family started taking a few cows to the county fair, something the grandkids do to this day. The younger Michelle, Curt and Kyle fought over who didn’t have to sit by the door to avoid having to open gates.

They eventually got into raising sheep with lambing in the cold of winter and baling hay all summer.

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On April 12, 1960, Dale’s dad bought a new Farmall 460 and passed it along through the generations. Kyle and Dale restored the tractor in 2008 to exhibit in parades. This tractor has made appearances at several Ag Days and on many tractor rides.

The family still uses the Farmall 460 in the fields on occasion.

“We were able to showcase the pride a farmer has and pull our family through several Fourth of July parades on the Farmall 460,” recalled Janelle.

The family heirloom was one of four tractors the Graff family had on display at the Ag Day event. The family also showed a Super M, a 4020 and a 4440.

Members of the Graff family drove the tractors in the Ag Day Tractor Parade.