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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) The best Brown Swiss cows are still being raised and milked by Phyllis and Durward Otterness and their son Duane.

Durward Otterness, 88, milks cows every day, bales hay, runs the spring planter and does dozens of other chores on the farmstead west of Tower City. Phyllis still likes running the combine during the harvest season.

He said “People in town ask me, ‘when are you going to retire?’ I tell them being out in the barn makes me feel good. I like doing things and taking care of cows. If I retire, I’d just sit in the house and get stiff and old. This way, I’ll just get old.”

Phyllis Otterness nominated her husband for Master Farmer recognition. She said, “I am truly proud of my husband…who truly loves the land and livestock.”

The family has a lot of cattle show ribbons and trophies for their work raising registered Brown Swiss cows.

They were named the North Dakota Dairy Farm Family of the Year in 1985. They were inducted into the North Dakota 4-H Hall of Fame in 1998 and were named the North Dakota State University Little International Saddle and Sirloin Club Agriculturalist of the Year in 2007.

Story courtesy of Lon Tonneson of Dakota Ag.

Phyllis and Durward Otterness of rural Tower City.