Dedicated 105-Year-Old Farmer Strives To 'Keep Busy' And Enjoy Long Life

Sep 12, 2022

It is extremely rare that people make it to age 100. It is even rarer that people make it to age 105. Yet one man in Minnesota has lived to accomplish both. Earl Mallinger was born in 1917 to a large family of seven brothers and sisters. Mallinger grew up with his father as a farmer. His dad was originally from France, and his father worked hard to make a living in America. He also attended school to learn English when first making it to the states. After graduating eighth grade in 1932, Mallinger joined his father in the family business. He watched his dad work hard with a horse and buggy to bring their farm to life, and now Mallinger does the same. 

Mallinger, at the age of 105, is the oldest crystal sugar beet farmer. He owns 1,000 acres in Minnesota, where he was raised. Once the International Potato Grower of the Year, Mallinger doesn’t do manual labor anymore. However, he is in charge of all the farm's decisions. He doesn’t just grow beets but wheat and soybeans as well. Although Mallinger doesn’t do everything that he used to do around the farm, he is still extremely active out in his fields. His neighbor drives him around to scout fields and check on workers. 

When he isn’t working, he plays cards five days a week or plays golf. Now that the 105-year-old is enjoying his business and life differently than he used to, he is telling young farmers to work hard and be frugal. 

Speaking to Ag Week in August of 2022, Mallinger shared that he is still alive because of his busy lifestyle. “I guess what keeps a guy alive at 105 is to keep busy,” he shared. He also shared that he is a hard worker because he watched his father be one. 

“Dad was a real hard worker and taught me how to work,” he said. “He was willing to try new things, and he first planted potatoes in 1926,” he added. They added sugar beets to their farm when they realized what an opportunity it would be. “In 1927, field men from the new factory visited all the farmers and talked to them about growing this unique new crop called sugar beets,” he said. “We had 30 acres of sugar beets when we started, and Mexican folks helped us by hoeing the weeds,” Mallinger said. “We got the beet seed from the factory, and they got it from Germany. It came from Germany in great big burlap bags,” he added. 

Mallinger shared that, eventually, success came. “In 1993, I was the Seed Potato Grower of the Year for the North American continent. I received the award in Portland, Oregon, and it really meant a lot to me,” Mallinger said. After all these years of farming, he said he never quit because it was his favorite thing to do. “I never quit farming because it is so much fun,” the farmer said.

His words of wisdom to farmers are simple. “If you didn’t inherit land from your parents, start small. Work hard and don’t spend too much money and you’ll be successful,” he said. “Also, don’t forget to stop and smell the roses. I didn’t work much on Sundays and I still made a good living,” the 105-year-old added. 

Can you believe this farmer is 105 years old? We are fascinated by him and his hard work over all this time! If you found this article inspiring – make sure to send it to others who will think the same!