About

The Story of Tyden Farm No. 6

Tyden Farm #6

Col. Emil Tyden bought Tyden Farm No. 6 in 1936 which brought the total acres of farm land he owned to approximately 2400. The previous owners had built the rather large Sear’s home with electricity, running water and a room for hired help. This a small building used for a summer kitchen, the oldest building on the farm, and a small barn were the only buildings not built by Emil.In 1936 the barn, the concrete corn crib, 3 car garage, used also as a repair shop for farm and with a scale to weigh livestock on the north side and a machine shed were built.  Other buildings including a chicken coop, hog house, a block feed and seed shed and an extensive water system for the livestock including a water tower was also added in the next 5 years.

There was a concrete crew, tiling crew, painting crew, fencing crew and building crews that went around to the farms and kept them up. No wonder it is said the evening activity of locals was to drive around the Tyden farms and see what activities were going on.

A. F. Lindell, the farm manager Emil hired lived in the house and Emil sent out a bedroom set from Hastings, Michigan for when he came out 4 times a year to check on the farms. The bedroom set has come back to the room and is set up there.

In 1941 the farms were rented out and A. F. Lindell rented No. 6 and continued to live here. He had a heart attack and had to move into the town of Greene and hired men lived on No. 6. He moved back to the farm after recovering. In 1964 Hertz Farm Management was hired to manage the farms. Matt Moore rented No. 6, in 1971 Henry Wright rented No. 6 and in 1994 when No. 6 was sold Ted and Judy Pitzenberger bought the 10 acre farmstead.

Ted & Judy

Ted & Judy PitzenbergerTed knew about the Tyden farms while he was growing up. His aunt and uncle lived just up the road as the saying goes. When Ted’s family would visit them they would drive by Tyden Farm No. 6. He started noticing the size of it by the age of 12 comparing to the work on his father’s farm. Ted and Judy met while attending North Iowa Community College in Mason City and were married October 4, 1969. They began their married life on Tyden Farm No. 3 in the little hired man’s house. The reason for this was Ted’s parents Dick and Jean had rented No. 3 and moved there in March of 1969. Ted was still attending North Iowa Community College when in the spring of 1971 they rented their first farm. He worked for his father, exchanging labor for the use of his dad’s machinery. Ted and Judy moved to his mother’s family farm in 1972, continued to farm raising their four children Troy, Phil, Ian and Jenay. In 1978 they bought land and in 1983 they bought the acreage to go with it and moved there. In 1985 they rented the Walt Boehlje farm with Ted’s farm family. They lived there until 1989 when they moved back to their own farm. When Ted’s parents retired in 1991 Ted and Judy embarked on their own farming. Needing a new base of operation for their farming they were lucky enough to be able to buy the farmstead of Tyden Farm No. 6. In the meantime their oldest son Troy graduated from Iowa State and Phil and Ian followed big brother when they graduated high school. Ted continued to rent land and the boys used the farming as their college employment. After taking a farm family course at Iowa State the family started looking at how Phil and Ian could join their dad in farming. Troy had other employment. Phil rented his first land his senior year at Iowa State and after Ian graduated he worked at the local coop and rented land shortly after that. The farming has continued to grow and provide a living for the three families. Ted and Judy have been blessed with 17 grandchildren and the family continues to grow.

Your Farm visit can Include:

  • A documentary on Emil Tyden which includes the Tyden family story, his impact on this country, especially agriculture in North Central Iowa and more.
  • A tour of the impressive farm buildings and collection of antique machinery.
  • The farm family museum featuring the keepsakes of yesterday in a renovated hog house.
  • Experience the beauty of nature with a touch of whimsy in the gardens and the tastes and smells of the summer kitchen.
  • An informative visit on modern farming
  • The Sears house Ted and Judy live in.

Visit the Tours page for more info!

Our Home With A History

The farm is now part of the Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area and houses farming exhibits

 

 

Tyden Farm No. 6 House

Mission Statement

What drives Ted and Judy first is the importance of preserving the family farming legacy of both of their farm families.  Doing this through progressive farming that improves the land they have been blessed to have the care of and the building of a strong family.  Also to share what they have learned in both areas to benefit other farm families.

Second they feel it is important to preserve and share the story of Col. Emil Tyden, the eight farms he bought and developed and the kindness he shared.