The roots that Monte and Donneta Felbush sink into the fertile soil of Dickinson County are four generations deep, and they are determined to keep them strong for their son, Levi, who is the fifth generation on both sides to work the farm.

Monte and Donneta grew up in the same area but did not go to school together. They were in the same 4-H club, where he knew her as "one of the McBoyle girls."

"My dad told us that we couldn't marry until I finished college, so I completed my degree at K-State in three years," Donneta says. "Motivation."

They started their farming life together after she graduated in 1975. They raised four children — Jason, Marci, Shawnee and Levi — in the rural tradition. Jason is now involved in law enforcement for KU, Marci has been working in China; Shawnee is senior auditor at Arvest Bankd and the wife of a Southern Baptist Ministries pastor. Levi is back on the farm, teaching his children the values that he learned as a child, with the support of his wife, Kristen, who grew up with farming and cattle in northeast Kansas.

Monte says that their family has based the family operation on the premise that "God owns it all, and he has given us the privilege of managing it for him."

FARM SIGN: One of Monte and Donneta Felbush's favorite features is the limestone sign that marks their family farm.

The Felbush homestead is located on the land originally inhabited by Monte's great-grandparents. The sense of history — and the continual improvements — are part of a legacy that has continued through the generations.

When Monte wants to get a bird’s-eye view of the farmstead — or maybe a couple of aerial photos — he takes to the skies in his powered parachute, a device he purchased about 15 years ago. The powered parachute requires a sport pilot license.

Monte says he considers it safer than a small airplane because if the engine fails, he can simply float gently to the ground on the parachute.

He can also take off and land on almost any patch of grass.

AERIAL VIEW: This aerial view shows the layout of the Felbush farmstead and surrounding fields.

The house today was built in 1990 to accommodate a large family. In addition, it provides family space with a fire pit, a backyard pond, a play area and a small garden area where Donneta helps grandchildren learn about growing food from planting to watering to harvesting.

Since Monte's family homestead is part of the land they own, improvements are a continual process.

A 1913 barn built to house workhorses and provide milking space for 20 cows is now a facility for working cattle. An old granary is used for machine storage, and an old garage has been converted to a chemical shed. Structures that couldn't be rehabbed have been torn down and replaced with a new hay shed and an insulated shop.

Cattle pens have been redesigned and rebuilt, and nine pens have been added. The feeding operation has space for 900 head of cattle.

The Felbush farm is all dryland acres, with wheat being the major crop. They also grow grain sorghum, soybeans, silage, alfalfa, grass hay and some triticale for grazing.

They have a small beef-cow herd, about 85 head. They have 850 head of stocker calves, including 50 head of custom-fed cattle.

A few years ago, they began a value-added operation of growing a specific variety of grain sorghum for a local businessman who prepares the grain to be made into packing pellets.

"We are required to plant milo from a specific brand and number," Monte says. "He gives us a minimum price contract contingent on the milo passing the required tests."

Both Monte and Donneta believe in service on industry and government boards as well as introducing people who know little about agriculture to farm life. They host an annual fall party for K-State international students who are majoring in agriculture or agricultural research, many of whom have never seen an American farm.

As part of her service to the local zoning board, Donneta initiated a form to be signed by anyone moving from city to rural life, stating that the rural home buyer understands they are moving to a farming area where there will be dust, slow-moving vehicles, farmers working late hours, livestock smells and so forth. She also introduced a new regulation to create a 1-mile buffer zone between an existing livestock operation and a new subdivision.

Click on the following links to read the other Master Farmer stories: 90 years later, Barker family, Kaiser family, Minnix family, Reinhardt/DeGeer family and Tipton family.