Family means everything to the Nelson family.
Delbert and Eddyra Nelson raised their six kids while keeping busy on the farm and in the schools and community, then moved into a new era of cheering on 20 grandkids and three great-grandkids.
The couple is being recognized as the Farm Marshals for Saturday’s Farm-City Days parade.
Delbert and Eddyra were married in 1968 at Wesley United Methodist Church and bought their first quarter-section of land northeast of Iola a few months later. They paid $200 an acre.
“My mom thought that was a lot,” Eddyra said with a laugh, as prices could be more than 20 times that these days.
They kept buying land and now own several hundred acres, where they run a cow-calf operation and farm numerous crops including soybeans, corn and occasionally milo. This year’s wheat crop had to be cut for hay, but that’s a standard feature as well.
Over the years, Delbert has served as vice president of Allen County Farm Bureau and served four terms on the Allen Community College Board of Trustees, including as chairman.
The couple attend First Christian Church in Iola.
FOR THE Nelsons, the phrase “family farm” has always stressed the “family” part.
From the time their children were able, they helped around the farm. When the oldest, Leslie, turned 12, she took over as Delbert’s top farmhand.
“The kids always had a job. They were always busy,” Eddyra said.
Of course, they had commitments outside the farm as well. Each of the six children were involved in 4-H and FFA, as well as a variety of extracurricular activities in school.
“4-H kept them busy. FFA, too,” Eddyra continued. “They did about every project you can imagine. Steer, pigs, sewing.”
Eddyra and Delbert have a collection of the FFA jackets worn by their children and grandchildren. It’s quite a sight to see the blue jackets all hanging in a closet, many worn by subsequent generations. Just recently, a granddaughter pulled them out to try on.
Their children and grandchildren also have played nearly every sport in high school and college: cross country, track, football, basketball, volleyball, baseball and softball.