People who live to be 100 years old are quite rare. It is even more exceptional to live to the age of 105. However, one Minnesotan man has done both. Earl Mallinger was born in 1917 to a large family of seven brothers and sisters. His farming father raised Mallinger. His father, who was born in France, worked terribly to make a living in America.
He went to school to learn English when he initially came in the United States. After finishing eighth grade, Mallinger joined his father in the family business in 1932. He had witnessed his father laboriously establishing their farm with a horse and buggy, and now Mallinger was doing the same.
Mallinger, who is 105 years old, is the oldest crystal sugar beet farmer. He owns a thousand acres in Minnesota, where he was raised. Mallinger, the previous International Potato Grower of the Year, no longer works in the fields. He, on the other hand, makes all farm decisions. In addition to beets, he farms wheat and soybeans. Mallinger is still quite busy in his fields, even if he doesn’t do everything around the farm that he used to. He drives around in his neighbor’s automobile, inspecting crops and speaking with workers.
When he is not working, he plays cards five days a week or golf. Now that he is enjoying his business and life differently than in the past, the 105-year-old is urging young farmers to work hard and live modestly.
Mallinger claimed that he is still alive because of his active lifestyle. He explained, “I suppose what keeps a guy alive at 105 is to be working.” He also stated that he learned to work hard by watching his father.
According to him, “Dad was a tremendously hard worker and taught me how to work.” He was willing to explore new things and planted his first crop of potatoes in 1926. When they realized how good of an opportunity it was, they planted sugar beets on their acreage.
He claimed that in 1927, field employees from the new factory visited every farm and chatted with farmers about growing this revolutionary new product known as sugar beets. According to Mallinger, “When we first started, we had 30 acres of sugar beets, and Mexican people helped us by hoeing the weeds.” “They got the best seed from Germany, while we got it from the manufacturer.” He stated it arrived from Germany in huge burlap bags.
Mallinger acknowledged that success did come eventually. “I won the title of North American Seed Potato Grower of the Year in 1993. It meant a lot to me to receive the prize, which I did in Portland, Oregon,” Mallinger added. He claimed he never stopped farming after all these years because it was his favorite activity. The farmer declared, “I never stopped farming because it is so much fun.
His farming advice is straightforward. “Begin small if you did not inherit land from your parents.” He said that you will succeed if you put in a lot of effort and limit your spending. Remember to stop and smell the roses every now and then. “I didn’t work much on Sundays, but I still made a good life,” the 105-year-old continued.
Watch his motivating video below: