Ever since Gene Anderson was a boy, he always wanted to become a farmer.

“My dad was really the inspiration,” Anderson said.

Since 1949 the Anderson family has been working hard on its farm, and this year the hard work and good deeds didn’t go unnoticed. Anderson and his sisters received the Mower County Farm Family of the Year award from the University of Minnesota extension office.

“I am very proud to be awarded this,” Gene said.

The Andersons’ father, Donald Anderson, started the family farm. Before Gene took over in 1979, it consisted of 160 acres, animals and many different kinds of grains. Since then, the farm has grown immensely. The farm now has 40 Holstein cows and 320 acres.

Gene is also involved with his community. He is the Waltham Township clerk, treasurer of the Mower County American Dairy Association and involved with Associated Milk Producers Inc. and Mower County Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, among other organizations.

Gene isn’t the only one helping on the farm, though. His two sisters, Donna, a retired school teacher, and Dorene, who works full time at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, also are a big help on the farm.

“My sisters enjoy doing chores around the farm,” Gene said.

Among all the organizations the Andersons have joined, they have also hosted Day on the Farm for elementary schoolers and hosted this year’s Mower County Breakfast on the Farm.

“It’s just nice to hear the comments and that people do enjoy it,” Dorene said about visitors to their farm.

The Andersons will receive their award during a ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 9 at Farmfest near Morgan, Minn.