Balancing two passions, the Milaca educator followed her heart back to her family farm
Page 4 Stories of the Heartland • Sunday, April 19, 2026 hometownsource. com / heartland /
From farm kid to teacher and back again
Leann Pietrzak grew up on her family’ s Lone Pine Farm, a dairy farm located between Milaca and Hillman. While she always knew she wanted to one day work on the farm full-time, she spent 20 years of her adult life as an educator before taking the leap.
Balancing two passions, the Milaca educator followed her heart back to her family farm
BY CHLOE SMITH STORIES OF THE HEARTLAND
MILACA – Finding a life’ s passion is uncommon for many, but finding two is almost unheard of.
Leann Pietrzak, of Milaca, is one of the rare few to discover two career passions throughout her life.
Pietrzak grew up on her family’ s dairy farm, Lone Pine Farm, located between Hillman and Milaca. Her childhood was surrounded by family, love, farm animals and the countryside.
“ We raised chickens for what used to be Golden Plump. I was probably two-yearsold, but I remember bits of( the poultry barn) being built. That was probably around 1986,” Pietrzak said.“ I completely enjoyed( growing up on the farm). I now realize how lucky I was. Every morning we would have breakfast with my grandparents( who lived on the property), and not everyone gets that.”
Lone Pine Farm was established by Pietrzak’ s grandparents around the time of the Great Depression when the couple made the decision to purchase land farther north due to cheaper prices. According to Pietrzak’ s father, Calvin Beumer, land at the time was priced at $ 8.10 per acre.
The property was originally covered in white pine trees that the family cleared to build the dairy farm, but one tree remained giving the farm its name.
Today, Lone Pine Farm houses approximately 100 dairy cows and 40 cow-calf pairs for its beef cattle herd. The farm also still operates its poultry business, however, it’ s currently run by Pietrzak’ s brother and sister-in-law.
Leann Pietrzak( left) made the switch from agriculture teacher to full-time farmer about a year ago to work on her parent’ s farm, Lone Pine Farm, located between Milaca and Hillman. Tammy and Calvin Beumer always knew their daughter would love to take over someday, and helped facilitate her transition since she started teaching 20 years ago.