Far more than fresh fruit grew on the Bauer Berry Farm in Champlin over the past four decades: Nancy and Bill Bauer's two sons, then their grandchildren and finally more than 800 teens employed to lighten the work of running the pick-your-own farm.
"The most important thing about this whole 42 years of picking has to hearken back to the teenagers that we hired," said Bill Bauer — what he called "the real sweetness."
The couple, now in their 70s, this week announced to 6,000 followers on Facebook and 4,000 e-mail subscribers that they're retiring and shutting down what has become a beloved traditional destination for many Minnesota families. This summer they were already starting to tell people this would be their last picking season.
"We have been blessed with lasting relationships with many repeat customers," Nancy wrote. "In the end, we may have even been growing berries for the grandchildren of our first pickers. This is the part of our farm operation that we will miss. All of your eager faces as you drove up to our gate ..."
Older and without the help of their sons and in-laws, the Bauers decided it was time to sell and leave their home on the farm.
Developers have approached the family for years about the property, and until now they said no. They expect much of the 46 acres of land off French Lake Road will be turned into housing.
The Bauers plan to retire to a cabin in the woods of Hayward, Wis., a place closer to their sons and suited to cross-country skiing, their favorite winter reprieve.
In 1968, Nancy's father, Webster "Web" Wadsworth, an Osseo farmer, bought the Champlin property and let the newlyweds rent the falling-down farmhouse built in the late 1800s.