It is spring and every farm kid's thoughts turn to up-coming 4-H projects. There is a farm in Northeast Nebraska where two farm kids have a list a mile long of possible 4-H projects.

Randy Klawitter with wife Dayna and son Rylee, age eleven, and daughter Haylee, age nine, live on a farm located in Knox County, northwest of Verdigre.

Rylee and Haylee attend school in Verdigre and are involved in a number of 4-H projects as members of the Lucky Lads and Lasses 4-H club. These energetic farm kids have a long list of pets and projects they could use as 4-H exhibits.

Randy Klawitter has to claim at least part of the blame --or love -- for this long, unusual, somewhat strange list of animals that call this diversified farm home.

Dayna Klawitter is a registered nurse and works at the Springfield prison as well as the Creighton Hospital. The day I visited the Klawitter farm to take photos and do the interview, Dayna, a member of the Verdigre EMT squad was on an ambulance run to a hospital in O'Neill. Before long, she was dropped off at home by a family member who was also on the run.

The busy farmwife-- like the rest of this active family -- has both her heart and hands in this farm and their community.

A large variety of enterprises makes this a successful farming operation, and a fun one.

Randy Klawitter has been managing the pasture on this farm in Knox County for a growing herd of crossbred cows since 1991.

"We don't really have too much actual farm ground but we produce dry land alfalfa," he said. "We can manage about two good cuttings of alfalfa a season and about one in every four years, we will get a good 3rd cutting. It has been dry up this way for a number of years."

Klawitter came to the area from Ft. Calhoun, Neb. as a kid to hunt and fish with his Dad and family. His family bought some hunting acres in the area and he soon set his heart on farming and ranching in this scenic area of Northeast Nebr.

"First I had to graduate college, which I did at UNL with a degree in agronomy. I still love the area and appreciate the family lifestyle that goes with it," he said.

Along with his cow and calf operation, the Klawitters raise buffalo, selling about six butcher animals a year besides what they use themselves. They also raise sheep and just a year ago young Rylee took out a youth Ag loan to purchase his starter flock. They will start lambing soon and the whole family is excited about the success of Rylee's project.

"The sheep work well with the cattle," Randy said. "If you can feed them where the cattle ate, they will eat the leaves and small stuff the cattle leave behind."

Klawitter also harvests weed seeds that he sells to a seed broker, who in turn supplies chemical companies with seeds for testing Ag chemicals.

"I really do combine weed seeds," he said. "I use an older Oliver combine because it works better than the newer larger models. You know what they say: Anything that is growing in the wrong place is considered a weed. I harvest mostly native pasture wildflowers and grasses, but I get a raise out folks when I tell them I harvest weed seeds."

Klawitter added that the object is to manage the grasses for the growth of the forbs.

Randy took me out in the pickup to see the buffalo and horses which include both riding horse and three miniature horses. Rodger the llama came running up to the pickup and nearly planted a big wet kiss on me.

"He likes females," Randy said. "He doesn't much care for me."

I was impressed.

Back at the place, I saw a shaggy looking character peeking through a fence. I was introduced to Regi, a young Scottish Highlander bull -- a partner for the female Highlander the Klawitters own.

The kids then showed me their pair of emus, Eve and Ian.

We also checked on the chickens, guineas, geese, rabbits and peacocks. Bear, the dog, went on a wild chase after a lone turkey.

"We just got the Tom turkey," Randy said. "Our other tame turkeys walked off with the wild ones and we just let this guy out of his pen today." After the feathers settled and Bear was properly constrained, the Tom turkey, like me, took a good look around and wondered what else he may have missed.

Eager and willing to share their busy lifestyle with others, the Klawitters are looking forward to getting an exchange student from Norway in August.