Maday Family Farms traces its history to Joseph Peter Maday who was born in 1838. Joseph and his wife, Josephine and their two children came to America in 1881. The family settled on a farm in Cook County, Ill., in 1886 and three years later moved to Silver Lake Township in Martin County. In the following years, eight more children were added to the family.

After generations of the family farmed in Martin County, Joseph Peter’s great-great-grandson, Louis Malcom Maday, farmed the family’s land with his wife, Marvis and their 17 children: Barbara, Richard, Thomas, Marsha, Jeanne, Dianne, Mary Pat, David, Jennifer, Margaret, Nylene, Brenda, Lori, an infant son that passed away, Elizabeth, Louis John and Darren.

Richard started farming with his dad in 1972 and today, brothers Richard, Darren and Louis operate Maday Family Farms. Their father retired in 1987. Together, the families farm about 5,500 acres of corn, sweet corn, and soybeans in Martin County. The families also have several contracts for nursery and finishing hog barns.

Richard and his wife, Joanne, have five children: David, Anna, Sarah, Robert and Emma. Louis and his wife, Amy, have three kids: Sean, Lucas and Amber. Darren and his wife, Tevi, have three children: Jessica, Kjersti and Tristan. Joanne, Amy and Tevi are also involved in the daily operation of the farm with varying responsibilities. David, Robert, Sean, Lucas and Tristan are the sixth generation of the family involved in the operation, maintaining equipment, planting, harvesting, trucking and marketing. They also started a manure drag line business called the Southern Minnesota Pumping Company.

The seventh generation of the Maday family is quickly growing up. David and his wife, Bethany,  have two children. Robert and his wife, Clarissa, have four kids. Sean and his wife, Rachel, have two children. Lucas is engaged to Brooke with two kids. And Tristan is married to Kenlie.

Maday family members try to get together as often as they can to discuss what needs to get done and plan for the future. They strive for safety and efficiency. Members of the family are involved in a variety of organizations including the Minnesota Corn and Soybean growers associations, Martin County Pork Producers, Ducks Unlimited and Knights of Columbus. Darren serves as mayor of Granada.