![A wide view of the Westesen Farm & Ranch in 1929 with the family Buick Roadster in the foreground.](/sites/default/files/styles/11to5_320x145/public/media/images/2018/WestesenFarm5.jpg?itok=hTD-xE9j)
Centennial Farms & Ranches
Westesen Farm & Ranch
Montrose County
Westesen Farm began with the birth of Carl Westesen in Denmark in 1867. When he was 21 years old, he moved to America and made his way to Colorado Springs.
In 1901 he married Maude Viola Bishop and settled in Denver. For almost two years he owned and operated a feed store in Denver. Westesen traded his feed store in 1903, along with a payment of $1600, for a 160-acre lot near Olathe, Colorado. Since its inception, the farm has grown to 242 acres, though that no longer includes the original 160 acres.
The farm originally had several types of livestock, which included sheep, horses, dairy cows, pigs, and chickens. Today the farm is home to 15 hives of Italian bees and grows “Olathe Sweet” sweet corn, alfalfa, onions, squash, and other crops.
![An old outbuilding on the Westesen Farm & ranch on a snowy winter day.](/sites/default/files/styles/3to2_870x580/public/media/2018-03/westesen_snow.jpg?itok=xsWb2OYm)
Historic outbuilding in the snow.
![Teams of horses and equipment with Carl and Harold Westesen in the foreground, 1912.](/sites/default/files/styles/3to2_870x580/public/media/images/2018/Westesen_Farm_Ranch.jpg?h=88ac1a36&itok=27c1scx_)
1912 image of the Westesen Farm and Ranch near Olathe. Photo courtesy of the Westesen Farm & Ranch. The Westesen family suggests that this 1912 image appears to show that Carl Westesen brought out all of the equipment and teams of horses to show them off. In the foreground is Carl, holding the hand of his 2-yr old son, Harold.
![Harvesting "Olathe Sweet" sweet corn on the Westesen Farm & Ranch.](/sites/default/files/styles/3to2_870x580/public/media/2018-03/westesen_corn.jpg?itok=kRbCYdc3)
Harvesting "Olathe Sweet" sweet corn.
![Carl, Harold, and Maude Westesen, 1923.](/sites/default/files/styles/3to2_870x580/public/media/2018-03/westesen_carlharoldmaude_1923.jpg?itok=nUpaAMJ3)
Carl, Harold, and Maude Westesen, 1923.
![Aerial view of the Westesen Farm, 1983, with Dan Westesen flying the plane and Harold Westersen waving up at it.](/sites/default/files/styles/3to2_870x580/public/media/2018-03/westesen_aerial3.jpg?itok=8T2X9vQp)
Aerial view of the Westesen Farm & Ranch, 1983.
![Carl Westesen at the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo in circa 1910. Of this, his wife, Maude wrote:"We went to the fair yesterday and saw Carl and his exhibits. They were fine, I tell you. He won over 75 first prizes and I don't know how many 2nd prizes.”](/sites/default/files/styles/3to2_870x580/public/media/2018-03/westesen_farm_market.jpg?itok=df1IHFey)
Carl Westesen at the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo in about 1910.
![Members of the Westesen Farm & Ranch with their Centennial Farm and Ranch sign.](/sites/default/files/styles/3to2_870x580/public/media/2018-03/westesen-1.jpg?itok=SHDZobia)
Members of the Westesen Farm & Ranch.