A story distilled
1968 – Where it all begins
Long before Michael—as his family called him—was even a twinkle in his parent’s eyes, Frank and Ruth Ann Yegge put down roots.
They purchased the farmhouse on a 6-acre acreage along with their first two farms—the home place and the North 106. That land would become the foundation of a family legacy.
Before Mike, there were "The Yegge Sisters"
To understand Mike’s story, you have to start with the ones who came before him—his sisters, who paved the way.
1969 – Lisa – The oldest. Does anything more need to be said?
1970 – Kelly – The responsible one, always trying to do the right thing—even when it led to awkward moments, like when people thought Mike was her kid.
1973 – Stephanie – The fearless one. Left home for the Air Force but mastered trouble long before Mike. Obviously taught him everything she knew.
1977 – Cheryl – The loyal and protective one—despite fully leaning into her role as the endlessly tormented (but secretly proud) sister of a relentless little brother.
Each one toughened him up in their own way, whether they meant to or not.
1985 – A rough start & a strong foundation
"Oh boy, it’s a boy."
That’s how Mike entered the world. Just six months into his life, his dad suffers a massive heart attack, a moment that shakes the family to its core.
Resilience has always been part of the Yegge way of life.
A defining memory: The neighbors all show up to harvest the fields, proving that farming isn’t just about land—it’s about community, persistence, and showing up when it matters most.
A lesson: Hard work and grit aren’t optional—they’re survival.
1988 – The bobcat incident + the first near-death experience
Kelly, trying to be a cool big sister, puts three-year-old Mike behind her on the Bobcat.
Things are going great—until she lowers the arms and nearly crushes his legs.
Oops. He’s fine.
Kelly, however, is still traumatized. 😬
The first of many brushes with death: If farm life doesn’t kill you, having four older sisters just might.
1989 – A life-defining oil change
Mike is four years old and already knows a thing or two about taking care of equipment.
He decides to check the oil on the Bobcat, convinced he’s doing the right thing—only to remember he was told not to do just that!
Defining theme: Even when he’s young, Mike has an instinct for mechanics and problem-solving.
A lesson: Not all lessons come easy—sometimes, even when your heart is in the right place, you have to learn the hard way.
1991 – Blacktop Sundays & the favorite child status is cemented
Every Sunday after church, Dad lets Mike sit on his lap and "drive" home on the blacktop. The sisters? Never got this privilege.
Core memory: While the sisters were sent inside the gas station for milk or toilet paper, Mike got to pick out donuts.
A running joke: Being the baby of the family has perks—just ask his sisters.
1992 – Racing to the barn (and always winning)
If there was a race from the barn to the house, Mike had to win.
Theme emerges: This is the beginning of the competitive streak that never faded. Even if no one else was keeping score, Mike was.
1993 – The tattle-tale + the telephone cord incident
At eight years old, Mike is tired of his sisters always being on the phone. Cheryl, in particular, never seems to stop talking.
Core memory: Fed up with waiting for his sister to come play, Mike grabs a pair of scissors and cuts the telephone cord.
A legendary Yegge moment.
Theme emerges: Mike has always been decisive—if something isn’t going his way, he finds a way to fix it.
1995 – Learning to drive (badly) & the squished banana
Stephanie, home from the Air Force, tries to teach Mike how to drive a stick shift in her Dodge Shadow.
What happens: Mike stalls the car again and again in front of Doug Hugo’s house. A kid eating a banana watches the disaster unfold, squeezes too hard, and banana guts go everywhere.
The takeaway: Mike is competitive but not always great at something the first time—so he works at it until he is.
1997 – The snowmobile + the broken leg
Another near-death experience? Possibly. Mike, on a sled riding behind Jeremi on a snowmobile, gets whipped off and breaks his leg.
But you should have seen the air he got!
The takeaway: If Kelly didn’t almost break his legs on the Bobcat, somebody else would.
2000 – The competitive streak takes hold
By now, it’s obvious—Mike is determined to be the best.
🏃 Racing to the house from the barn? He has to win.
🤣 Telling jokes? You better laugh, or he will explain why they’re funny.
🍎 Selling FFA fruit? He wants to be the top seller.
2004 – Third place + the scholarship that never came
Mike graduates third in his class—but third isn’t first. He misses out on scholarship money, and this detail never stops bothering him. This one stings. For.Ev.Er.
Defining theme: This fuels his quiet but relentless competitiveness—he will never be satisfied with anything less than excellence.
2005 – College hustler + the $12 bank bonuses
In college, Mike figures out how to open multiple bank accounts to get $12 bonuses, a $7 gift card or maybe just a great interest rate.
A defining character trait: Frugality meets obsessive game of financial tetris.
A running joke: Even decades later, he still tracks every gallon of fuel, every cent spent, and every financial loophole available.
2010 – The Washington years + a comfortable life
Mike moves to Washington, working as an engineer. He has a steady job, a stable life, and financial security.
But something is missing. He doesn’t feel at home.
2017 – Meeting Rachel, the perfect (opposite) match + becoming BFM
Mike meets Rachel, who is everything he’s not—bold, tenacious and always ready to create some chaos.
And let’s just say… putting tools back where they belong isn’t exactly her strong suit!
Core memory: Introduced by Rachel's prom date and middle school soccer teammate, who also happen to work with Mike.
Somehow, it just works. And the name BFM (Boyfriend Mike) sticks.
2018 – The hardest work of all
Mike loses his dad—the person he was supposed to farm alongside but also wouldn’t recommend someone take up farming.
Mike does it anyway. He walks away from the safe path and chooses the hard one.
Defining theme: "Come hell or high water, I’m going to farm."
His sisters' reaction: “Has he lost his damn mind?” But, of course, they are always the first to help every season.
A lesson in grit: Sometimes, the hardest work isn’t in the fields—it’s carrying on when the person who was supposed to teach you isn’t there anymore.
2019 – The first harvest & the Arctic blast
Mike’s first official harvest is nothing short of brutal. The equipment barely runs, nothing is easy, and an Arctic blast turns everything to ice.
Did you know diesel starts to freeze at -15?
Defining memory: If farming was going to be easy, he picked the wrong year to start.
2020 – The move from Washington and Morty joins the pack
Kicking off the year officially living in Iowa, with Grayson and Shep riding shotgun, Mike and Rachel made the move from Washington.
In a blizzard.
Hauling a boat and a trailer.
Only one pole was hit during the trek.
And then, just a few short months later, Morty finds his way to Iowa from California.
He’s not really helpful on the farm. At all. But we love him anyway.
2021 – Franny Family Farms is official
Mike purchases the house, acreage, and equipment.
Why "Franny" matters: It’s a tribute to Mike’s dad—Francis, Frank, Franny.
2025 – The birth of North 106: A story distilled
Mike’s work isn’t just about farming—it’s about creating something lasting.
The name "North 106" comes from: The first farm Mike’s dad purchased—the land he still farms today.
His sisters’ reflection: He’s always been particular, frugal, determined, and observant.
That’s why this whiskey is more than a drink—it’s a tribute to everything that shaped him.
