The Hensen Dairy, just outside of Middleton, is getting set to welcome thousands of visitors Saturday for the 40th annual Dane County Breakfast on the Farm. Although the calendar can become clogged with these opportunities, the farms proximity to Madison makes for an interesting audience. Will Hensen, one of the family partners, sat down with Pam Jahnke to discuss the current situation in dairy and what he hopes people will see and experience in their brief visit this weekend.
One item visitors will want to note – there is NO ON FARM PARKING for Saturday’s event. Kristin Olson, communications volunteer with the committee says that shuttles will begin bringing guests out for breakfast beginning at 6:30 a.m.
Free Guest Parking and Free Transportation to Farm
Spectrum Brands
3001 Deming Way
Middleton, WI 53562
Springs Window Fashions
7549 Graber Rd
Middleton, WI 53562
FPC • Living Faith Together
5763 County Road Q
Waunakee, WI 53597
Waunakee Intermediate School
6273 Woodland Drive
Waunakee, WI 53597
Motorcycle Parking
Driveway of home next to the farm
5136 Pheasant Branch Road
Waunakee, WI 53597
Bike Parking (yup, the peddle kind)
Lawn/yard between farm and house next door
Look for the bike gates
5136 Pheasant Branch Road
Waunakee, WI 53597
Handicap Vehicle Parking – in a field next to the farm yard
Hensen Bros. Dairy
5116 Pheasant Branch Road
Waunakee, Wisconsin 53597
Transportation
School buses pick up and drop off guests from four different locations and the farm. Several buses will make continuous loops from 6:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
The Dane County Dairy Promotion Committee will present 10 local students with scholarships during Saturday’s dairy breakfast too. The program recognizes students who are residents of Dane County and pursuing post-secondary educations in an agriculture-related field. Recipients of this year’s $1,000 scholarships are Emily Matzke, Sauk City; Dylan Herbrand, Dane; Faith Majors-Culp, Oregon; Grace Link, Deerfield; Gaelan Combs, Verona, Kim Keller Mount Horeb, Hailey Schulenberg, Mount Horeb; Devin Brown, Belleville; and Alison Kinnaird, Cambridge.
Emily Matzke, Sauk City, is the daughter of Diane and Daryl Matzke. She graduated from Sauk Prairie High School in 2016 and currently attends the University of Wisconsin-Madison majoring in Animal Science and Life Sciences Communication. At UW-Madison, Matzke is a member of Badger Dairy Club, Association of Women in Agriculture, Collegiate Farm Bureau, and National Agri-Marketing Association. “I chose to pursue a career in agriculture because I want to inspire others to create their own agricultural story,” Matzke said. “Ultimately, I want to have a career that allows me to speak with different consumer groups, students ranging from elementary to college level, and to our valued officials to remind them of the importance of agriculture, and that agriculture is no longer just cows, plows and sows, but rather spans from biotechnology to trade to innovation that impacts those near and far.”
Dylan Herbrand, Dane, is the son of Brad and Kari Herbrand. He will graduate from Sauk Prairie High School is year and plans to attend University of Wisconsin-Platteville to major in Agricultural Engineering. Herbrand is active in FFA and 4-H and shows dairy cattle at the local, state and national levels. He also volunteers as a youth wrestling coach and was awarded the Optimist Student of the Month Award in the Sauk Prairie School District. “I have learned work ethic from working on our family farm along with all the other activities I have been involved in,” Herbrand said. “Growing up on a farm and my love for agriculture has strengthened my desire to study agricultural engineering and has made it a strong career choice for me.”
Faith Majors-Culp, Oregon, is the daughter of Cynthia Majors-Culp and Steve Culp. She will graduate from Oregon High School this year and plans to attend the University of Wisconsin – River Falls to major in Animal Science/Dairy Science with a minor in Business. She was elected president of the Oregon FFA Board and volunteers for various community events and organizations. “My dream is to work out in the field or in the bard working with animals, helping them to be healthy,” Majors-Culp said. “I will always look for various ways to improve and grow, because I can never stop growing.”
Grace Link, Deerfield, is the daughter of Jim and Linda Link. She will graduate from Stoughton High School this year and plans to attend Iowa State University-Ames to study Agriculture Business. She is active in her FFA and 4-H groups, as well as Wisconsin Junior Angus Association and National Junior Angus Association. “I am fortunate to be in this position to continue working in a field that I love and feel so strongly about,” Link said. “It is important to keep the presence of agriculture in the minds of everybody and I am proud to be part of that commitment in my future.”
Gaelan Combs, Verona, is the son of Dave and Sherry Combs. He will graduate from Verona High school this year and plans to attend University of Wisconsin-Madison to study Dairy Science. He was elected president of the Verona FFA and serves as a state officer for the Wisconsin 4-H Leadership Council. “I selected a career in agriculture in order to help farmers be better prepared to handle changing public perceptions,” Combs said. “I’m uniquely qualified because I have sought to understand agriculture as a producer, consumer, and marketer through these experiences, which will help me as I pursue my future career.
Emma Olstad, Stoughton, is the daughter of Eric and Angela Olstad. She graduated from Stoughton High School in 2016 and currently attends the University of Wisconsin-Madison majoring in Dairy Science. She is active in Association of Women in Agriculture, Badger Dairy Club, Collegiate Farm Bureau and National Agri-Marketing Association. “I will apply the skills I have learned to these fields to a career in calf and heifer nutrition,” Olstad said. “I hope to help farmers start their calves out right, helping them have a successful farm.”
Kim Keller, Mount Horeb, is the daughter of Tim and Sandy Keller. She graduated from Mount Horeb High School in 2016 and currently attends Iowa State University majoring in Dairy Science with a minor in Exercise Science. She is active in 4-H and FFA and shows dairy cattle on the local, state and national levels. “The many great experiences and opportunities I have received from dairy and the shows is remarkable,” Keller said. “Everything I have accomplished and learned throughout my experiences have benefited myself in the industry and I could bring a lot of positive knowledge to help educate many others.”
Hailey Schulenberg, Mount Horeb, is the daughter of Jack and Julie Schulenberg. She will graduate from Mount Horeb High School this year and plans to attend Madison Area Technical College to study Agriculture Education and Animal Science. She was elected president of the Mount Horeb FFA and is active in her 4-H club and volunteers in the community. “As my involvement in activities revolved around agriculture, I am determined to include everyone in agriculture, since it is extremely important to the current and future population,” Schulenberg said. “Agriculture is the stepping stone for the future and it is important to me that individuals who are not related to agriculture, become.”
Devin Brown, Belleville, is the son of Douglas Brown and Lori Brown. He will graduate from Belleville High School this year and plans to attend University of Wisconsin-Madison Short Course to study Agriculture and Life Science. He is involved in FFA and 4-H, as well as the Upper Sugar River Watershed project and teaching younger students about agriculture. “A career in agriculture means a lifetime of being a steward of our land, connecting people to where their food comes from and working with dedicated industry professionals,” Brown said. “I’ve selected a career in agriculture because it’s not just a job to me, it’s a lifestyle.”
Alison Kinnaird, Cambridge, is the daughter of Todd and Judy Kinnaird. She will graduate from Cambridge High School this year and plans to attend University of Wisconsin-River Falls to study Animal Science – Pre-Vet. She is active in 4-H, FFA and her church youth group. She has also participated in basketball, Student council, school musicals, and choir and band. “Getting to help treat the animals showed me how much I truly loved the industry, my dedication to it, and confirmed that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life,” Kinnaird said. “I have worked extremely hard to get where I am today not having the knowledge or resources as others coming from the industry.”
“We are proud to help support these students through our scholarship program,” said Pat O’Brien, president of the Dane County Dairy Promotion Committee. “These students will become the next generation of leaders in our industry and their talents will continue to move agriculture forward.”
Students will be recognized for their achievements on Saturday, June 9, at the upcoming 40th Annual Dane County Breakfast on the Farm. This year’s event is hosted by the Hensen family at Hensen Bros. Dairy (5116 Pheasant Branch Road, Waunakee). Breakfast will be served from 7 to 11:30 a.m. and include pancakes, cheesy scrambled eggs, sausage, yogurt, frozen custard, milk and coffee. Admission is $8 for adults, $ for kids ages 3 to 11, and free for kids 2 and younger. Organized by the Dane County Dairy Promotion Committee, Breakfast on the Farm will also include live music, guest speakers, horse-drawn wagon rides and educational displays and activities.
June Dairy Month in Dane County officially kicks off on Saturday, June 2, at Cows on the Concourse. This free and family-friendly event takes place between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. on the Capitol Square. Meet dairy cows of several ages and breeds face-to-face and learn from local Moo Experts, enjoy live entertainment and educational activities, and sink your teeth into melt-in-your-mouth grilled cheese sandwiches as well as other delicious dairy foods.
For a complete list of all dairy events coming up around the state go to http://www.hooraywisconsindairy.com
