The 33rd annual Pepin County Town and Country Dairy Breakfast was held at our farm on June 12, 2021. This event was actually in the making for two years. The 2020 dairy breakfast ended up being a drive-thru because of the pandemic.
After a week of hot, hot, HOT temps we were blessed with beautiful cool weather Saturday morning. The cooler weather made it much more enjoyable for all those who volunteered and those who attended.
The over 2,000 people in attendance enjoyed a hot breakfast of pancakes, with real butter and real maple syrup from right here in Pepin county, along with sausages, cheese curds, juice, milk and coffee.
After enjoying breakfast everyone was welcome to speak with the county health department, view a local sheriff’s car and fire truck, make bluebird houses, view the large tractors and equipment we use on the farm and finish with a walking tour of the farmstead and facilities. As a dairy promotion committee and host farm we truly tried to make the breakfast a family friendly, but educational event.
While the cows are the main focus on all dairies, we also put a huge emphasis on efficiency on our farm. Some of both of these items were highlighted on the walking tour. Read a few high points on each stop below or watch the video.
As a host farm member I am glad we had a wonderful event, but also glad it is done. There is a ton of prep work that goes into getting ready to host. As a Pepin County Dairy Promotion member, I look forward to next year’s breakfast. It’s fun to see the host farm and see everyone in the community come together to help and participate in the event.
STATION #1 – Old Stanchion Barn – Hay mow area
a. Pictures of Weiss Family Farms from years past until present – includes photos of all 7 Generations!
b. Antique Tractor: A replica of a 1950 T Oliver – same tractor Brothers Grandpa John Weiss and Hubert Weiss first purchased together
c. Antique Tractor: The 1755 Oliver that brothers Don and Dan Weiss first purchased together
STATION #2 – Original Freestall Barn with Volunteers – Nutritionist and Breeder
a. Cow Viewing Area: Dry Cows and Post Fresh animals are housed here
1. Cows eat 125 lbs of feed per day. They eat a total mixed ration of haylage, corn silage, dry corn, protein and vitamin mix, and whey permeate. Cows drink 40 gallons of water per day.
3. A cow’s gestation period is 9 months. On our farm they have their first calf at 2 years old.
4. The oldest cow on our farm is just over 13 years old and is going to have her 12th calf any day now.
STATION #3 – Sand Reclaiming Building – Volunteers from Komro Sales & Service and Mike Travis, Pepin County Extension and Bear Creek Chippewa River Watershed Group
a. Possible Questions to ask here:
1.We use sand bedding for comfort for the cows, better traction throughout the barns, and it is inorganic which helps lower chances for mastitis.
2. We use water multiple times on the farm before it turns to waste. In the first area of the farm, it is used in the plate cooler to cool the milk. Then goes to water the cows. In the second area, the water washes the parlor and then goes to wash the sand in the sand reclaiming system. Lastly, it helps flush sand and manure down from the barns to the sand barn.
STATION #5 – 50 Cow DeLaval Rotary Parlor with TSR Robot – Volunteers – Advanced Dairy, Spring Valley
a. We ship our milk to our local cheese plant, Eau Galle Cheese Factory, Eau Galle, WI
1. The cows are milked three times per day and each shift takes 4 hours with clean up.
2. The temperature of the milk straight from the cow is 101.6 degrees, the same temperature as her. We have to cool it down to 40 degrees with the plate cooler.
3. 10,000 gallons are shipped to Eau Galle Cheese per day or almost 90,000 pounds per day.
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