Jones Dairy Farm is commemorating the 100th anniversary of its historic Jones Yellow Barn on Sept. 17, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Fort Atkinson-based Jones Dairy Farm is a 133-year-old, seventh generation family-owned business best known for all natural sausage, ham and bacon. The Jones Yellow Barn was built on the current Jones property in 1922.
A limited number of tickets are available for the celebration at $25 per person, with all proceeds benefitting local youth agriculture scholarships.
According to Jones Dairy Farm Chairman and CEO Philip Jones, the two-story, gothic roof structure
affectionally known as the “Yellow Barn” because of its distinctive butter yellow color, is the reason why the meat manufacturer has “dairy farm” in its company name. Although run separately from its internationally known meat business, Jones Dairy Farm also was home to a working dairy farm until the mid-1980’s.
The yellow barn was built along a wide bend in the Rock River about a mile southwest of Fort Atkinson
by W.D. James, founder of The James Manufacturing Company. Mr. James, who bought 80-acres from the
Jones family around 1919 to establish his own dairy farm, is best known for creating “The James Way” that’s still synonymous with innovative dairy farm equipment today.
State-of-the-art for its time, the yellow dairy barn was built with two interior silos and a single exterior silo, and equipped with the latest James Way ventilation, support columns, stanchions, stall fittings, drinking cups, mangers, and litter removal systems. Shortly after W. D.’s death in 1948, the farm, including the Yellow Barn, was sold back to the Jones family which operated the property as a dairy farm and swine breeding operation until 1985.
With the Jones Yellow Barn turning 100 this year, the company decided to pay homage to the historical site by hosting a community event bringing together food, entertainment, agriculture and education. The price of admission to the Jones Yellow Barn Centennial Celebration includes:
• Hay wagon tour of the Jones property (which takes attendees out to the barn)
• All-you-can-eat pulled pork meal
• Live bluegrass music from Three Thin Dimes
• More than a dozen educational experiences including:
o Old World Wisconsin blacksmith demo
o “Jamesway” history presented by the Hoard Historical Museum
o Famer talks about all aspects of dairy farming
o Jefferson County Barn Quilt Trail
• Antique farm equipment display
• Live animals: dairy cow breeds, swine and honey bees
“The 100th anniversary celebration provides the perfect opportunity to showcase our beloved yellow barn to the local community, commemorate its historical significance to the dairy farming industry, and support the next generation of agriculture leaders in our area,” says Philip Jones.
The Jones Yellow Barn Centennial Celebration begins at the Jones Market located at 601 Jones Avenue in Fort Atkinson. Hayrides to the barn leave every 15 minutes. See more info: www.ShopJonesMarket.com
Leave a Reply