Jim and Sue Clinton, Carrie (Clinton) Griepentrog and Brad Clinton, owners of Clinton Farms in Bear Creek, Wisconsin, are following a family tradition to host 2025 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, Aug. 5-7. They’ll be joined in hosting duties by Carrie’s son Payton, making Clinton Farms the first farm to host Wisconsin’s most popular farm show across four generations.
Roland (Joe) and Dorothy Clinton hosted the 25th show, then called Farm Progress Days, in 1978. Twenty-five years later the 50th show was hosted by Jim and Sue Clinton in 2003, the first year the show was called Wisconsin Farm Technology Days.
“The Clintons hosting Farm Tech Days for the third time across four generations is a powerful story about the evolution and resilience of Wisconsin farming,” says Farm Tech Days Board Chair Mel Pittman. “Visitors and exhibitors will have an incredible opportunity to see how this family farm has modernized for future generations.”
Progress Over Time
In 1978 the farm operated 320 acres with 300 head of cattle. Prior to the show, Joe and Dorothy Clinton added a machine shed, garage and shop. Field demonstrations focused on forage harvesting and oats. A stationary stack former was demonstrated, a sawmill produced cedar shingles, and field plots featured alfalfa, legume, and grass varieties.
By the 50th show, the farm had undergone a large transformation, not the least of which was the growth from 320 acres to 2,300 acres. At that time the Clintons milked 150 cows using a flat barn parlor with a double six design. They raised their dairy replacements as well as 100 steers. In 2003 the second generation of Clintons grew corn, soybeans, 300 acres of alfalfa and 100 acres of cabbage. Visitors saw the new 200,000-bushel grain handling system and storage facility. Farm demonstrations included alfalfa harvesting and global positioning system (GPS) equipment.
Today
The second, third and fourth generations of Clinton’s now milk 750 cows, raise all their dairy replacements and raise all their bull calves which they sell as feeders. The Clinton family put up a new facility in 2019 that includes the first Waikato 50-stall rotary milking parlor in Wisconsin. Prior to the show in 2025, the Clintons plan to expand to 1,000 milking cows. Future plans also include adding to the existing freestall barn and building a pre- and post- fresh barn.
Early show plans include wheat and forage harvesting demonstrations, viewing of the rotary parlor in action and active farmer seminars/tours focusing on manure storage, livestock building design, maternity and calf care and feed storage. A child safe play area and potential tractor pull are in the planning stages.
Mark your calendars for Aug. 5-7, 2025, and make your way to Bear Creek for Wisconsin Farm Technology Days at Clinton Farms.
The 2023 show is coming up July 18-20 in Baraboo. The 2024 show will be in Chippewa County, Aug. 13-15.
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