OUTSTANDING YOUNG FARMER - 2006

Century Farm Awardees | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005

To be eligible for the Young Farmer Award, applicants needed to be age 37 or younger and receive at least 2/3 of their income from farming. Any agricultural enterprise was accepted and the applicant could either be the farm owner or an operator involved in the business. Each applicant was evaluated on the progress in their agricultural career, soil and water conservation practices they implement, as well as their involvement in community activities. Receiving the 2006 Young Farmer Awards were:

PETER & SUZANNE ARNOLD - EDGAR
Peter and Suzanne Arnold own and operate a 257 acre farm where they graze 198 dairy cattle year-round. Peter grew up on a dairy farm in Switzerland, and after completing college moved to the United States to purchase a farm. They have overcome many challenges to get to where they are today, such as understanding the resources available within the U.S. agricultural system.  Peter and Suzie strive to continuously modernize the farm to be more efficient in production and labor. Peter retrofitted an old barn into a 14-stall swing parlor so that one person could handle milking 120 cows twice a day. Peter has instigated many efficiency practices such as out-wintering all his livestock. With this process he creates a bedded pack for the milking herd and a mobile feeding process for the heifers. The Arnolds keep itemized cost of production financials in order to maintain a close watch on their finances. They work through the University of Wisconsin for yearly analysis and comparison of their operation to other grazing and confinement farms in the area. Peter and Suzie also have a nutrient management plan and with their 100% grass-based operation, they minimize erosion problems. The Arnolds are members of the Central Wisconsin River Graziers Network and are involved with Marathon County’s Incubator program and Mentorship group. They also plan to explore the possibilities of share-milking to help future young generations continue with farming.

JASON BORCHARDT - EDGAR
Jason Borchardt always admired farmers and their work ethic, especially that of his parents and grandparents. After graduating from Edgar High School, Jason started working at UPS and also began renting his Grandparents’ farm. In 2002, when his cow numbers increased, Jason decided to make farming his full-time career. One of his goals was to prove to all the pessimists that you can make a good living on 35-40 cows. Today he has met that goal. He milks 40 cows and tends to the 75 head of animals on his farm. He also owns 180 acres and collaborates with his brother, who farms nearby, to take care of all the field work between the two of them on both their farms. A manure pit was installed in 1995. Jason carefully monitors the use of liquid manure on his crops and utilizes a 590 plan he maintains with Customer One Coop. Regular soil samples are taken to screen the soil pH level, and crops are rotated on a regular basis as part of his conservation plan. He also fixed his cow yard into a water/filter strip slab that prevents barnyard runoff. Jason also monitors his financials with the same scrutiny, making sure his eye is always on his cost of production. He gets involved in supporting local high school programs, especially the ag programs when needed, has held leadership roles in his church, and keeps a close watch on farm policies. Jason’s goals today include staying proud of what he has accomplished, taking care of his family - wife Penny and daughter, Reagan - and not to ever take anything for granted. 

JEFF & KATHY BRANDL - ROSHOLT
Jeff and Kathy Brandl - Jeff was raised on a dairy farm and was active in FFA. Jeff dairy farms with his wife Kathy and their three girls Maureen 10, Madeline 8, and Maggie 6. He attended the Madison short course in agriculture and some agricultural business classes at MSTI, but worked outside of farming for some years. He realized he wanted to farm after he started a family, so in 2000 they bought his home farm from his parents. The farm had not been a working dairy for three years so they had to do a lot of work to get it up and running again. To pay for all the changes, Jeff stayed working full time until September of last year when the farm could finally support his family. They graze their 105 cows in a seasonal operation. Their biggest challenge was time management with long days while starting up. Records are very important on the Brandl farm and they use DHI to help them manage their cows. They would like to put in a parlor in the future to eliminate the switching of about half their herd into their 60-cow barn. They feel that grazing their cattle is the best way to protect the environment and they are experimenting with composted bedded packs for their milk cows. They are very involved with the Ag program at the local high school and have a high school student doing work-study. Jeff was a member of the National Guard for 20 years. Kathy has been involved in PTO and volunteers for the church. They say that the thing that has made them successful is getting all the information and knowledge that they can from every possible source. 

JAMES & TAMMY FAHEY - EDGAR
James and Tammy Fahey did not gorw up on a dairy farm, but it has since become their career and passion. Growing up, Jim always liked cows and took advantage of opportunities to help area farmers with fieldwork, milking and other chores. Tammy entered the farm life by meeting a man who had a dream to become a farmer. But today raising their two children, Hailey – 3 and Austin – 2, on the farm, she can’t imagine a better life. Jim started farming full-time in 1993, when he became a herdsperson for his uncle. When his uncle sold his cows a year later, Jim became a herdsperson for another local businessman. And in 1996 Jim and Tammy purchased cattle and rented Jim’s uncle’s farm. While doing this, Jim also took a hoof trimming class at the Dairyland Hoofcare Institute and has been operating his own hoof trimming businesses ever since. After saving for many years, in July of 2001, Jim and Tammy purchased the farm they now live on in the Edgar area. They have worked to make continuous improvements to their operation. When feed storage became a challenge in 2002 the Fahey’s added another silo. Just last year, they added a heifer addition to the barn to provide adequate housing for their bred heifers. Today they milk 38 cows, raise all their young stock on site and operate 151 acres. Jim and Tammy keep very precise herd health and financial records utilizing DHIA and the AAIMS. All their cows are registered, and they keep their somatic cell count under 150,000. The Fahey’s also keep tabs on their nutrient management plan by utilizing the SNAPS program, monitoring their soils, and rotating crops on a regular basis. Since they do not have a manure holding system at this time, to avoid winter spreading they pile their manure and haul in the spring, summer and fall as needed. Both Jim and Tammy are very active in the Edgar FFA Alumni, Marathon County Holstein Breeders, Sacred Heart Church in the Town of Cassel, and the Marathon County Farm Bureau and have held numerous leadership roles.

JESSIE HAAS - COLBY
Jessie Haas dairy farms and works for the local co-op. He was raised on a farm and always wanted to be involved in farming. After high school he attended UW- River Falls. After that he bought 8 springing heifers and put them on his parents’ farm. In the Spring of 2005 he bought his own farm and moved his growing herd there. One of the challenges he has faced is converting his farm from a cash cropping operation to a viable dairy. Hay is scarce in a cash crop set up and he had to find ways to get it and invest in seeding down some forage crops for his cows. As a start-up operation Jessie is really keeping close track of records for his farm so he can find the bottleneck and prioritize them. Jessie has grown his humble herd of 8 heifers to 43 cows and 160 acres of cropland. He manages that cropland using conservation practices such as grazing and reduced tillage planting. He takes soil samples to determine crop needs and manage his resources. In addition to running his farm his job at the co-op keeps him busy. This job does offer some plusses for a farmer because it allows him to see other operations and gives him ideas on how to improve his own farm.

JAMES & JOANNE JUEDES - RINGLE
James and Joanne Juedes dairy farm their three boys Joseph 11, Jacob 7, and Jonathan 18 months. He became interested in farming when he was only 5 years old as he helped his grandmother on her farm. He attended farm classes at NTC and continued to work on and help manage the family farm until 2001, when he purchased it from his Mother and Sister. Afterwards, they made several improvements to the farm, including more stalls in the barn to increase cow numbers. The investment he has the most fun with is the only new tractor he has ever had…a 4-wheel drive loader tractor. They feed corn silage and hay in the winter and graze in the summer supplementing their grazing with silage bales and green chop. He then sells his corn right off the field and that helps simplify the fall harvest season for the family. James has great concern for soil quality and tries to make the most out of his manure resources by soil testing, and using appropriate crop rotations. He has been involved in several organizations including the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, PDPW, and is involved with St. Michaels Catholic Church in Wausau. He and his family now run 225 acres and have about 50 cows. James says that there is no way he could do this without his wife.

DOUGLAS KOWALSKI - WAUSAU
Doug Kowalski dairy farms with his father in a partnership arrangement. He has been helping out on the farm since he was old enough to feed calves. After Doug graduated from Newman High School he took on a much bigger role as partner on the farm. Doug is a big believer in grazing and likes to have his cows outside as much as possible. He says that it makes them healthier and can really increase longevity. The farm sits on 350 acres…enough to meet the needs of his 63 cows. He and his father balance their own feed rations and have had great success with it. Doug does record keeping on the farm and he carefully tracks expenses and income. Doug uses his cow dogs to herd the cows and enjoys working with them. Doug says there is no substitute for a good dog in a grazing operation. One of the reasons that Doug is doing rotational grazing is that conservation is important to him, and someday wants his son to have viable land to farm if he wants to. To that end he has a nutrient management plan with Customer One Co-op to utilize nutrients efficiently. Doug is a member of the Young producers program with Swiss Valley Farms Co-op, and the Marathon County Grazers. Doug is planning on farming on this farm until he retires.

KEITH & JULIANNE KREAGER - MARATHON
Keith and Julianne Kreager - Growing up Keith worked on neighboring farms, preparing to own his own business someday. In September of 1997, Keith and his Dad went to a neighbor’s auction to buy a piece of equipment and ended up buying a farm. Keith purchased 40 acres, plus a barn and a machine shed. The next several months were spent cleaning and fixing up the over 100 year old barn to start milking cows at the Grade A level. In February of 1998, the first livestock was purchased. In August of 1999 Keith and Juli were married and then moved into a trailer home that they put on the property. In April of 2001 the house and garage came up for sale and their farm was complete. Keith and Juli have overcome many obstacles as a team in order to get here today. With the support of family and friends, they made it through the loss of a son with a rare blood disease in April of 2002. They have also completely rebuilt their barn and added a loafing area without missing a milking, doing much of the work themselves with the help of family and friends. Today they milk 35 Jerseys and 1 Holstein in their tie stall barn. With 14 heifers due this spring, their main goal is to increase the size of their milking herd in the next two years. They practice rotational grazing on the 30 acres they own and rent an additional 88 acres to grow corn silage and hay. They raise all their young stock, and keep track of their herd health on a spreadsheet. They also implement a nutrient management plan. Both Keith and Juli are involved in their church, where Keith serves as Vice President of the Church Council. Keith is also involved with the Marathon FFA Alumni. Along with all their other activities, Juli works part-time off the farm and Keith drives a bus for the Marathon school district and does masonry work for a neighbor. Their two sons, Landon – 5, and Mavrick – 3 also keep them on the go.

TERRY & JEAN SCHMITT - COLBY
Terry and Jean Schmitt of Colby were nominated by Cherokee Garage. Terry dairy farms with his wife Jean and five children Kassy 12, Katie 11, Roman 4, Brett 1, and sterling 15 months. Terry was very involved in the Colby FFA Chapter while in high school and has been interested in farming his whole life. Terry started farming 11 years ago when he bought his farm from his dad Emery Schmitt. He decided to make farming his career because he liked being his own boss and enjoyed the time in the fields growing the crops. He also thought that a farm would be a great place to bring up a family. They currently milk cows in a tie stall barn and would like to someday build a parlor and freestall barn to make their farm more efficient. Terry enjoys construction work as well and has been running a construction business that works on agricultural buildings for a few years to supplement the farm income. Terry says that his experiences in helping others with their farm building projects will help him to someday design and build a parlor and freestall that will meet his needs and avoid pitfalls. They currently milk 55 cows and care for their replacements. Terry feeds his cows from a stationary TMR and a conveyer system. They rotate crops to make their field more productive as well as utilize their manure in a cost effective way to supplement fertilizer costs.  Terry has played in the local softball league for years and now has a team from his construction business. He also stays involved with his children’s activities and that keeps him plenty busy.

GARY STANKOWSKI - MOSINEE
Gary Stankowski of Mosinee Dairy was nominated by Marathon Feed. Gary farms and produces feed for his 215 dairy animals. He became seriously interested in farming when he started helping out his neighbor by milking cows. After high school he attended the Wisconsin School for Beginning Farmers. In the spring of 1996 he rented a farm, bought some cows, and took the plunge. His goal since then has grown into breeding a top notch herd of registered Holstein cattle. He says that taking a day off can be a challenge but he has some help from his uncle in that area. He also built his own parlor 5 years ago so milking has been made easier. Because Gary’s operation has registered cattle the breeding records and mating program are closely monitored to ensure that his program will produce marketable cattle. Financial management of the farm is a priority for Gary and concentrating on this has allowed him to pay off the farm entirely. Gary likes to concentrate on the cows but he also does most of the dry grain cropping and haying. Gary is concerned about conservation of both his cattle and the environment so he made a decision to graze his home farm. He also keeps close track of the nutrients that are applied to his field and takes all the credits he can in his rotation. Gary is an active member of the Halder Loins, and coaches T-Ball. At the end of every T-Ball game he serves the kids a dairy product because “it never hurts to market your own product.”

GARY SULZER JR. - MARATHON
Gary Sulzer Jr., was nominated by Paul Daigle at Marathon County Land Conservation, Planning and Zoning. Gary always had an interest in agriculture since growing up on his Dad and Uncle’s farm. In 2002, Gary purchased 45 acres of vacant land and started buying fencing and cattle soon after. Within the first year, he had about 20 acres of fenced land. Last year, he was able to fence the rest of the land, drill a well to keep the animals on the field at all times and out of a nearby stream, and get electricity on the property. Today he is set up to rotational graze his 29 head cow/calf polled Hereford operation. Gary also crop farms and raises steers at a different farm. Besides rotational grazing, he also has a nutrient management plan and utilizes no till planting for soil and water conservation. He measures calf weights and weaning weights of all his animals for performance breeding. Gary also belongs to the Marathon FFA Alumni and the Wisconsin Polled Hereford Association. His goals for the future include expanding his operation so it can become profitable enough for him to do this full-time.

CENTURY FARM AWARDS - 2006

Farm families honored for maintaining 100 years of continuous farm ownership were:

DUVALL DAIRY - TOWN OF HULL
Duvall Dairy, owned by Allen and Carol Duvall in the town of Hull. Allen’s Grandfather, Otto Witte and his brothers and sisters, and their families, settled in the Cherokee area east of Colby. Agnes Witte married Robert Schorer who was living on the current Duvall farm. They farmed the land for 38 years with their ten children. In 1942 when Robert passed away his son Fritz decided to take over the farm. While Allen Duvall was growing up he lived about a half mile from the farm and visited often. In 1946 the kitchen stove set fire to the house and it burned down. They rebuilt the house on the same 24 X 24 foundation and that is where the current house that stands today. In 1954 they built a Garage that also served as the milk house off of the 60-foot barn. When Allen entered high school Fritz became ill with cancer and so Allen started to milk the cows for him and help out wherever he could. When Fritz passed away in 1965 his brother Robert took it over. Robert only owned the place for 3 months before the newly-married Allen and Carol bought it, and they have farmed there since then. They have made several improvements to the place including remodeling and adding onto the barn, building a shop, a garage, a silo, and remodeling the house. Allen and Carol had two children and 4 grandchildren. They live close by and they all enjoy coming out to the farm and help with the chores, or tapping maple trees. Throughout the years they had several foreign exchange students who got to learn about the workings of a traditional American dairy farm. Sadly on November 7th of last year the milking barn burnt down with the cows inside. Allen and Carol intend to cash crop and raise heifers on the farm to continue the farm lifestyle that they know and love.

POLISH PARADISE FARMS - EAU PLAINE
Polish Paradise Farm, owned and operated by Joe and Debbie Gliniecki, located in the town of Eau Plaine. Polish Paradise Farm began in 1906 when Peter and Martha Gliniecki purchased 40 acres and built their house and barn on that plot of land. Peter and Martha with their 10 children dairy farmed until their son John bought the farm in 1941. The farm continued to grow to 160 acres. During his career, John was the first farmer in the area to put in a barn cleaner and have a tractor with rubber wheels. John and his wife Victoria, with their four children farmed until John died in 1968. Victoria continued to run the farm until 1977 when Joseph their son, and his wife Debbie started by renting the farm. They purchased the farm in 1980 and expanded to a 65 cow barn. Joe and Debbie raised four children – Jackie, Bobbie Jo, Joe and Amber. The farm has grown to its present size of 110 milking cows, plus young stock. The Glinieckis also raise corn, soybeans, small grain, and hay. They own a total of 630 acres and rent an additional 110 acres of cropland.

HUGHES FARM - EAU PLAINE
Hughes Farm, owned and operated by Ken and Connie Hughes in the town of Eau Plaine. John Hughes moved from Ireland and homesteaded the 120 acres that became the Hughes Farm on November 19, 1856.  At that time, the farm stood North West of the Town of Staadt and the Staadt Lumber Mill, which flourished for a number of years.  In 1876 the farm was sold to John’s son, James, a single man, and in 1889 his brother, Patrick purchased it. Patrick’s brother, Michael and his wife Ellen joined the farm a few years later. Mike and Ellen sold a strip of land 100 ft wide to the Milwaukee Lake Shore Western Railway Company for $181.00. The farm was later sold to Charles Hughes, his nephew, and his wife Alice.  At 54 Charles died walking to Stratford on the railroad tracks, leaving Alice with 11 children. In 1928 she was paid $100 for granting an easement to Wisconsin Valley Electric Company for a power line through her land. In 1942 Wilfred & Margaret Hughes and Charles & Julia Hughes, sons of Alice, purchased the farm. Charles bought out Wilfred a year later. He installed electricity in 1942. In 1949 Ervin, Charles’ brother, and his wife Margaret purchased the farm, after they had been living there with their twelve children to help Charlie and Julia. After Ervin passed away, his youngest son Kenneth and his wife Elizabeth (Connie) – the current owners – purchased the farm. Kenneth and Connie raised four children – Rob, Don, Deb & Jonathon. In the 1970s Ken & Connie purchased another 40 acres from an estate nearby. They continue to farm there today, on land that has turned out many crops, a lot of milk and many families.

STEIBER FAMILY FARM - MARATHON
Steiber Family Farm, owned by Rudolph and Irene Stieber in the town of Marathon, are the next recipients of the Century Farm Award. On May 27, 1869 the Stieber Farm was purchased from the State of Wisconsin by Joseph Stieber Sr. after he immigrated to Wisconsin from Germany. All the land was wooded and needed to be cleared for farm land. Joseph Stieber Sr. started the farm and continued farming until his death in 1906. The farm was then taken over by his son, Joseph Stieber Jr. and his wife, Carolina, who purchased more land to increase the farm to 120 acres. Joseph and Carolina remained on the farm until October 1924 at which time the farm was sold to his son Rudolph Stieber and his wife Mary. Rudolph and Mary farmed until their retirement in 1951, when their son Rudolph and his wife Irene purchased the business. Rudolph and Irene took an interest in organic farming and farmed organically for more than 30 years.  Rudolph milked about 30 cows until his retirement in 1995 when they then raised beef cattle until 2004. Rudolph and Irene now rent out the land they own to neighboring farmers.

TOLK FARM - RIB FALLS

Dwight & Linda Tolk in the town of Rib Falls, own our next Century Farm. Johann and Anna Tolk arrived in the United States from Germany in 1892 with their four children. They stayed in Chicago for about five years before settling in central Wisconsin. The farm was purchased from the Wisconsin Valley Land Company. In 1911 Johann was killed in a logging accident at which time Wilhelm, their son, purchased the farm. He married a woman named Ida and they had five children. The three sons all served in the armed forces during WWII, after which time their son, Ervin came back and bought the farm from his father.  He married Avila Grell and had three children, Dwight, Corrine, and Cheryl. In 1971 Ervin sold the dairy herd and purchased a cattle trucking franchise which he operated for several years. Dwight helped in this business also until it was sold. The cows are gone and the main crop today is maple syrup production.  Dwight now resides on the homestead with his family, Linda, Nicole, and Ryan. One memorable event that many in the family share was in 1939 when there was a tremendous downpour which caused the dam in Athens to burst. A wall of water came rushing down the Black Creek during the night. One neighbor’s cows were all down by the creek and got swept away.

UEKERT DAIRY - RIB FALLS
Uekert Dairy, owned and operated by Scott Uekert in the town of Rib Falls. Eight years after Wisconsin became a state, the United States granted Fredrick Uekert the 80 acres of farmland that the farm buildings stand on yet today. In 1882 an adjoining 40 acres were purchased by Fredrick for the sum of $50. In 1892 Ferdinand, Fredrick’s son took over the family dairy farm and in 1911 he began construction on the brick house, which the Uekert family calls home today. In 1928, Ferdinand’s son, Walter, took control of the farm, increasing the milking herd to 18 cows, adding a silo, and making improvements along the way. In 1967, Walter’s son, Eugene, began in the farming operation. With the addition of another silo, a metal pole shed, and a 36 foot addition to the barn, the milking herd grew to 43 head. In 1995, Eugene’s son took over the farm. The predominantly Guernsey herd was replaced with Holsteins, a third silo was built, machinery was updated, a major barn remodeling project was completed, and a heated workshop and shed was recently completed. The practice of harvesting timber for the farm’s own use continues today. The Uekert Farm continues to thrive today, because of the strong love of the land and the freedom farming brings, and the strong desire to “Get it done, whatever it takes” that accompanies the Uekert name.

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