February 2008 - Swiss Valley Farms

february 2008
It’s Been a Long Winter!
Winter in the Country on the Farm
A DAY TO REMEMBER
50th anniversary celebration
Published Monthly by:
Swiss Valley Farms
Cooperative
P.O. Box 4493
Davenport IA 52808
563.468.6600
FAX 563.468.6613
www.swissvalley.com
Nancy Feeney
Editor/ Member Relations Mgr.
Karen Bohnert
Member Relations Assistant
Swiss Valley Farms, Co. will
produce, distribute and sell valueadded, quality products for our:
Customers & Consumers
Owner/Members
Workforce
Swiss Valley Board Officers
President
Pam Bolin................................................Clarksville, IA
Vice President
Randy Schaefer....................................Blue Grass, IA
Secretary
Jeff Nimtz............................................Monticello, WI
Treasurer
James Schmitt.............................................Sherrill, IA
Swiss Valley Directors
S
wiss Valley Farms’ 50th year of
operation will be launched in
style on Tuesday, March 4 at the
Grand River Center on the Dubuque
riverfront. This is when the co-op will
present a day-long gala celebration and
every Swiss Valley Farms member is
invited!
Keynote speaker for the day is Rulon
Gardner, who won an Olympic Gold
medal in Greco-Roman Wrestling.
Rulon was raised on a dairy farm in
the mountains of Wyoming. He has an
inspirational message for dairy farmers
and ag enthusiasts everywhere and has
entertained audiences across America
and around the world. Swiss Valley
Farms is pleased to present him to you
during this 50th celebration.
Master of Ceremonies for the day
is the “Voice of the Hawkeyes” Gary
Dolphin, who will entertain you
with his comments and introduce the
speakers throughout the afternoon.
That afternoon, you will hear
comments from the Swiss Valley Farms
CEO and Board President, as well as
a few historical comments from some
past presidents. Retired longtime
CEO Carl Zurborg will also be on
hand. Iowa Secretary of Agricuture Bill
Northey will share some comments
with you as well.
The day is totally full of exciting,
entertaining and interesting things to
do.
Here is how the day will proceed.
•
The first thing you will want
to do upon arriving at the beautiful
Grand River Center is to sign up for
a bus that will drive you to the coop’s bottling plant where you will be
lead through a tour of the facility.
Loyde M. Beers.......................................Eastman, WI
Donald Berlage......................................Elizabeth, IL
Steve Klug.....................................Spring Grove, MN
Dale Humpal.........................................Ridgeway, IA
Francis Leibfried..................................Cuba City, WI
G. Joe Lyon....................................................Toledo, IA
Jim Oelfke............................................Hamburg, MN
Donald Peterson....................................Cashton, WI
Patrick Schroeder..............................Lancaster, WI
Eugene
WI
pageSmith........................................Clinton,
William Strief..................................................Farley, IA
•
While you are waiting on
your bus to leave the River Center,
you will definitely want to visit the
Exhibit Hall, where you may:
Nibble numerous dairy
goodies on the huge Swiss Valley
product sampling table.
Watch famed cheese sculptor
Sarah Kaufmann, who will be
carving on the spot as well as have
several cheese carvings on display.
Check out a cheese carving
by “Butter Cow Lady” and co-op
member Duffy Lyon.
Visit the Swiss Valley
Country Store, where you can
purchase numerous co-op branded
items.
Participate in “JeoparDairy”
from the Wisconsin Milk
Marketing Board.
Chill out while you listen to
a live, cool jazz band from Western
Dubuque High School.
Visit numerous ag-related
organizational exhibits.
You definitely want to get the
River Center before 10 a.m., since the
last bus will leave for the Dubuque
bottling plant at 10:30 a.m. and you
don’t want to miss your bus!
A lunch buffet will be served
SWISS VALLEY FARMS DAIRYMAN
beginning at 11 a.m. Dessert will be
a “Make-Your-Own-Sundae Bar”,
which some of you will recall was
so extremely popular at our 40th
anniversary celebration. During the
hour and a half lunch time, you will
be entertained by “The CornFed
Girls” from Bellevue, IA, an extremely
popular local group of women
musicians who perform Bluegrass
tunes that are sure to delight you.
The Exhibit Hall will continue to
be open throughout lunch, but will
close at 12:30 p.m., when the 50th
Celebration Meeting will begin.
Your first step toward participating
in this celebration, which will be long
remembered, is to fill out the returnreservation card that was attached
to your personal invitation that you
recently received in the mail.
Then, get to the River Center on
the Dubuque waterfront in plenty of
time that morning to allow yourself
lots of time to enjoy the tour and
exhibits before lunch.
Olympic Gold Medal Wrestler Rulon Gardner will be the
keynote speaker at the 50th Anniversary Celebration Party.
50th Anniversary Agenda
March 4, 2008
8:00 a.m. Dubuque Bottling Plant tour begins
Begin Tours of Dubuque Bottling Plant from the Grand Harbor
8:00 a.m. Exhibit Hall opens
10:30 a.m.
Last bus leaves Grand Harbor for Plant Tour
11:00 a.m. Lunch begins
11:30 p.m.
Ice cream sundae bar opens
12:30 p.m.
Lunch ends and Exhibit Hall closes
FEBRUARY 2008
12:30 p.m.
Meeting begins
Introduction, Mc Gary Dolphin
Bill Northey, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture
Recognition of Past Board and Management Team Members
Video of 50 years of Swiss Valley Farms
1:45 p.m.
Keynote Speaker
Rulon Gardner, Olympic Gold Medal Winner in Greco-Roman Wrestling
3:00 p.m.
Adjourn
page District Meeting Coverage
T
celebrating 34 years of quality milk awards
he 2007 Swiss Valley Farms district meetings are finished and mark 34 years of Blue Ribbon Quality Milk
Awards. Co-op members work hard year around to meet Swiss Valley Farms quality milk standards. The end
result of all of this effort is millions of pounds of high quality milk that Swiss Valley Farms turns into delicious
dairy products.
The names of Quality Award winners begin below. Swiss Valley Farms applauds everyone who received awards
this year. Good luck in the coming year with your quality milk production.
District 6
1 Year Award
Crowley Farms Inc
Coggon, IA
Harvey, Hugh L
Promise City, IA
Rosdail & Son
Marion, IA
Schulte, John
Norway, IA
Smith Farms
Knoxville, IA
5 Year Award
Franck, Ronald
Newhall, IA
Haines, Mike
North English, IA
7 Year Award
Nunnikhoven, Lyle
Oskaloosa, IA
8 Year Award
Takes, Daniel & Debbie
Ely, IA
10 Year Award
Van Vark, Bryce & Verla
Pella, IA
11 Year Award
Wormley, Joel & Jan
Newton, IA
12 Year Award
Deklotz Dairy Inc
Newhall, IA
13 Year Award
Blood, Kevin & Holly
State Center, IA
Fischels, Jeff
Independence, IA
17 Year Award
Cadden, George & Judy
Brooklyn, IA
18 Year Award
Henderson, Merle
Coggon, IA
19 Year Award
Bierschenk, Dennis
Van Horne, IA
Iowa State University
Ames, IA
Beachy, Norman
Kalona, IA
Helmuth, Mose
Derby, IA
Larson, Jack
Oakville, IA
Larson, Nathan & Heidi
Sperry, IA
Mangels, Mark
Blue Grass, IA
Miracles Can Happen
Boys Ranch
Wilton, IA
Nagel, Andy & Erin
Allerton, IA
Rathjen, Gene & Judy
Wilton, IA
2 Year Award
5 Year Award
Gahring, John
Homestead, IA
6 Year Award
Miller, Merlyn
Riverside, IA
8 Year Award
Rhodes Agricultural
Corp
Riverside, IA
8 Year Award
Vander Wal, Bruce
New Sharon, IA
16 Year Award
Miller, Dean
Kalona, IA
18 Year Award
Lucas, Laverne
Burlington, IA
Newell, Eugene
Long Grove, IA
Lyon Jerseys
Toledo, IA
Gingerich, Steve
Parnell, IA
Helmuth, Steven
Kalona, IA
Slabaugh, Daryl
Iowa City, IA
29 Year Award
3 Year Award
Sywassink, Donald
Letts, IA
Mc Nulty Farms
Watkins, IA
Dodds, Herbert
New London, IA
Yoder, Leighton
Kalona, IA
Beers, Loyde
Eastman, WI
22 Year Award
District 13
1 Year Award
District 6: 7 Year Award:
District 6: 29 Year Award:
District 6: 19 Year Award:
Aaron, Sharon & Lyle
Bob McNulty
ISU Dairy Farm
Ames, IA Nunnikoven, Oskaloosa, IA
Watkins, IA
Dr.page
Kenealy,
34 Year Award
District 15
1 Year Award
District 6: 5 Year Award:
District 6: 13 Year Award:
Joan & Ron Franck
Holly & Kevin Blood
SWISS
Newhall, DAIRYMAN
IA
State Center,
IA VALLEY FARMS
District 6: 22 Year Award:
Lyon Jerseys: Stuart Lyon, Rod Bolt, Eric & Terry Lyon,
Duffy & Joe Lyon, Toledo, IA
Beers, Loyde Jr
Eastman, WI
Hill N Vale Acres Inc
Prairie Du Chien, WI
Puhl, Michael
Elroy, WI
Swiggum, Dennis & Kathy
Soldiers Grove, WI
2 Year Award
Steger, Tim & Terry
Prairie Du Chien, WI
District 13: 5 Year Award:
Lynn & John Gahring
Homestead, IA
Kepridge Farms Inc
Viola, WI
Oppriecht, Diana
Eastman, WI
16 Year Award
7 Year Award
Dieter, Karen
Blue River, WI
Copus, Clarence
Soldiers Grove, WI
Iverson, David
Soldiers Grove, WI
Kinney, Joann
Blue River, WI
3 Year Award
8 Year Award
Schmitz, Stephen & Cindy
Richland Center, WI
Armbruster Bros Inc
Muscoda, WI
Gratz, David
Readstown, WI
4 Year Award
Ederer, Tom & Son
Plain, WI
Westphal, Robert Jr & Pat
Soldiers Grove, WI
10 Year Award
Baldwin, Bill
Hillsboro, WI
11 Year Award
Prew, Ronald & Joanne
Eastman, WI
Wright, Charles
Ferryville, WI
Wright, Keith
Ferryville, WI
6 Year Award
District 13: 16 Year Award:
Dean Miller
FEBRUARY
2008
Kalona,
IA
15 Year Award
Ostrem, Duwayne
Viroqua, WI
District 13: 18 Year Award:
Eugene & Shirley Newell
Grove, IA
Long
Gilbertson, Larry
Chaseburg, WI
17 Year Award
18 Year Award
Amundson,
Dennis & Maureen
Westby, WI
Stoehr, Donald
Eastman, WI
Stoehr, Frank
Eastman, WI
20 Year Award
Valley View Dairy Inc
Richland Center, WI
21 Year Award
5 Year Award
Ederer, David Limited
Partnship
Spring Green, WI
Heatherstone Enterprises
Baraboo, WI
District 13: 18 Year Award:
Laverne & Paula Lucas
Burlington, IA
Oppriecht, Gerald
Eastman, WI
District 16
1 Year Award
Baumgarten, Denise
Tomah, WI
Baumgarten, Gene
Tomah, WI
Brueggeman, Richard
District 13: 8 Year Award:
Dale Rhodes
Riverside,
IA District 13: 34 Year Award:
Don & Dorothy Sywassink
Letts, IA
Sparta, WI
Clark, Carolyn
Wilton, WI
Freit, James
Bangor, WI
Freit, Robert
Rockland, WI
Krueger, Douglas
Mindoro, WI
Miller, Daniel
Ontario, WI
Peterson, Donna
Rockland, WI
Schultz, Daniel
Taylor, WI
2 Year Award
Kroener, Betty
Bangor, WI
Leatherberry, Lester
Elroy, WI
Mikshowsky, Randy
Bangor, WI
Ruff, Brian
Alma, WI
3 Year Award
Hall, Larry & Roxanne
Tomah, WI
Oldenburg, Donald
Norwalk, WI
District 15: 11 Year Award:
Keith & Charlie Wright,
Eastman, WI
District 15: 21 Year Award:
Gerald & Diane Oppriecht,
Eastman, WI page District 16: 9 Year Award:
Sun Ray Dairy, Julie Larson
Mindoro, WI
District 16: 16 Year Award:
Ron and Linda Hurtz
Rockland WI
District 16: 6 Year Award:
Robert & Rita Dreier
Tomah, WI
5 Year Award
7 Year Award
Deetz Bros
Eleva, WI
Feldhacker, Scott
Hillsdale, WI
Friske, Brian
Kendall, WI
Friske, Richard & Janice
Kendall, WI
Witt, Allen
Ontario, WI
Witt, Lyle
Ontario, WI
Wolf, L Douglas & Anna
Hillsboro, WI
Marx, Allan
Cashton, WI
Ruf, Alan S & Colette
Mauston, WI
6 Year Award
Bailey, Michael & Jean
Tomah, WI
Dreier, Robert & Rita
Tomah, WI
Evergreen Ridge
Dairy LLC
Hillsboro, WI
Gorham, Florieda
Tomah, WI
Schroeder, Craig
Wonewoc, WI
Vlasak, Steven & Sherry
Elroy, WI
8 Year Award
Wild Rose Dairy LLC
La Farge, WI
9 Year Award
Sun Ray Dairy LLP
Mindoro, WI
District 17
2 Year Award
11 Year Award
Lamborn Farms LLC
Luana, IA
Oyloe, Ronald
Decorah , IA
Tieskoetter, Leon
Postville, IA
14 Year Award
Rego, David & Linda
Elroy , WI
15 Year Award
16 Year Award
3 Year Award
Svendsen, Larry & Mary
Ossian, IA
Hurtz, Ronald & Lynda
Rockland, WI
District 17
1 Year Award
Crossroads Dairy LLC
Postville, IA
Linderbaum,
District 17: 19 Year Award: District 17: 15 Year Award:
Leo & Brenda Schroeder Jerry Gibson & Brent Garbes
Castalia, IA
Waukon, IA
page Dennis & Eileen
Ossian, IA
Meyer, Larry & Nadyne
Garnavillo, IA
Moon, Dan & Nancy
Monona, IA
Pattison, Lee & Sara
Garnavillo, IA
Preuss, Lee
Castalia, IA
Berg, Jeff & Johanna
La Crosse, WI
Schmitz, Kenneth & Marlus
Norwalk, WI
District 16: 6 Year Award:
District 16: 15 Year Award:
Ken, Marlus & Matthew Schmitz James Reed with grandson Alex
Hillsboro,WI
Norwalk, WI
4 Year Award
Kurth, David
St Olaf, IA
Kurth, Gary &r Anne
Luana, IA
Smith, Joel
Fort Atkinson, IA
Smith, Wayne
District 17: 32 Year Award:
Don & Joyce Brinks
Ossian, IA
Fort Atkinson, IA
5 Year Award
Henkes, Daryl
Monona, IA
Henkes, Dustin
Monona, IA
Henkes, L’dean
Monona, IA
Kriener, Dale
Ridgeway, IA
Kriener, Donald
Ridgeway, IA
Kriener, Larry
Ridgeway, IA
Lenth, Terry
Luana, IA
Rapson, David
Hawkeye, IA
6 Year Award
Humpal, Darryl
Ridgeway, IA
Schmitt, Steven
Hawkeye, IA
10 Year Award
Lantzky, Brian & Heidi
Hawkeye, IA
12 Year Award
Koehn, David
Elkader, IA
District 16: 5 Year Award:
District 16: 5 Year Award:
Allen Witt
Douglas L. Wolf with Rosanna,
SWISS
DAIRYMAN
Ontario,
WI VALLEY FARMS
Hillsboro,
WI
District 17: 18 Year Award:
Schmitt Dairy, Mark, Glen, Melissa, Abby & Dianne Schmitt
Ft. Atkinson, IA
Mc Nally Dairy
Monona, IA
Stence, Lillian
Elkader, IA
13 Year Award
Smith, Jene
Fort Atkinson, IA
Thompson, Larry & Liane
Monona, IA
14 Year Award
Franks, Kent
St Olaf, IA
Ruff, John
Monona, IA
15 Year Award
Garbes, Brent
Waukon, IA
Gibson & Sons
Waukon, IA
16 Year Award
Landt, Neil
Luana, IA
18 Year Award
Schmitt Dairy Inc
Fort Atkinson, IA
19 Year Award
Klosterman, Rich & Sandy
West Union, IA
District 17: 19 Year Award:
Rich Klosterman
West Union, IA
Schroeder, Leo & Brenda
Castalia, IA
32 Year Award
Brincks, Don
Ossian, IA
District 19
1 Year Award
Breitkreutz, Owen
Neosho, WI
Breuckman, Chad
Columbus, WI
Brockmeyer, Paul
Whitewater, WI
De Lange, James
Elkhorn, WI
Holewinski, Neal
Pulaski, WI
Kabara, Edward
Pulaski, WI
Kabara, Kathryn
Pulaski, WI
Przybylski, Gary
Krakow, WI
Schaefer, Jeffrey
Watertown, WI
Schaefer, Kurt
Watertown, WI
Schaefer, Susan
Watertown, WI
District 17: 5 Year Award:
L’Dean Henkes
Monona, IA
Scheel, Gary & Doris
Waterloo, WI
Thatcher, Brian
Whitewater, WI
Weier, Harry
Deerfield, WI
2 Year Award
Mess, Clarence & Catherine
Watertown, WI
Sauer Dairy Farm LLC
Waterloo, WI
3 Year Award
Vogel, Rebecca
Helenville, WI
Ward, Breck
Elkhorn, WI
4 Year Award
Busy Bee Acres, LLC
Markesan, WI
Landl Farms Inc.
Kaukauna, WI
Rengo Farms
Watertown, WI
Schuessler, Audra
Kaukauna, WI
Schuessler, Robert
Kaukauna, WI
Smith, Eugene & Shawn
Clinton, WI
District 19: 8 Year Award:
District 19: 7 Year Award:
Norbert, Alice & Arnold Gudex
Hofa Park Dairy
Campbellsport, WI
Dave & Zeke Wagner
FEBRUARY
page
2008
Seymour,
WI
District 19: 9 Year Award:
Tom & Joan Oberhaus
Waukesha, WI
District 19: 7 Year Award:
Second Look Holsteins,
Linda Holdorff, Eden, WI
5 Year Award
Deaver, Mike
Edgerton, WI
Debruin, Grant & Kathlen
Johnson Creek, WI
Tremaine, Malcolm
Clinton, WI
6 Year Award
Elderbrook Farms
Burlington, WI
Lambrecht, Donald
Kewaunee, WI
7 Year Award
Hofa Park Dairy Farm LLC
Seymour, WI
Moore Farms Inc.
Elkhorn, WI
Second Look Holsteins LLC
Eden, WI
8 Year Award
Gudex, Alice
Campbellsport, WI
Kabara, James
Pulaski, WI
Paszek, Dennis & Chris
Juneau, WI
Peterson, Per K.
Whitewater, WI
Vandoske Dairy Farms LLC
District 20: 20 Year Award: District 20: 22 Year Award:
Duron Bratland (mother Judy Gordon & Lee Meyer
accepting award)
Caledonia, MN
Spring Grove, MN
page District 20: 11 Year Award:
Duane & Dan Sexton
Millville, MN
District 20: 7 Year Award:
Ray Pick
Elgin, MN
Cleveland, WI
Welter, Kris & Phillip
Whitewater, WI
9 Year Award
Oberhaus, Thomas & Joan
Waukesha, WI
Van Daalwyk, Bob & Paula
Hilbert, WI
District 20
1 Year Award
District 20: 22 Year Award:
Matt, Hannah & Lauren Hendel
Caledonia, MN
3 Year Award
15 Year Award
Johnson’s Rolling Acres
Peterson, MN
Bratland, Darin
Spring Grove, MN
6 Year Award
16 Year Award
Neldner, Marvin
Lewiston, MN
Reps, Dennis & Marcia
Utica, MN
Reps, Travis
Utica, MN
Schumacher,
Paul & Jennifer
Houston, MN
Hammell, Edward
Caledonia, MN
Ketchum, Robert & Terri
Utica, MN
Neldner, James
Lewiston, MN
7 Year Award
2 Year Award
Ingvalson Farms Inc
Caledonia, MN
Gerdes, William
Caledonia, MN
Klug, Darrell
Spring Grove, MN
Klug, Matthew
Spring Grove, MN
Klug, Steve & Anna
Spring Grove, MN
Vanderzee,
Randy & Betty
Dakota, MN
18 Year Award
Selke, William
Dakota, MN
20 Year Award
Pick, Gary
Elgin, MN
Pick, Ray
Elgin, MN
Bratland, Duron
Spring Grove, MN
Bratland, Gerald
Spring Grove, MN
8 Year Award
11 Year Award
Sexton Farms
Millville, MN
Sexton, Dawn
Millville, MN
Sexton, Lea
Millville, MN
22 Year Award
Hendel Farms
Caledonia, MN
Meyer Farms Dairy LLC
Caledonia, MN
Selke, Walter
Dakota, MN
14 Year Award
Aldinger, Roger
Winona, MN
District 21: 19 Year Award:
District 4: 26 Year Award:
Michelle, Kayla &Rick Meyer Helen & Loren Duwe
Iowa Falls, IA
Garnavillo, IA
page
District 20: 20 Year Award:
Gerald & Judy Bratland
Spring Grove, MN
District 22: 6 Year Award:
Brian Entinger
Belle Plaine, MN
District 21
1 Year Award
Blasberg, Allen
Tripoli, IA
Blasberg, Doug
Tripoli, IA
Nolt, Reuben & Vera
Alta Vista, IA
Sonberg Farms, LLC
Osage, IA
Stauffer, Titus
Charles City, IA
Ten Hoeve, Gerben & Julie
Waverly, IA
Weaver, Noah
Orchard, IA
Wehling Farms
Sumner, IA
Wehling, Larry
Sumner, IA
Wehling, Randy
Sumner, IA
Wehling, Rhonda
Sumner, IA
Wiese, Wayne
New Hartford, IA
Wiese, Wesley
New Hartford, IA
2 Year Award
Balk, Gerald
Waucoma, IA
Fink, Rick
Maynard, IA
Holstein Mktng Center
Fredericksburg, IA
District 22: 6 Year Award:
District 22: 9 Year Award:
Oat Hill Dairy, Katie Olson,
Jodie & Jim Oelfke
Atwater, MNSWISS VALLEY FARMS
Hamburg,
MN page DAIRYMAN
District Meeting
coverage
Jones, Donald
Dumont, IA
4 Year Award
Arends, Darwin & Dulci
Ackley, IA
Horst, Robert & Patricia
Bristow, IA
Rector, Chuck
Denver, IA
Rector, John
Cedar Falls, IA
Weaver, Curvin
Osage, IA
7 Year Award
Nolt, John
Orchard, IA
8 Year Award
Hagedorn, Roger
Sumner, IA
9 Year Award
DBA Balk Bros
Waucoma, IA
Curtis, Chris
Aurora, IA
Gibralter Farms Ltd
Iowa Falls, IA
12 Year Award
Vohsman, Roger
Nashua, IA
17 Year Award
Miller, Ronald
Clarksville, IA
18 Year Award
Hofmeister, Dallas & Pat
Geneva, IA
19 Year Award
Meyer, Richard & Michelle
District 23: 8 Year Award:
Craig & Alice Dierickx
Monticello, WI
Iowa Falls, IA
District 22
1 Year Award
Farber, Jon & Cheryl
Green Isle, MN
Stuewe, Paul
Cologne, MN
Thaemert, Justin
Norwood Young America, MN
2 Year Award
Block, James
Hamburg, MN
Boltmann, Angie
Hamburg, MN
Boltmann, Rebecca
Hamburg, MN
Boltmann, Robert
Hamburg, MN
Koepp, Wayne & Kerry
Belle Plaine, MN
5 Year Award
Tews, Keith & Pam
Hutchinson, MN
6 Year Award
Entinger, Brian
Belle Plaine, MN
Oat Hill
Atwater, MN
Siegle Schrempp, Sandra
Cologne, MN
Siegle, Steven
Cologne, MN
9 Year Award
Highview Farms
Hamburg, MN
District 23
1 Year Award
District 23: 11 Year Award:
Jeff & Julie Nimtz
Monticello, WI
Anthony, David Charles
Brooklyn, WI
Devries, Delbert
Orangeville, IL
Hessenius, Craig
Freeport, IL
Laufenberg, Koty
Cross Plains, WI
Orchard, William
Janesville, WI
Wessels, Jim
Mcconnell, IL
Zarndt, George & Carol
Poplar Grove, IL
2 Year Award
Hoffman, Don & Mary
Waunakee, WI
Hoffman, Jeremy
Waunakee, WI
Hoffman, Kevin
Waunakee, WI
Hoffman, Nathan
Waunakee,WI
Jenson, Christa
Gratiot, WI
Wundrow, Leslie
Poplar Grove, IL
3 Year Award
Esser, Richard
Middleton, WI
4 Year Award
H D Farms LLC
Lodi, WI
Hosch, Robert & Daphne
Monroe, WI
Statz, Allen
Black Earth, WI
District 23: 6 Year Award:
Eugene & Louise Theis
Waunakee, WI
Statz, Vernon
Black Earth, WI
5 Year Award
Fassbender, Paul
Mazomanie, WI
Maier, Eugene
Cross Plains, WI
Maier, Julie
Cross Plains, WI
6 Year Award
Austin, Raymond
Black Earth, WI
Theis, David
Waunakee, WI
Theis, Eugene
Waunakee, WI
8 Year Award
Dierickx, Craig & Alice
Monticello, WI
11 Year Award
Nimtz, Jeff
Monticello, WI
Nimtz, Julie
Monticello, WI
the farm house b&B
reconnecting the bridge to agriculture
by Karen Bohnert
S
wiss Valley Farms cooperative
members Loren and Dianna
Engelbrecht, Fredericksburg,
Iowa, are reconnecting the bridge
from city life to farm life with their
bed and breakfast, The Farm House.
The Engelbrecht’s Bed and
Breakfast has become a place for city
people to experience a dairy farm—
in spades. “It is a joy to watch people
reconnect with nature and the land,”
Dianna said. “It is the reward of our
business.”
1970’s. Loren then went to work for
the Holstein Association marketing
cattle. When the Holstein Association
decided to get out of marketing,
Loren marketed cattle on his own
for awhile and then in 2000, he got
into dairy farming again, and began
shipping to Swiss Valley Farms.
In 1967, Dianna was crowned
Iowa Dairy Princess. Her resume
is quite impressive—a teacher, a
high school principal and in 2000,
Dianna earned her doctoral degree in
educational leadership and taught at
A lil’ History
Loren graduated from Iowa State the University of Northern Iowa.
Loren and Dianna were named
University in 1969 with a degree in
dairy science. He milked cows in the Outstanding YC winners for Swiss
Quad Cities for a short while in the Valley Farms in 1979 and traveled
to both New Orleans and Miami to
represent the co-op at NMPF.
In 1993, Loren and Dianna
bought this old Victorian farmhouse
that “needed a lot of work.” The
Engelbrechts spent nearly five years
renovating the house and it was
in 1998 that they hosted their first
customers at the Farm House Bed
and Breakfast.
All guest rooms are decorated
differently to reflect Dianna’s
and Loren’s eclectic interests and
feature private baths, TVs, VCRs,
air conditioning, individual heating
controls, queen and king size beds.
They have two suites available that
offer a Jacuzzi, deck, and other
personal amenities. Wireless Internet
is available throughout the house,
and they get quite a bit of business
travel.
Guests can choose from five
rooms at the Farm House Bed and
Breakfast: the Safari Room, the Room
with a View, the Victorian Room, the
Bovine Room and the Mickey Mouse
Room.
An interactive dairy farm
The Englebrecht’s Bed & Breakfast Victorian Farm House.
Photo by Kelli Boylen reprinted with permission of Dairy Star, LLC.
Use of Dairy Star material does not imply endorsement of any product or service.
Copyright 2007 Dairy Star LLC.
page 10
Loren and Dianna milk between
50 to 80 Holstein cows. With
Loren’s marketing arm and customer
contacts, they’ve developed quite
a market to sell fresh dairy cows to
various dairy operations throughout
the Midwest. “We sell up to 80 fresh
heifers a month and have just as many
newborn calves a month,” Loren said.
With all the newborns on the farm—
The Farm Bed and Breakfast’s guests
get a pretty good chance to witness
the miracle of life. The Englebrechts
have a camera in the barn to show
SWISS VALLEY FARMS DAIRYMAN
Loren & Dianna Englebrecht.
Photo by Kelli Boylen reprinted with permission of Dairy Star, LLC.
Use of Dairy Star material does not imply endorsement of any product or service.
Copyright 2007 Dairy Star LLC.
the births live in the house. “Some
guests even stay up late to witness the
calving process,” Loren said.
The Engelbrechts tell an amusing
story about how the guests were
eating breakfast, watching a calf on
the television trying to stand up.
Dianna had her back to the guests
while cooking breakfast and when the
guests started clapping and cheering,
she realized it was because the calf
had finally stood on its own.
The B&B guests have plenty of
activities to keep them busy. Many get
up early or head out in the evening
to help Loren milk. “It is fun to let
them squirt milk when they have
FEBRUARY 2008
never even touched a cow before.
Their eyes about pop out of their
heads,” Loren said. Other guests help
feed bottle calves, gather eggs, fish in
the farm pound, walk, run or bike on
the five-mile natural trail, shop in the
farm’s wine and antique shop—and,
of course, they all enjoy a full-course
farmer’s breakfast cooked by Dianna
herself.
Dianna and Loren love their guests
and in nine years of having their Bed
and Breakfast doors open, they’ve
never had an unpleasant visitor. In
return, the reservation book for the
B&B has filled up rapidly. In each of
the past three years, the number of
guests has doubled from the previous
year.
“Our mission is to help people
relax, and to see agriculture in a
positive way,” Dianna said. “And
people are so grateful.” Many of
their visitors are from Minneapolis,
Des Moines, Madison and Chicago.
They estimate that 80 percent of
their guests are urban.
The Englebrechts are bridging
the generational gap by allowing
this real farm experience to touch
grandchildren to grandparents.
“Families with children of all ages
travel to the farm together and
Continued on Pg. 15
page 11
YC’ers, it’s time to register
for the 2008 YC spring break
I
t’s time to register for the two-day Young Cooperator Conference. This year’s YC conference will be held at the Best
Western Midway Hotel in Dubuque, Iowa on Friday, March 28 and Saturday, March 29th.
Friday, March 28
10:00 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
10:45 a.m.
11:30 a.m.
12:30 p.m.
1:00 p.m.
2:30-3:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
8:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 29
7:30 a.m.
8:30 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
12:00 p.m.
12:45 p.m.
1:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m.
2008 YC Spring Break Schedule
Registration
Welcome & early bird door prizes
Question & Answer Session
Gordy Toyne, Co-CEO, Swiss Valley Farms
Lunch
Marketing Review
Ron Schroder, Director of Marketing, Swiss Valley Farms
Dealing with Family & Hired Help Workshop
Dr. Bernie Erven, Professor Emeritus, Ohio State University
Ice-cream Social Break
Family & Hired Help Workshop Break
Dinner
Entertainment
Breakfast
Producer Panel
Three Swiss Valley Farms producers will give power point presentations, talking about their herd & management practices.
Swiss Valley Farms product test contest
Iowa State University Dairy Farm Virtual Tour
Iowa State University Rep will give a tour of their new facilities
Lunch
Discussion of the National YC Program
Wrap-up Session
Conclude
Who is a Young Cooperator?
You are a Swiss Valley Farms Young Cooperator if you are between and including the ages of 18 and 45 AND
1.
You are a Swiss Valley Farms co-op member
2.
Or the son or daughter of a co-op member
3.
Or if you work in the dairy operation of a Swiss Valley Farms member
2008 Outstanding Young Cooperative Contest
Also during this conference, the Swiss Valley Farms Outstanding Young Cooperator Contest will be held on Friday. If you
want to open the door on unlimited opportunities for learning, leadership and travel, look into participating in this contest.
Fill out the YC Contest Application on the next page, write the short essay and submit everything in an envelope separate from
your Spring Break Registration form. The contest interviews will be held during the day Friday with results announced at the
end of the conference on Saturday. This year’s NMPF National Dairy Summit will be held in late October in Nashville, Tennesse at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel.
The age limit on this national YC contest is 21 to 40 years.
page 12
SWISS VALLEY FARMS DAIRYMAN
YC Spring Break Conference Registration Form
Get you registration in ASAP. Registration deadline is Friday, March 14, 2008.
Include your $10 per person check with your form.
YES! Reserve a room for me at this YC Spring Break March 28-March 29, 2008 in Dubuque, Iowa
Name Address
Producer# Do you require a smoking room?
Mail this form and your check to Phone
Swiss Valley Farms Co,
YC Spring Break
PO Box 4493, Davenport, IA 52808
Swiss Valley Farms 2008 Young Cooperator Contest to select
OUTSTANDING YOUNG DAIRY PRODUCERS
Contest Rules
1) To be eligible to enter, contestants must be a member of the cooperative or in the immediate family of a member and active in the dairying operation or a full-time employee of a Swiss Valley Farms member dairy operation, be between the ages of 18 and must not
have turned 41 before November 1, 2008.
2) To enter: Fill in the following form as completely as possible.
3) Entries must be submitted to Nancy Feeney at the Swiss Valley Farms Corporate Headquarters by Friday, March 14, 2008. Entries
may be Faxed to the Corporate Headquarters at 563.468.6613. Entrants will be interviewed by the Member Relations Committee on Friday afternoon, March 28th at the YC Conference in Dubuque, Iowa, where the final judging will take place.
YC Contest Application Part 1 Tell Us About Yourself
Contestant’s Name (s)_____________________________________Phone # ____________________________________
Address __________________________________________________________________________________________
Birthdate _______________ Age ________ Number of Years in Dairying ______________________________________
Community and Civic Activities (Also list spouse’s activities, if applicable) Use additional sheet is necessary: ______________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Agricultural related activities and organizations: __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
List Other Cooperatives in which you have memberships. (Indicate if director, etc.): _____________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
YC Contest Application Part II Write Down Your Thoughts
On a separate sheet of paper, write your thoughts on the following question.
“ As a co-op member, what do you see as the most important service Swiss Valley Farms Co.
performs for your dairy operation?”
Please keep your answer to 250 words or less. Remember that we are looking for your opinions and ideas.
There is no right or wrong answer to this question.
_______________________________________________________________________
Mail your entry to: Swiss Valley Farms, Co., Outstanding YC Contest, c/o Nancy Feeney
PO Box 4493, Davenport, IA 52808
Entries must be in the SVF Corporate Headquarters by: Friday, March 14, 2008
Do not put this form in the same envelope as your Spring Break registration form.
Contestant # ___________(This # will be assigned by the Member Relations Committee)
FEBRUARY 2008
page 13
swiss valley farms
Field personnel & Stats
Field Department & Procurement Division Directory
J. Gordon Toyne CO-ceo
LeClaire, IA 52753
Office: 563.468.6644
Home: 563.289.3535
mike howald
7105 N. Freeport Rd
Forreston, IL
Home: 815.938.2651
FAX: 815.938.9151
DON DESJARLAIS
Fred Imdieke
LeClaire, IA 52753
36356 Roanoke Lane Home: 320.256.4932
Melrose, MN 56352
Membership & procurement
Office: 563.468.66xx
Mobile: 563.271.2290
Nancy Feeney member relations mgr Kara Koopmann
Bettendorf, IA 52722
Office: 563.468.6640
Home: 563.359.9100
Karen Bohnert member relations
East Moline, IL 61244 Office: 563.468.6641
Mobile: 563.320.2895
Tim Genthe lab & safety manager
803 S. School St.
Cuba City, WI 53807
Office: 563.583.7669
Home: 608.744.3515
6142 Roller Coaster Rd. Plant: 563.583.7669
Epworth, IA 52045
Home: 563.876.3900
ROGER LENIUS
319 9th St.
Waverly, IA 50677
Office: 319.352.5463
Home: 319.352.5015
KEN LEY
225 S. Clifton
Plant: 608.348.3932
Livingston, WI 53554 Home: 608.943.6240
marv Thompson
LYNNE MELCHERT
617 Monroe St.
Sparta, WI 54656
117 Culver Rd. N.E.
Office: 563.926.2363
Hopkinton, IA 52237 Home: 563.926.2794
raw milk sales & transportation
Office: 608.366.1770
Home: 608.269.4850
Ron Brenner Field supervisor
204 Goddard St.
LaCrosse, WI
Office: 608.366.1770
Home: 608.782.0012
thomas tegeler Field supervisor
1320 11/2 St. S.W.
Dyersville, IA 52040
Office: 563.583.7669
Home: 563.875.2059
Douglas Anderson
149 Wildwood Ct.
Boscobel, WI 53805
Randy Heisel
259 E. Lakeview Dr.
LaFarge, WI 54639
Home: 608.375.2690
Mobile: 608.287.4025
Home: 608.625.2045
JIM mURPHY
430 Linden
Home: 563.422.5789
West Union, IA 52175 Mobile: 563.380.0393
JIM SCHMITZ
202 Bechner St.
Greeley, IA 52050
Office: 563.925.2321
Home: 563.925.2015
CHERYL ZABLOCKI-WAGNER
W1919 Hofa Park Dr Office: 920.822.2887
Seymour, WI 54165 Mobile: 563.663.1306
BOB ZIELSDORF
309 North Street
Sparta, WI 54656
Office: 608.366.1770
Home: 608.269.5452
Somatic Cell Range % of A Farms
Somatic Cell Range % of B Farms
0 - 100,000.......................................................4 %
100,001 - 200,000.......................................23 %
200,001 - 300,000......................................29%
300,001 - 400,000........................................21 %
400,001 - 500,000.........................................10 %
500,001 and above......................................13%
0 - 100,000.......................................................2%
100,001 - 200,000.........................................16%
200,001 - 300,000......................................20%
300,001 - 400,000......................................10%
400,001 - 500,000.........................................16%
500,001 and above...................................36%
page 14
During the Month of December,
these Swiss Valley Farms
Members averaged below
100,000 for their
somatic cell count.
Darwin & Dulci Arends
Chad Breuckman
Kevin & Donna Carolan
Mike Deaver
Randy Dreier
Elmer Engelken
Michael Engelken
Brian Entinger
Larry Gilbertson
Hendel Farms
Hodson-Dirksen Farms LLC
Dallas & Pat Hofmeister
Robert & Patricia Horst
Wayne & Kerry Koepp
Donald Lambrecht
Koty Laufenberg
Cheryl Meier
Mike Meier
Oat Hill
Kenneth & Marlus Schmitz
Mark Allen Schrock
Sexton Farms
Dawn Sexton
Lea Sexton
Titus Stauffer
Donald Stoehr
Frank Stoehr
Steven & Sherry Vlasak
Leighton Yoder
90,000
62,000
77,000
67,000
72,000
97,000
97,000
95,000
77,000
85,000
67,000
95,000
67,000
91,000
71,000
64,000
56,000
56,000
74,000
77,000
83,000
98,000
98,000
98,000
84,000
97,000
97,000
92,000
68,000
Classified
Ads
FOR SALE: Delaval rotary
milking equipment, 3 inch,
stainless steel pipeline, Surge
pump-over receiver jar and
three new pulse milker units.
Interested, call Wilbur Kelderman
@ 641.949.6264.
SWISS VALLEY FARMS DAIRYMAN
the farm house b&B
reconnecting the bridge to agriculture
continued
Continued from Pg. 11
sometimes all learn about farming
for the first time,” Dianna said. Their
visitors include everyone from young
families to baby boomers.
A tire swing has many hours on
it, and these city folks that flock to
this B&B find a country, farm life
just what they needed to decompress.
Visitors get to connect with nature,
enjoy the simplicity that we farmers
have grown found of—quietness,
sunsets and sunrises and more.
“So many people say this is the
most beautiful place. I think it is
because of the serenity,” Dianna said.
“People are hungry for this. They
are tired of being over stimulated.”
Continued on Pg. 15
More agriculture
The Engelbrechts planted their
own grapes on nine and half acres, and
started making their own wines a year
and half ago. They are preparing to
sell it in their existing antique and wine
store—an old machine shed. This shed
also has a large room, the Gathering
Room, which was originally built as
a room to host bus tours, but it has
turned into a special events room. The
room features floor to ceiling windows
overlooking the farm.
Between the Bed and Breakfast,
winery and Gathering Room, the
Engelbrechts’ operation employs
three people full-time and three
part-time, in addition to Loren and
Dianna.
Loren and Dianna have two sons:
Michael and Matthew. Michael lives
in Oregon and manages two John
Deere dealerships. He and his wife
have part ownership in the Gathering
Room and the gift shop, and his wife
Loren Englebrecht in his vineyard.
Christina is Engelbrechts’ bookkeeper
and helps with marketing. Michael
and Christina’s children are Noah,
Becca and Leah, who all love to visit
their grandparents and their farm.
Matthew is an engineer and his
wife, Katrina, live with their daughter
Rachel in Fredericksburg. Katrina
works in the winery and helps at the
Gathering Room.
To learn more about the Farm
House Bed and Breakfast, go to www.
thefarmhousebb.com.
ON THE COVER
It sure looks like winter. Swisss Valley
Farms members and past YC winners,
Kent & Sandy Franks, Franks’ Farm in
St. Olaf, Iowa graces this month’s cover.
The Franks milk 80 Registered
Holstein and Ayrshire cows with a herd
average of 24,800 lbs. of milk. They
have two children who are active on the
farm: Bryon, 12 and Rachel, 10. Bryon
was featured in the January 29th Dairy
Star. The story talked about his extreme
involvement with his Ayrshire cows.
scholarship announcement
The Insurance Center
T
he
Insurance
Advisory
Council has announced six
$500 scholarships that will
be available May 2008.
Three of these scholarships are
provided by Anthem Blue Cross and
Blue Shield and three are provided by
T.I.C., Inc.
To be eligible for a scholarship,
students must be a high school
graduate, continuing their education
in an agricultural related field while
attending a post-secondary college,
Your copy of
university or technical school
program.
To
attain
a
scholarship
application, call 1-800-362-8046 and
ask for Randi. The application form
should be completed and returned to:
Insurance Advisory Council, T.I.C.
Inc., Attn: Randi Santos, 701 Sand
Lake Road, Onalaska, WI 54650.
The deadline is March 15, 2008.
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Post Office Box 4493
Davenport, IA 52808
Address Service Requested
Permit No. 141
Davenport, IA