Farm Family Scoop

Josh Steiner, a dairy farmer in Monroe, Wisconsin, is a strong advocate for open communication in rural communities, especially concerning mental health. This conviction stems from his own profound personal tragedy: the loss of a child due to a rare pregnancy complication. During that difficult time, Steiner admits he “put that mental fence up,” isolating […]

On May 15th, a series of 14 tornadoes tore through Wisconsin, devastating several dairy farms, including those of Brenda and Jeff Elsinger in Lomira and the Schwandt family near Juneau. The Elsingers’ freestall barn was destroyed by an EF1 tornado, a heartbreaking loss for Brenda who had dedicated 36 years to building their dairy operation.

Over 25 years, Tom and Kelli Cull transformed Budjon Farms from humble beginnings into a world-renowned Holstein breeding, showing, and boarding operation. Leveraging Tom’s farm background and Kelli’s extensive AI industry experience, they pioneered a diversified business model focused on elite show cattle care, moving beyond traditional dairy reliance. Their success stems from innovation (like

Meet Adam and Marie Vanden Wymelenberg of De Pere, Wisconsin – recent first runners-up in the state’s Outstanding Young Farmer contest! What makes their story special? They built their thriving dairy farm dream entirely from scratch, despite neither growing up on a commercial dairy. Their journey began in 2009 when Adam bought his grandparents’ old

Beyond their dedication to farming, some local producers are proving they’re stars in other arenas as well. Paul Lippert, a valued member of the farming community, recently completed the 50K Birkebeiner, a grueling 31-mile cross-country ski race named after the legendary Birkebeiner soldiers who played a crucial role in the Norwegian Civil War of 1206.