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| Dave Kathy, Ben (with Max), Andrea, Tina and Jake (with Willa) Kretzschmar appreciate the opportunity to work together and watch their farm and family grow and prosper. |
At Kretzschmar Holsteins, family is the top priority. Five generations have kept the farm in the Kretzschmar name. Being able to work and play alongside generations of family members is what keeps the family tgether and their farm growing strong.
It started in 1950 when Richard Kretzschmar, Mellen, Wis., started dairy farming on his own. He milked ten cows by hand—twice a day, 365 days a year. He pretty much ran the entire operation himself. Today, three generations of Kretzschmars work together and provide much of the labor for their 700-cow dairy business.
David Kretzschmar, the fourth generation of Kretzschmars to farm in the northern woods, owns and operates Kretzschmar Holsteins. He bought the dairy farm, business and land from his father (Richard) in 1995 and expanded from 80 to 200 cows. In 1998, he expanded to 360 cows, and the last expansion to 700 cows occurred in 2008.
At the farm
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| Richard Kretzschmar was an active member of this three-generation dairy until his death in May, 2011. |
Six family members help out, along with 11 part-time and full-time employees.
- David Kretzschmar - owner and business manager
- Ben Kretzschmar - human resource and young stock manager
- Jake Kretzschmar - milking herd manager
The family farm's fifth generation includes David's two sons—Ben, 24, and Jake, 26. David's mother, Ardith, is still involved with the family business.
After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a bachelor's degree in dairy science and agricultural economics, David worked as a consultant for two years but realized worldwide travel wasn't right for him or his family. The farm was calling him home. Both Jake and Ben joined the family's dairy operation after completing their education at the University of Minnesota and University of Wisconsin-Stout, respectively. This younger generation appreciates and thinks of their father and grandfather as strong role models.
"I've worked alongside my dad and grandpa my whole life. I've witnessed the men that they are, and that's what I want to be."
~ Ben Kretzschmar
The reason the Kretzschmars continue to farm is because they love the lifestyle and the business. "It's a lot of give and take, and you put in some long hours, but the reward is that you get to be with your family a lot. When my kids were growing up, they were alongside of me," explains David.
Today, both of his sons have young children, and they are the sixth generation of Kretzschmars to grow up on a farm. And they all believe that farm living—and the farm business—offer a great way to raise a family.
Kretzschmar Holsteins on Wisconsin Dairy News
Northern Wisconsin may not be associated with dairy agriculture, but one multi-generational farming family is enjoying great success. We visited Kretzschmar Dairy in Mellen, Wisconsin, to learn about their recent expansion to accommodate the fifth generation.
Wisconsin Dairy News, produced by the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Inc. 2010