The Great Christmas “GRAND” PRIZE
GIVEAWAY
See pages 24 and 25 of this section for details!
DAIRY ST R
Turmoil in Wisconsin ag department State senate denies Pfaff’s appointment as secretary By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
MADISON, Wis. – In an action that has not been taken since 1987, an appointment to the governor’s cabinet was denied by the Wisconsin State Senate. Brad Pfaff, of Onalaska, was named as Governor Tony Evers’ agriculture secretarydesignee last December, and has been operating as the head of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection as the designee since the administration change occurred in January. While the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Revenue and Financial Institutions offered its unanimous approval of Pfaff’s nomination in February, the appointment was not voted on by the full Senate until earlier this month when the nomination was denied 1914, along party lines. This vote followed a request from State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, asking that Gov. Evers withdraw Pfaff’s nomination, stating there would not be enough votes in the Senate to conrm the nomination. Calling the move partisan wrangling, Gov. Evers refused to withdraw Pfaff’s name as his designee, calling him “an extraordinary person and public servant.” This led to the vote taken in the Senate, rejecting the nomination for the post. In support of Pfaff’s nomination, Gov. Evers attended the Senate session to hear debate regarding Pfaff’s nomination, which may be the rst time in modern history that a sitting Wisconsin governor has been present for a Senate oor vote. Several members of the legislature became upset with Pfaff earlier this summer when he was critical of the budget committee for not releasing Turn to PFAFF | Page 6
November 23, 2019
“All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 21, No. 19
Elbe makes farming a family passion First-generation dairy producer passes love for industry onto children By Stacey Smart
stacey.s@dairystar.com
WEST BEND, Wis. – Even though he did not grow up on a farm, Chris Elbe was hooked on dairy farming starting at age 9 when he began working for a neighbor. The farmer could not afford to pay him, so he gave Chris calves instead of cash. By the time he graduated high school, Chris had 25 cows. “I fell in love with farming right away,” said Chris, who grew up in Cedarburg. “I did not come from a farming family. My dad worked at Miller
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Ryan (from leŌ), Chris, Kimberly and MaƩ Elbe stand in their 2,000-stall freestall barn, built in 2014, at Golden E Dairy near West Bend, Wisconsin. The Elbes milk 2,400 cows and farm 5,000 acres of owned and rented land. Not pictured are Chris’ wife, Tracey, and son, Kyle. Brewing Company in Milwaukee for 45 years.” On May 15,1991, three days before they were to marry, Chris and his wife, Tracey,
purchased a farm in West Bend. The couple had 90 cows and 250 acres at the time. Today, Golden E Dairy milks 2,400 cows and farms 5,000 acres –
2,000 of which are owned and 3,000 rented. The operation is a true Turn to ELBES | Page 5
A unique source of dairy education
Milwaukee County Zoo connects cows, consumers By Stacey Smart
stacey.s@dairystar.com
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Melissa Paine sweeps hay in the dairy barn at the Milwaukee County Zoo, which is home to eight head of dairy caƩle, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Heritage Farm, located in the Milwaukee County Zoo’s Northwestern Mutual Family Farm, is the only dairy farm in the city of Milwaukee. Since 1987, the farm has educated countless visitors about the dairy industry – serving as a critical link between farmer and consumer. “For many people, the zoo dairy is the only farm they will ever see,” said Lisa Guglielmi, Northwestern Mutual Family Farmarea supervisor. “We have an important responsibility to educate and spread positive messages about the dairy industry.” Milking ve cows, the small-scale dairy is home to eight head of dairy cattle – seven cows and one heifer. A fan of breed diversity, the zoo has housed every major milking breed at one time or another. Three Red and White Holsteins, two Holsteins, two Ayrshires and one Milking Shorthorn are the current residents and go by the names of Jovie, Maddie, Ellie, Darcy, Betsy, Ruby, Kylie and Dottie. “Next year, we will be looking for a Brown Swiss and another Milking Shorthorn,” GuglielTurn to ZOO | Page 7