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DAIRY ST R “All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 21, No. 18
Making the leap from stanchions to robots
November 9, 2019
Deployment on a dairy farm
Used machines make automated milking affordable for Grunnets By Stacey Smart
stacey.s@dairystar.com
BROOKLYN, Wis. – James and Joni Grunnet never thought they would be able to afford a robotic milking system. However, when two used Lely A3 robotic milking units came up for sale, milking with robots became a reality for the young couple who had been planning to build a double-8 parlor on their 110-cow dairy, Sugar Brook Dairy, near Brooklyn, Wis. “The cost to purchase, rebuild and install the robots was less than what it would have cost us to build the milking parlor,” Joni said. “The two used robots together were less expensive than one brand new robot.” The robots, which came from Ohio, were under four years old. “These robots fell in our lap, and we didn’t want to pass them up,” Joni said. “We did a lot of updates to make them current.” The Grunnets red up the robots for their rst milking on Jan. 2, 2018. It was a bitterly cold day with temperatures dipping as low as minus 14 degrees Fahrenheit accompanied by a wind chill of 25 below zero. “We had a lot of friends and family there to help that rst week,” Turn to GRUNNETS | Page 5
PHOTO PROVIDED BY CASSIE OLSON
Stephanie and Alan Hughes and their children – (from leŌ) Derek, Bryce and Gavin – operate SunseƩ Dairy near PiƩsville, Wis. Alan, a member of the 115th Fighter Wing of the Wisconsin Air NaƟonal Guard, was deployed in July to spend three months serving in Afghanistan, leaving Stephanie and their children to run the farm.
Hughes family ready to welcome dad home from Afghanistan By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Joni and James Grunnet pose with one of their favorite cows, Peanut. The Grunnets started milking with robots in January 2018 on their 110-cow dairy near Brooklyn, Wis.
PITTSVILLE, Wis. – Alan and Stephanie Hughes and their family have faced many of the same challenges as other dairy farmers this summer. They have also faced the challenge of operating their farm while Alan has been deployed in Bagram, Afghanistan, as part of the 115th Fighter Wing of the Wisconsin Air National Guard of Truax Field in Madison, Wis. The Hugheses along with their children, Bryce, 9, Gavin, 7, and Derek, 2, operate Sunsett Dairy milking 60 head of Jerseys, Milking Shorthorns, Holsteins and Red and White Holsteins near Pittsville, Wis. They use rotational grazing on 50 acres of pasture. Along with 280 of his fellow airmen, Alan deployed in mid-July to serve approximately three months overseas at the Bagram Airforce Base. Alan will return home sometime during the rst week in November. “Alan’s unit is a very tight-knit group, a very strong unit,” Stephanie said. “That high morale and strong friendships help them deal with their time overseas. They are very well-known for the
quality of their work and for their commitment to safety.” Alan joined the Air National Guard ve years ago, to follow in the footsteps of other family members who have served in the military. Alan is an aircraft mechanic and has worked in aircraft maintenance at an area airport for several years, and has run his own aircraft maintenance business. Since his deployment, Stephanie and her children have been dealing with an absent spouse and parent, along with running the farm on their own. “The most challenging thing is not having someone there, emotionally, on the bad days,” Stephanie said. “Your best friend is gone, and there is no one there for support to tell you that tomorrow will be a better day.” Stephanie said she has learned a lot about herself and what she is capable of taking on and accomplishing since Alan’s departure. “I’ve learned a lot about my own resiliency and about accountability since Alan’s been gone,” Stephanie said. “I’ve learned to prioriTurn to HUGHES | Page 7