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DAIRY ST R “All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 23, No. 24
February 12, 2022
Focused on production, automation Zwiegs named Wisconsin Outstanding Young Farmer
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Rachel and Kyle Zwieg stand in their roboƟc barn built in 2020 at their farm near Ixonia, Wisconsin. The Zwiegs are this year’s winner of the Wisconsin Outstanding Young Farmer award.
Kyle and Rachel attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison Farm and Industry Short Course. Kyle also worked at a local farm for ve years where he picked up By Stacey Smart helpful techniques related to both dairy stacey.s@dairystar.com and cropping that he would later apply at Zwieg’s Maple Acres. IXONIA, Wis. – Success in the barn When Kyle returned to the family farm and on the elds culminated in Kyle and in 2010, he wasted no time growing the Rachel Zwieg winning the 2022 Wisconsin family’s land base while also increasing Outstanding Young Farmer award Jan. 22 in herd size and optimizing milk production. Neenah. The Zwiegs’ small family farm is On top of that, he got to work implementing run on big ideas with high milk production conservation practices that would better the at the heart of their success. land and make the farm more protable. “I didn’t know how our smaller farm “When I came home, we had 40 cows would fare at the state level, so I was a and 140 acres,” Kyle said. “It was barely little surprised we won,” Kyle said. “A enough for my parents. I had to make a spot lot of excellent agriculturists have won for myself, so I sold the benets sustainable this award in the past, and it is an honor practices have on an owner’s land. It was to be put in their company. It’s really cool popular here as we have many absentee to have earned this recognition and be landowners in the area who are concerned amongst these industry leaders.” about conservation which enabled us to add Kyle and Rachel are the sixth genera- a lot of acres in a short amount of time. We tion on Zwieg’s Maple Acres – a dairy and also doubled the size of our herd.” crop operation near Ixonia where they milk Milk production took off after switchbetween 65 and 70 cows and farm 1,400 ing to a total mixed ration in 2011 and acres of corn, soybean, wheat and alfalfa. continued to climb because of the strong Net income is split evenly between the focus placed on nutrition. Devoted to feeddairy and crop enterprises. ing forages of stringent quality, the Zwiegs Established in 1856, the farm has been follow strict intervals for crops and adhere in the family for more than 150 years. The to tight moisture windows when harvesting Zwiegs are raising their three boys – Theodore, 6, and twins Landon and Logan, 5 – on Turn to ZWIEGS | Page 7 the farm as the seventh generation. Both
Back doing what he loves Prosthetic foot gives new beginning for Hass By Stacey Smart
stacey.s@dairystar.com
EVANSVILLE, Wis. – Aaron Hass faced a life-changing predicament last year. After dealing with a troublesome foot for years, a serious infection made it clear that Hass’ foot had to go. An amputation was scheduled. But the end of his foot would not mean the end of the farm for Hass. He saw the amputation as an opportunity to rebuild and improve his registered herd. Retaining his best pedigreed cows, Hass downsized by selling 90 cows and heifers before losing his right foot. The remaining 60 cows were housed at three other farms temporarily until Hass could get start milking again. When the time to get his prosthetic drew near,
Hass built back up by purchasing cattle rich in good genetics and was back milking nine days before he got his new foot. “It’s been an adventure,” said Hass, who milks 94 cows with plans of getting up to 120. “My goal is to build the herd back better and stronger. We had a good herd of cows before, but we want an even better herd.” Hass runs Hass Acres with his dad, Jack, and a part-time employee, Jim Abey. Holding onto the farm’s foundation cows which included 16 Excellents, the Hasses added onto the herd, buying 19 Jersey heifers and 13 cows. Hass’ goal was to begin milking again Dec. 15, 2021, but he started a day early when two heifers freshened. Hass brought the rest of his cows home Dec. 16. He milked in a shrinker cast until getting his prosthetic foot two days before Christmas. Hass broke his leg 15 years
Turn to HASS | Page 6
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Aaron Hass stands amongst his 94-cow herd of Jerseys and Holsteins that he began milking again Dec. 14 on the farm he runs with his dad, Jack, near Evansville, Wisconsin. Hass’ right foot was amputated Sept. 30, 2021, causing him to downsize and rebuild his herd.