LOOK INSIDE FOR OUR CALF & HEIFER SPECIAL EDITION!
DAIRY ST R
March 28, 2020
“All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 22, No. 3
A clear dairy direction
Rochester couple receives GDC, MLBA honors for work on, off the farm
COVID-19 COVERAGE
Dairies considered essential work places during pandemic
By Krista Kuzma & Jennifer Coyne Staff Writers
ROCHESTER, Minn. – Dairy has always been the clear direction for Robert and Jeannette Sheehan’s career path. “It has always been exciting to me,” Jeannette said. This direction has led to 36 years as farmers on their dairy, Sheeknoll Farms, near Rochester. Every day chores are accompanied by an enthusiasm for breeding and showing high quality genetic animals, being involved in off-farm activities and associations, stepping up as leaders in youth organizations and volunteering when needed. Because of their involvement in the industry and their success in developing an award-winning herd alongside the Sheehan family, Robert and Jeannette were given awards by two organizations. The University of Minnesota Gopher Dairy Club presented the Sheehans with the Golden Graduate Award during its annual awards banquet Feb. 23. On March 12, the Sheehans were inducted into the Minnesota Livestock Breeders Association Hall of Fame. Golden Graduate Award The University of Minnesota holds a special place in the couple’s hearts since it is where they met; however, the education they received there also made a profound impact on them and their future in the industry. “We learned things in classes we wanted to try and apply when we started farming,” Jeannette said. This included ideas in nutrition they learned from the late Dr. Don Otterby and Dr. Mike Hutjens, both of whom the Sheehans have considered mentors for their venture into farming. When Robert and Jeannette attended and graduated from the university in the mid to late 1970s, the Gopher Dairy Club had yet Turn to SHEEHANS | Page 5
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Rita Young stands in front of the signs about prevenƟng the spread of COVID-19 she placed next to the Ɵme clock on her farm, Emerald Spring Dairy, near Plainview, Minnesota.
Producers, Bender talk about taking onfarm precautions against COVID-19 By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
PHOTO SUBMITTED
JeanneƩe and Robert Sheehan hold the Golden Graduate Award they received Feb. 23 from the University of Minnesota Gopher Dairy Club. The Sheehans dairy near Rochester, Minnesota.
While the novel coronavirus has disrupted many people’s routines around the world, dairy farms still need to milk their cows and care for their animals every day. The government has deemed agriculture as an essential part of the work force that is allowed to continue to operate if regulations to slow COVID-19 are put in place. Emerald Spring Dairy near Plainview, Minnesota, and Grotegut Dairy Farm Inc. near Newton, Wisconsin, are trying to navigate how to keep their farm workers safe amid the pandemic. “It’s one thing to have disaster plans in place for a
weather event, but it’s quite different to have a plan in place for something like this,” Rita Young said. “It’s like a science ction movie.” Young and her family own Emerald Spring Dairy where they milk 1,100 cows and employ 20 people. “We have talked to our employees about how to keep themselves safe,” Young said. “We are following the guidelines of our state and federal entities as they come.” Rosario Ibarra, general manager at Grotegut Dairy Farm Inc., said the 2,800-cow dairy with 50 full-time employees is also following the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the United States Department of Health and Human Services. “At the farm, we are making sure the work environments are as clean as possible, keeping cleaning supplies available to our entire workforce,” Ibarra said. “We are encouraging them to practice social distance at work and at home. We have constant communica-
tion with our employees about what’s happening, posting signs in their native languages and checking with all of them daily to make sure everybody is healthy.” The Youngs have put up government-issued posters in English and Spanish about handwashing and ways to prevent the spread of illness. They have also put out hand sanitizer and wipes for employees to use on frequently-touched surfaces. “It’s for when they’re using the time clock or door handles,” Young said. “A lot of them are wearing milking gloves, but they need to change milking gloves and do the common sense things to prevent spreading germs.” At this time, Emerald Spring Dairy is allowing people other than employees onsite; however, the Youngs are conscious of social distancing. “It is easier to keep social distance on the farm, even in the parlor, but we are followTurn to PRECAUTIONS | Page 6