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“All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 19, No. 9
June 24, 2017
“You just see everything that you’ve done and worked for, what my parents worked for … all gone in a matter of minutes.” - Chad Carlson
In the middle of Mother Nature’s fury
Carlsons recovering after storm destroys buildings, displaces animals By Jennifer Coyne & Mark Klaphake
PENNOCK, Minn. – Chad Carlson was going to attend high school graduation parties on the afternoon of June 11, but Mother Nature had another plan in mind as an early morning storm rolled through that Sunday. It was just after 6 a.m. when the storm approached, and within a matter of minutes, several animal housing facilities, a shed and the milking parlor were in shambles. Turn to CARLSON | Page 7
MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR
Volunteers start picking up the debris that was scaƩered throughout several elds aŌer a powerful storm damaged several buildings June 11 on Carlson Dairy near Pennock, Minn. The heifer facility pictured above sustained major damage.
Saehrs expand step by step
Teamwork key to growth By Andrea Borgerding andrea.b@dairystar.com
PIERZ, Minn. – When Darrel and Amy Saehr look back at their farm when they started 24 years ago, they can see they have come a long way. But they also know it has come with a lot of hard work and a lot of faith. The Saehrs began with a 30-cow dairy in 1993, gradually grew their herd from within and added facilities incrementally to reach today’s 175-cow dairy, milking in a double-12 parlor and housing cows in a 154-stall freestall barn. Darrel and Amy credit their family, including children, Randy, 21, and Holly, 17, and a crew of hard working and reliable part time employees for their farm’s success. “Working together, without a doubt, has made this all possible,” Darrel said. “We’ve had good guys working for us. I’d credit that partly to where we are today.” Turn to SAEHRS | Page 5
MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR
The Saehr family (from leŌ) – Randy, Holly, Amy and Darrel – farm together near Pierz, Minn. The Saehrs have expanded gradually through the years and credit their success to teamwork.