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DAIRY ST R
June 27, 2020
“All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 22, No. 9
Pahl took a leap of faith
Lake City woman joins family farm with hopes to take over in future By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
LAKE CITY, Minn. – When Abby Pahl decided to leave her full-time job and join her family’s dairy in May 2019, the industry had been dealing with several years of a depressed milk price. Despite this, Pahl knew she needed to make the move. “I can’t deny that there was risk coming back to the farm,” she said. “But I was learing on my strong faith and decided to take the leap.” Pahl joined her parents, Kent and Deborah Mills, on their 280-cow dairy near Lake City. Although Pahl’s husband, Jordan, works off the farm as an A.I. technician, he puts in time at the dairy after work hours. In the future, the couple would like to take over from
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Abby Pahl stands in the calf barn at her family’s 280-cow dairy near Lake City, Minnesota. Over one year ago, Pahl joined her parents, Kent and Deborah Mills, full Ɵme with plans to take over as the next generaƟon with her husband, Jordan.
Pahl’s parents as owners and operators. “It’s a legacy thing,” Pahl said. “Jordan and I are wanting to be the next generation so our kids have the opportunity to follow in our footsteps.” The Pahls are expecting their rst child in September. Kent and Deborah bought and moved their dairy to their current farmsite 12 years ago in order to fulll their dream of owning their own farm. “We’re hoping we can keep it going because that’s part of why my parents moved here – so they could give us a future,” Pahl said. During their involvement on the farm, Pahl feels she and Jordan have helped make improvements to keep the farm going towards its goals of being a sustainable, protable farm for their family. “Cow comfort has been a really big focus to Jordan and I,” she said. In the last year, Pahl said cow comfort has improved. Turn to PAHL | Page 5
Farm on display
Hunekes host drivethru event in lieu of county dairy breakfast By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Volunteers help direct vehicles in the right direcƟon at the start of the drivethru dairy experience June 19 at the Huneke family’s 240-cow dairy near Bellechester, Minnesota. The event took the place of the annual county breakfast on the farm.
BELLECHESTER, Minn. – The cows at the Huneke family’s dairy saw a parade of more than just the tractor and feed mixer drive through their barn the morning of June 19. A steady line of vehicles packed with kids and adults alike wound its way through the barns for a pandemic-safe version of a breakfast on the farm at the 240cow dairy near Bellechester. The dairy is owned and operated by Paul Huneke and his two sons, Marc and Micah. “It was a spur of the moment thing,” Micah Huneke said about deciding to host the event. The Goodhue County American Dairy Association board had canceled its
breakfast for this year amidst the threat of COVID-19. But at the end of May, the Hunekes received a call about hosting the event in a new way. “We thought if there was any year to do it, this would be the year,” Huneke said. In its normal fashion, the annual county breakfast on the farm has drawn upwards of 1,800 people in more recent years. “We can’t really host because we don’t have a good area to park a lot of the cars,” Huneke said. However, their barns have wide alley ways, which made it a perfect set up for people to take a tour from the comfort and safety of their vehicles. Cars entered the farm’s eld drive way near the end of the freestall barn, waiting in one of three lines to take their turn to join the tour. Volunteers from farm organizations and businesses greeted people in their cars with information pamTurn to HUNEKES | Page 7