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DAIRY ST R “All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 21, No. 15
Waconia schools make milk more accessible Dairy farmer, lunch manager install machines across district By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
WACONIA, Minn. – Students in Waconia Public Schools have more accessibility to fresh milk in their lunchrooms, and they are taking full advantage of it. During the summer, the district installed seven bulk milk machines in their schools – one in each of the three elementary buildings and two machines in both the middle and high schools. “The feedback has been fantastic,” Barb Schank said. “Kids love the avor. They love the independence of being able to take as much as they want, and we’re giving them a dining experience just like they get at home.” Schank is the nutritional service director at Café #110, the food service program within the Waconia School District in Waconia, Minn. She and her assistant, Tracy Braun, pursued the lunchroom investment after they received funding from the state, and Braun received funding from Midwest Dairy as a dairy farmer. Braun and her family milk 40 cows near Cologne, Minn. “Loan Oak Farms is very excited to support the milk project at Café #110 in providing fresh milk to students,” Braun said. Midwest Dairy awarded Braun $3,000 towards the purchase of bulk milk dispensers. Additionally, the district applied for another grant through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. They were awarded $4,500. Turn to SCHOOL | Page 5
September 28, 2019
A future on the farm
Keranen builds freestall barn, parlor t for dairy goals By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
OSAGE, Minn. – When Darren Keranen red back up his family’s farm site six years ago, he set goals that would push the dairy in a direction of longevity. To reach that status in the industry, Keranen made several improvements to the farm site, including a 120-stall freestall barn and swing-15 parlor. “This project fell into place with my goals; maybe even helping me reach them a year early,” Keranen said. “To me, dairy farming is something I take pride in, and even with the milk prices, I feel my future is here.” Keranen began using the new facilities last winter on his 120-cow dairy farm in Becker Turn to KERANENS | Page 6
JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR
The Keranen family – (from leŌ) Arnold, Darren, holding Charity, 3, and Sonya, holding Arber, 1 – stand in front of their newly built freestall barn and parlor at their dairy farm near Osage, Minn. Not pictured is MaƟx, 5.
MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR
Fritz Didier chops corn silage while Al Kral drives alongside with a box for Darla and Levi Dunn Sept. 23 near Osakis, MInn. The Dunns lled two silos, a 20- by 60-foot and 20- by 80-foot, that day. They milk 70 cows.