a vented claw on the machine, implemented heat detection collars on heifers, sexed semen and so much more. The Holle family is quite receptive to trying new ideas, and they love to let others come to their farm and learn with them while implementing these ideas. Mary is a University of Wisconsin-River Falls alumni, and they have made a deliberate decision to give back to the university’s clubs. Mary serves as a judging coach, and they’ve employed a variety of college interns throughout the summer months. Not to mention the number of kids that have utilized animals for a managerial project at the St. Croix County Fair from their farm. But what about off the farm? Sure, the Holle family loves their cows and they truly enjoy working in agriculture but they have found pleasure in endeavors other than cows. Steve serves on the Country Side Cooperative board, and he proclaims that, “you meet the best people!” Steve’s wife works off the farm and they both enjoy spending time visiting their grandchildren all across the state. Joe and Mary also enjoy time off the farm, as Joe spends time bowling, Mary works with Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin (PDPW) as well as gardens and quilts in her leisure time. As a family, they take trips to county fairs to see the animals and music, drive to the Minnesota State Fair as well as District Shows. “Find new roads you’ve never driven on,” a phrase that lives true in the hearts of the Holle family. On top of the state, Black and whites call it their home, Excellence is fate, Holle Oaks Dairy is where they roam. The family farm, Is all they hoped and dream of, The road less traveled, At Holle Oaks cows are loved.
The Christophs: front - Trevor, Gloria, Treyton, Trace & Dale; back - Travis, Trisha, Trystan & Trent.
e are told at a young age that there is a higher being at work, watching over us on earth from in heaven. For the Christoph family, there could not be a better explanation for the unpredictable and incredible series of events that have shaped their family and their herd for the greatest blessing of all. From 1999 until 2007, Dale Christoph and his wife, Gloria, farmed in Luxemberg, not too far from Dale’s home farm and his brother who was also farming. Their herd was small, comprised of only a few dozen cows but they worked in partnership with others, boarding cattle for friends in the industry. All the while, Dale was working as a hoof trimmer, and did so for 16 years while farming with his wife on the eastern edge of the dairy state.
With intentions of finding their own farm with larger facilities, the couple searched classifieds, auctions and more to find the perfect farm. When they found a farm that could make their dreams come true, Dale would call after each holiday season every winter and ask the older gentleman if he was ready to retire. One holiday, the man finally told Dale, “Yes, I’m ready to sell.” Dale broke the news to his wife on Valentine’s Day, a gift that no amount of roses and chocolates will ever be able to match. In May of 2007, Dale, his wife and small children, packed up their lives in Luxemberg and hauled it three hours west to the 200 acre farm in Boyd. The barn, after some remodeling, has 63 tie-stalls with a number of box stalls to house youngstock. Additionally, the calf and heifer barns were remodeled upon the Christoph family arriving on the farm. Today, 140 head call Midnite-Blu Holsteins home; 55 cows for milking, bull calves are raised, heifers are bred and nostalgic breeding philosophies are kept. Of their herd, 21 are scored Excellent, 33 Very Good and 7 Good Plus cows for an overall BAA of 110.4. What is most astonishing, there are 11 cows standing in the barn that are multiple E cows, a handful of them scoring 2E or higher, and the highest scoring 5E. One might say that Dale has an old fashioned breeding philosophy, but he “has faith in his own breeding program.” The herd is 100% registered, going back as far as 16 generations, and Dale will not use any bull that is less than 100% registered. In his semen tank, Dale utilizes Canadian sires and cow families that have an extremely deep pedigree. Additionally, at least one clean-up bull is on the farm at all times to service those females who aren’t inseminated artificially. Dale says he stresses type, frame, and longevity and lifetime production in all of his matings in an attempt to bring width and large frames back into the Registered Holstein breed. continued on page 10
Ter-Lyn-Tam Blakjack Hawaii EX-93 5E DOM
Ms TT Shimmer-Red-TW EX-92 3E
Midnite-Blu Holsteins Dale & Gloria Christoph Family, Boyd And on the 8th day... God said, “I need somebody willing to get up before dawn, milk cows, work all day in the fields, milk cows again, eat supper and then go to town and stay past midnight at a meeting of the school board.” So God made a farmer.
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wisconsin HOLSTEIN news/April 2017-9