But they’ll do it with some extra surprises thrown in.
«People will be able to go through the parlor, but I’m not going to say what we’re going to do there,» Charlie said. «They’ll have to walk through the parlor to see that surprise.»
The Sachses own Towerview Dairy, a 2016 University of Minnesota selection for Farm Family of the Year for Olmsted County. They are also going to be second-time hosts of the Country Breakfast on June 17, an honor only a few others in the county have received.
Three generations currently work on the farm. Charlie’s father, Chuck, is a third-generation dairy farmer. Charlie and Carrie’s children — Jay, C.J. and Anna Marie — also help out. It’s a bona fide family effort to take care of their 60 dairy cows, plus their calves and heifers.
«We’ve scaled back our operation a bit, and I’ve found out that lots of cows and lots of employees makes me unhappy,» Charlie said. «I want to work with the cows.»
The Sachses plan to open up their barn and milking parlor to all who attend the breakfast and have no qualms with letting people pet the cows and calves, most of which were born and raised right there, and who produce milk that goes to the Plainview Milk Products Co-op.
«It’s going to show all around, from birth to older cows, that are being milked,» Carrie said. «We’re not going to limit anyone from touching cows. They’re born here; Anna plays with them from day one.»
The Sachs family has been at its current location near Eyota since 2002, moving from Farmington. The whole family contributes to the farm — Charlie is in charge of the management of the farm, feeding and mixing of all the cow and heifer feed. He’s in charge of the herd’s breeding program and handles most of the field work.
Carrie milks the cows, oversees herd health and the bookwork. She also works full-time off the farm as a nurse at Mayo Clinic Methodist Hospital in Rochester.
Their oldest son, Jay, currently attends South Dakota State University and majors in dairy production. He helps with milking and field work and herd care when he’s home. Middle child C.J. is a senior in high school and plans to attend Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar to study dairy. He helps with milking, takes care of manure management, bedding needs of the cows, field work and mechanics.
Anna, the youngest, is a junior in high school and hopes to study ag education in post-secondary. She feeds calves and helps with milking as well, and she shows cows. Each of the children owns a couple head.
«You can take all our cows in the house for Christmas dinner,» Charlie said. «They might as well be members of the family.»
Charlie and Carrie feel that letting breakfast attendees interact with cows is part of the educational process that many miss out on being several generations removed from the ag industry. In addition to exploring the farm, groups like the Minnesota Corn Growers Association, Plainview Milk Products Co-op and local dairy princesses will be on hand. They also plan to have a veterinarian and nutritionist around.
As has become tradition, Chris Cakes will serve breakfast. FFA students will run a petting zoo with smaller animals, always a favorite with the youngest folk. Plus, one of Charlie’s anticipated surprises will get their attention in a big way, if it works out as he hopes.
Being the second time around, the Sachses are grateful they have a plan from before that they can follow.
«I didn’t think I could get that many people on the farm and give them breakfast,» Charlie said of their first time hosting in 2008. «There were close to 3,000 people, about 2,800. It was just kind of amazing to see the people come through, walk through the barn, the parlor.»
Most of all, the family hopes to give people a glimpse of how cows are treated.
«Everybody is three, four, five generations removed from agriculture now, and they don’t have a clue how technology has changed how we do things,» Charlie said. «It doesn’t change how we care for the animals. There are a lot of things that make that easier nowadays.»
One unique aspect of their operation is their milk pasteurizer. Baby calves and sick cows drink pasteurized milk, which saves them money on milk replacer. Charlie said the machine paid for itself within a year and helps keep somatic cell count low. It’s humming in the background when you walk into the building.
The Country Breakfast on the Farm will be at the start of Rochesterfest this year. Good news for attendees is that the bus ride will be free — no need to purchase a button. There will also be a free parking lot down the road, with shuttles on tractor wagons to the property.
It’s sure to be a packed day of dairy education on June 17.
«If all the people we ask to come help teach one person something that day, we’ve done our job,» Charlie said.
Source: AgriNews
Link: http://www.agrinews.com/news/minnesota_news/surprises-await-at-the-sachs-dairy-farm/article_595d0590-ba7c-5d92-ad5c-4e3081e051b8.html
