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Crawford County Dairy Breakfast at Achenbach farm June 4

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Owners of Achenbach Hy-View Farms in rural Eastman include Steve and Terri Achenbach and Matt and Keri Achenbach. Also pictured are Owen, Keaton, Emory and Briggs. Not pictured are Steve and Terri’s other children: Angie, Adam, Jenni and Megan. (Submitted photo)

June is Dairy month and that means the Crawford County Dairy Breakfast is upon us. This year’s breakfast will be Saturday, June 4, from 6 to 10 a.m. at the Achenbach Hy-View Farms,  29243 State Highway 27, between Prairie du Chien and Eastman. As always, for a couple dollars per plate, breakfast-goers will enjoy a fresh and filling meal as well as the unique farm experience. Children under 12 eat at a discounted price, and children under 5 eat free.

The farm is owned and operated by Steve and Terri Achenbach and son Matt and Keri Achenbach.

Matt is the go-to herdsman for the Achenbach’s very productive herd of 210 registered Holsteins, milked three times a day. Both Matt and Steve take an active role in selecting the Holstein genetics that have brought great changes to the herd on this three-generation farm, purchased in 1956. The current modern setup consists of a free stall barn and a double 10 parallel milking parlor that was constructed in the fall of 2012. Producing ultra-high quality forage and crops on the 470 acres (rented and owned) is a passion for this father-son team. Crawford County farmers know that when the Achenbachs start to make hay, the haying season has started.

The Achenbachs raise all of their own heifers and about half the bull calves as fat steers. “Employees are very important on our farm,” Matt said, “and we have some of the best there are in Israel, Ivan, Andy and Brooklyn.”

Given the long history of the farm, this is the fifth county dairy breakfast the family has hosted. Previous years were 1985, 1995, 2006 and 2011.

The Achenbachs are proud to be part of a dairy industry that is the biggest slice of Crawford County’s agriculture. Crawford County’s 91 cow milk producers (with two goat dairies) and the related dairy support industries contribute $45.3 million to the local economy. On-farm production and milk sales account for $27.1 million in economic activity for Crawford County. The processing of milk into dairy products accounts for another $8.8 million.

Parking is very limited at the farm, so those attending are encouraged to utilize the free bus service from the Blackhawk Junction parking lot in Prairie du Chien. Buses will run every 15 minutes starting at 5:45 a.m., with the last bus leaving Prairie du Chien at 9:30 a.m., and the last returning bus leaving the farm at 10:30 a.m.

Dairy is very important to Crawford County and deserves to be celebrated. Did you know:

•One dairy cow generates $4,675 in direct income to producers.

•Each dairy cow generates $34,000 of economic activity.

•Two plants process dairy products in Crawford County.

•Crawford County’s on-farm milk production and dairy processing account for 474 jobs.

Farm owners are:
•Individuals or families 88.3 percent

•Family partnerships 8.4 percent

•Family-owned corporations 2.1 percent

•Non-family corporations 1.2 percent

Crawford County farmers own and manage the resources on 216,584 acres of land, which is 60 percent of all the land in the county and accounts for $55 million—or 8 percent—of Crawford County’s total income.

Crawford County agriculture generates $149 million in economic activity, accounting for 19.6 percent of Crawford County’s total economic activity. So the next time you look at a cow, remember all the positive economic movement she brings as well as being a beautiful animal.

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