Wolfe Family Farm ready to host 30th annual Buffalo County Dairy Breakfast this Saturday

by Beth Kraft

The 2015 Buffalo County Dairy Breakfast will take place this Saturday, June 27, at the Justin and Jennifer Wolfe Family Farm, a certified organic operation located just north of Waumandee in south-central Buffalo County.

This year marks the first time the annual event, held in celebration of Wisconsin’s dairy farmers, will be held at a certified organic farm. Yet it’s not the first time the property has hosted the hundreds of people who turn out for the breakfast each year.

The farm hosted the second-ever dairy breakfast in Buffalo County 28 years ago when the property was owned by Robert and Lorraine Schmidtknecht.

The Wolfes bought the 200-acre farm in 2003 and began making a variety of changes, but moving to organic farming wasn’t one of them—the Schmidtknechts had already done that.

Justin, too, had some experience with organic farming from working on the farm owned by his parents, Allan and Carol Wolfe, who have operated as a certified organic farm near Arcadia for 14 years.

While the Wolfes are still learning the ins and outs of organic farming, they haven’t shied away from tackling numerous building projects that have greatly changed the look of the farm.

Some of the building additions and renovations have included the creation of a 60-stall freestall milking barn in 2005, a calf barn addition onto the dairy barn in 2007 and adding on to the free-stall barn in 2012. Additionally, a new house was built on the farm for the Wolfe family in 2008.

As part of certified organic operations, the Wolfes utilize rotational grazing for their 60 Holstein milking herd. They move the cows to one of 28 one-acre paddocks each day. Organic corn and alfalfa is also grown on the farm to supplement the cows’ diet.

The Wolfe Family Farm produces milk for Westby Cooperative Creamery in Westby, which is then turned into Westby yogurt—a featured menu item at this year’s breakfast.

Celebrating its 30th annual event this year, the Buffalo County Dairy Breakfast will be served from 7 - 11:30 a.m. consisting of pancakes, sausage, cheese, butter, milk, coffee and orange juice. The ever-popular Ellsworth cheese curds will also be served up piping hot in addition to ice cream for dessert.

The cost of the breakfast is $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 6-12, and no charge for children ages 5 and under.

Attractions will include kids’ activities, music by Ron Pronschinske and horse-drawn wagon rides.

Patrons will have the opportunity to view the Wolfes’ 60-stall milking barn and tour the farm’s organic rotational grazing operation that morning.

Door prizes will also be available for attendees to win by registering at the Moo Booth.

Water testing and blood pressure checks will also be offered at the breakfast, complements of the Buffalo County Health Department.

Handicapped parking and a shuttle service will be available.

To reach the Wolfe Family Farm from Mondovi via State Highway 37, travel about 4 miles south and turn left on State Hwy. 88. Continue on Hwy. 88 through Gilmanton to County Highway U, about 9 miles. Turn left on Hwy. U and continue to follow it about 7.5 miles to the farm, which is located about 1.5 miles north of Waumandee.

The farm’s mailing address is S1862 County Road U, Cochrane.

From the south, take Hwy. 88 or County Hwy. O north from the Cochrane area about five miles. Continue on Hwy. 88 for 2.4 miles, then turn right on County Road E. Follow E for 3.2 miles until it turns into County Road U. Continue to follow U for about 2 miles to the farm.

Signs will be posted to help guide traffic to the farm.