Wisconsin Holstein Association State Picnic
A large, sociable crowd made their way to Indianhead Holsteins in Barron, WI on Saturday, September 22nd for the Wisconsin Holstein Association State Picnic. Whoever ordered the weather must be living right as it was a glorious, sunny autumn day in northern Wisconsin - perfect for the numerous activities available from hayrides to the batting cage to eyeballing the impressive 112.7% BAA Indianhead herd. Hosts Bob & Karyn Schauf, along with their sons Christian, Gabriel, Jacob and Zachary, thanked everyone for coming and then introduced their trainees and employees, many of whom have been with the farm for over ten years.
The Schauf Family (missing Gabe).
The Indianhead herd consists of 100 milking cows with an additional 125-150 head of youngstock and bulls. There are currently 45 Excellent cows in the herd that maintains a RHA of 26,514M 3.9% 1036F 3.0p 803P.
The farm is always immaculate and the tidy office highlights many of the herd”’’s accomplishments in the show ring and Holstein industry.
September 22 was a special day for host Karyn Schauf - not only because of the State Picnic, but because it was also her birthday! Karyn was Alice in Dairyland (a year-long job that entails promoting all Wisconsin agriculture products throughout the state, nation and abroad) in 1977 and has been a strong supporter of the program ever since. She is pictured here with Jill Makovec, the 2007 Alice who also has strong industry roots having grown up on a Registered Holstein and Brown Swiss farm in southwestern Wisconsin.
Richard & Gladys Rueth enjoyed the refreshments and entertainment after making the trip from southern Wisconsin. A cow that they followed with great interest, Stookey Elm Park Blackrose-ET, resided for many years at Indianhead.
WI Holstein Board of Directors Bob Gates, Mark Gilbertson, Brian Herr and Bob Traynor present Bob & Karyn with an antique butter churn as a thank you gift.
Another Indianhead enterprise provides kiln dried shavings and sawdust to over 70 dairies and much of the extensive turkey industry in Barron County. The trucking business sees about 1200 semi loads leave the yard every year.
A new sideline is the bio-fuel plant that started production last winter. The farm uses 80,000 gallons of diesel every year and now has the capacity to produce 35,000 gallons of bio-fuel from crushed canola seed. The by-product canola meal has proven to be a very palatable replacement for the soybean meal in the dairy ration testing out at 40% protein and 15% fat. Pictured above is the canola seed press. The Schaufs hope to expand this business to produce a food grade canola oil to market and exchange for cooking oil that can then be cleaned and used for fuel.