The Great Christmas “GRAND” PRIZE
GIVEAWAY
See pages 24 and 25 of this section for details!
DAIRY ST R
November 26, 2022
“All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 24, No. 19
A new voice in ND
Holle elected as state representative
Kenton and Bobby Jo, and his parents, Andrew and Jennifer, own the farm. Holle and his three younger siblings are the fth generation on the farm. The Holle family milks 800 Holsteins three times a day in a 36-stall rotary parlor. They also raise their calves on-site. Earlier this year, after the then-senior’s hockey season, Holle decided to run for a seat on the Legislature. “I didn’t want to do anything in politics growing up,” Holle said. “I wanted to go to college, get a degree, nd a job and maybe come back to the farm; I was undecided about life.” However, Holle saw what was happening to dairy farms in the state. “We lose on average one to two dairy farms in North Dakota per year,” Holle said. “I realized we need to change something or there won’t be dairy farms here for the generations to come. I want other families to experience the same things that I grew up with – North Dakota tradi-
By Jan Lefebvre jan.l@star-pub.com
MANDAN, N.D. – Eighteen-year-old Dawson Holle may soon be swapping his chore boots for a suit and tie. Holle will be sworn in Dec. 2 as a state representative for North Dakota’s District 31, making him the youngest representative in the state’s history. The teen grew up on a dairy farm and is a freshman at the University of Mary in Bismarck. “I haven’t told too many people at college,” Holle said. “Those I have told don’t really believe me. They have to Google me.” Holle’s family manages Northern Lights Dairy near Mandan. His grandparents,
tional farm values and knowing the importance of dairy and how dairy farmers contribute to the health of people in North Dakota with their milk and other dairy products.” The idea of running for ofce began to form. “There was a two-week period where I was bouncing back and forth with the idea of running,” Holle said. “I had a lot of supporters with my family and friends saying things like, ‘You should do it,’ or, ‘I could really see you making an impact.’” Holle has always been active on the family farm by milking cows, feeding calves, and helping with eldwork and harvest. Holle balanced farm work while also being a three-sport athlete. In addition, Holle began what he calls a hobby business in 2020. About once a month, he made and sold gelato made with milk from the dairy. “I haven’t really done it
Turn to HOLLE | Page 7
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Dawson Holle will be sworn in Dec. 2 to the North Dakota Legislature for House District 31. The 18-year-old grew up on Northern Lights Dairy near Mandan, North Dakota.
FireghƟng farmer Niehaus serves 21 years on department By Jan Lefebvre jan.l@star-pub.com
OSAKIS, Minn. – When Dale Niehaus is milking his herd of 100 Holsteins, his attention is split. His focus is on the task at hand but also on the pager on his hip. Niehaus not only manages his herd in a tiestall barn near Osakis but has also been a volunteer reghter with the Osakis Fire Department for more than two decades. Niehaus also farms 800 acres. Sometimes, his pager goes off in the middle of eldwork. “I’ve had to shut off the tractor and go up to the re hall,” Niehaus said. “I have a truck or a four-wheeler nearby so that I can jump in it and get up there.” Niehaus usually begins morning chores between 4:30 and 5. There are times he is on
MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR
Dale Niehaus holds his helmet Nov. 11 at the re staƟon in Osakis, Minnesota. Niehaus milks 100 cows and is a member of the city’s re department. a re call all night then comes home and walks directly to the barn. “When we have structure res, we leave at maybe 10:30 at night and don’t get done until
4 or 5 in the morning,” Niehaus said. “We get back to the station, and the guys say to me, ‘Well, I guess it’s time to milk cows.’” However, Niehaus is quick to give credit to his fellow re-
Demand for dairy
ghters and said they have busy schedules too. “There are guys who have other jobs that begin at 5 or 6,” he said. “They don’t get any sleep then either. You have to juggle your family, work and the calls. Your sleep has to come last to make it all work.” A shortage of recruits 21 years ago led Niehaus to volunteer. “The small towns were getting smaller, so they didn’t have as many business people right in town to be on the department,” he said. Niehaus was farming with his dad, Joe, and stepmother, Beth. He has since taken over the farm. In the past, the farm had been considered too far from the station for Niehaus to be a candidate for the department. The lack of recruits changed that. “They expanded the response time (to get to the station) to six minutes,” Niehaus
Dairy is in 96% of U.S. households using up 80% of what the United States produces. The rest is exported. That is where the United States Dairy Export Council comes in. Krysta Harden is the U.S. Dairy Exports Council president and CEO. “If you look at exports, there is no way that you can’t be excited about what’s coming,” Harden said. “Somebody is going to meet the demand. I think it should be the U.S.”
Turn to NIEHAUS | Page 8
Turn to EXPORTS | Page 6
USDEC sees increased exports By Tiffany Klaphake tiffany.k@dairystar.com