LOOK INSIDE FOR OUR CENTRAL PLAINS DAIRY EXPO PREVIEW EDITION!
March 9, 2024
“All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 26, No. 2
Spreading cheer, goodwill for nearly a decade Auburndale FFA Chapter continues farmer appreciation project By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
AUBURNDALE, Wis. — For nearly a decade, members of the Auburndale FFA Chapter have taken it upon themselves to conclude their celebration of National FFA Week by showing their appreciation for the farmers who reside within their school district. “It started with the idea of
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
Members of the Auburndale FFA Chapter — BreƩ Thiel (front, from leŌ), Coleman Becker, Ray Teska and Hunter Richardson; (back, from leŌ) Allis Teska, Kennedy Crane, Aydin Hintz, Brenna Thiel, Eden Aschenbrenner, Sonya MerriƩ, Savannah Grosskopf, Kendall Novotny and Ray Brummond — deliver farmer appreciaƟon giŌs to 70 dairy farmers Feb. 23 near Auburndale, Wisconsin. The chapter has been carrying out the project annually for NaƟonal FFA Week. goodwill and supporting our dairy farmers at the time,” said
Mark Cournoyer, Auburndale FFA adviser. “It eventually ex-
Progressing in technology
panded to include all our farmers: grain, beef, chickens. If
they are a producer in our district, we hit them up.” According to Cournoyer, the gift of appreciation has grown in both size and scope since its inception in 2015. Kaeden Hasenohrl, a 2017 graduate of Auburndale High School, was involved in the project for three years. “We would usually take a route that we were familiar with the farms or the area,” Hasenohrl said. “That meant most of the farmers knew us or knew our families, and we were able to have a conversation with them. That was my favorite part — being able to connect with them, even for ve minutes. Everyone was always grateful, and it seemed like it was a highlight for them in the long winter.” Turn to AUBURNDALE FFA | Page 2
Building a sustainable future
Cooks secure farm’s future through robotic milking
Stapels receive National Outstanding Young Farmer award
By Stacey Smart
stacey.s@dairystar.com
By Stacey Smart
stacey.s@dairystar.com
MORRISON, Ill. — Milking technology has shifted dramatically at the Cook family’s farm since 1985. Starting in a stanchion barn, Turn to COOKS | Page 6
PHOTO SUBMITTED
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Adam Cook stands next to a roboƟc milking system Feb. 6 on his family’s farm near Morrison, Illinois. Cook and his dad, John, milk 120 cows with two Lely A4 robots and farm 400 acres.
Brody and Carolyn Stapel receive the NaƟonal Outstanding Young Farmer award Feb. 17 in Ferndale, Washington. The Stapels farm with Brody’s brother and sister-in-law and his dad near Cedar Grove, Wisconsin.
CEDAR GROVE, Wis. — A willingness to try something different denes the owners of Double Dutch Dairy. Never content with the status quo, the Stapels prefer to think beyond traditional ways of doing Turn to STAPELS | Page 8