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May 25, 2024 M
“All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 26, No. 7
Bridging Celebrating 50 years the gap of dairy farming between Brokers prepare host Barron city, country toCounty Dairy Heinzel selected as 77th Alice in Dairyland By Stacey Smart
stacey.s@dairystar.com
OCONOMOWOC, Wis. — The newest Alice in Dairyland started college with the ambition of becoming a veterinarian, but an encounter with the reigning Alice at the Wisconsin State Fair a couple of years ago sent her on a different career path. “I loved the way Alice could connect with consumers of all ages,” Halei Heinzel Halei Heinzel 77th Alice said. in Dairyland On May 4, Heinzel was selected as Wisconsin’s 77th Alice in Dairyland at Stone Harbor Resort and Conference Center in Sturgeon Bay. She was one of six top candidates that also included Cierra Essock, Katrina Hoesly, Michaela King, Kiley Pagel and Lauren Siemers. Alice in Dairyland is a one-year, full-time communications professional with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Heinzel will begin her term as Alice in Dairyland July 8. “I am excited and honored to represent our state’s agriculture industry as Alice in Dairyland, and I’m looking forward to serving our state’s dairy farmers,” Heinzel said. “Sharing the message of the dairy industry is so important.” Heinzel is the daughter of Sean and Kiersten Heinzel of Oconomowoc. Heinzel did not grow up on a farm, but she developed an unquenchable love for dairy while working her way into the industry. Turn to ALICE IN DAIRYLAND | Page 6
Breakfast
By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
RICE LAKE, Wis. — For the second time in their farm’s history, the Broker family will be welcoming their friends and neighbors for the Barron County Dairy Breakfast June 1. The Broker family — Fred and Kathy, their son, Mike, and his wife, Cindy, and their children, Daniel and Garrett — milks 180 cows on their farm near Rice Lake. Turn to BROKERS | Page 8
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
The Broker family — Cindy (from leŌ), Mike, Kathy and Fred — stands May 10 in front of their freestall barn near Rice Lake, Wisconsin. The Brokers are looking forward to hosƟng the Barron County Dairy Breakfast June 1.
Special delivery Strnad assists laboring heifer on Gagnows’ farm By Stacey Smart
stacey.s@dairystar.com
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
Tracy (from leŌ), Kurt and Jacob Gagnow and UPS delivery driver Jon Strnad gather May 14 around Joni, the calf Strnad delivered on the Gagnows’ farm in between delivering packages April 15, near Seymour, Wisconsin. The Gagnows milk 50 cows and farm 350 acres.
SEYMOUR, Wis. — Jon Strnad went above and beyond his duties as a driver for the United Parcel Service when he delivered a calf in between delivering packages April 15. When driving past KJ Farms near Seymour around 2 p.m., Strnad noticed a heifer on pasture giving birth that seemed to be struggling. The calf was halfway out with the sack over its head, and neither the calf nor the heifer were moving much. Turn to STRNAD | Page 2