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This holiday season, my family is sending the warmest of wishes to all those who contribute to the agricultural community. As you’re enjoying your holiday meal, I encourage you to remember that the wholesome foods we eat come from America’s hardworking farmers and ranchers, along with their valued employees. 

Holidays bring many families together, and having delicious and nutritious foods are a must! Whether you’re enjoying a farm-raised turkey, mashed potatoes with a half stick of butter, or grass-based prime rib, there are many hands involved in getting these foods from the farm to your table. A simple holiday treat plate accompanied by a glass of fresh milk can be a great way to share the importance of agriculture.

One of my family’s favorite Christmas traditions is decorating sour cream cookies for our holiday treat plate. We use a cherished family recipe handed down from my maternal great-grandmother, Sylvia. As you can see in the photo of her recipe, some of the best ingredients for cookies come straight from the farm. In fact, the eggs we used in our most recent batch were still warm, having been laid that very day! 

Operating a farm entails much more commitment than some may think. A farmer’s herd needs to be tended to 365 days a year, and cows don’t take the holidays off! Growing up, our Christmas morning excitement had to wait until my father was home from tending to our cows. Furthermore, cows that are ready to calve don’t wait, regardless of the elements. That includes calves that are born in the middle of a record-breaking cold snap, a torrential rainstorm, or a stifling heatwave. 

On our farm, our number-one priority is to ensure that our cows are comfortable, content, and healthy. These three variables significantly impact their milk production. On every farm or ranch, animals must produce in order to cover the cost of their feed. Dairy farmers closely monitor each individual cow’s production to ensure they’re producing milk to their fullest potential. Often times farmers work with nutritionists to create a custom diet for their herd.

We partner with Nutrition Service Co. Inc., out of Pulaski, WI, to craft a unique mix for our cows, which includes carefully selected ingredients from their company, brewer’s grain from MillerCoors in Milwaukee, and corn silage produced on our farm. We use this Total Mixed Ration (TMR) year-round, and during the grazing months, our herd has access to all the fresh forage they need on our pastures. A rotational grazing operation adds an additional layer of commitment, as we need to maintain our pastures through thoughtful planning and land management. For example, our dairy cows need to be rotated to a new paddock every 12 hours to make sure the pasture is not overgrazed.

From everyone at Saxon Homestead Farm, we wish you the happiest of holidays and hope that the next time you pass by a farm, you take a moment to reflect on this blog post and acknowledge all those who are involved in some way, shape, or form in the agricultural community.

Warmly,

Emma Klessig, 6th generation on Saxon Homestead Farm

As Thanksgiving approaches, I have a lot to be grateful for. However, I am especially thankful that I was born and raised on a beautiful, fifth-generation, grass-based dairy farm that, along with other farms, produces the wholesome food everyone across the country will be consuming on Thanksgiving Day. Working in the rain, snow, heat, and cold, farmers do hundreds of “thankless” jobs which include milking, scraping, maintaining a healthy herd, repairs, loads of paperwork and much more. Working one of the most dangerous occupations every single day does not lessen one’s compassion, in fact, it strengthens it. It takes a special, yet talented person to be able to work past the obstacles of farming. A farmer’s shirt may be covered in dirt and their hands may be wrinkled and rough, but trust me, they have the biggest hearts. For their herd, for their employees, and for their families. My uncle, Karl Klessig, and my father, Robert Klessig, are the owners and operators of Saxon Homestead Farm. I would just like to give thanks to both of them for simply being the best teachers with a hands-on approach. Learning about our cows and their genetics, the diseases that can affect our herd, the safe treatment of each animal, and most importantly, the circle of life.

Growing up, I’ve learned that the best television channel is the Weather Channel. After a long day’s work, I can always find my dad sitting in his recliner with his best bud, Hank, our Labrador Retriever, watching the weather, hoping that the next day’s weather will be in his favor. After a prolonged 2019 harvest because of relentless rain events, I’ve learned that nothing in life will be handed to you, including a good crop yield and a fast harvest. This year, we found ourselves in one of the wettest falls in history. Fortunately, here at Saxon Homestead, we were able to harvest a tremendous crop of corn silage between heavy rains. Not only has this been a challenging year on our pastures, but also for our hay and corn harvest. Many farmers across the state continue to struggle. We feel very fortunate to have successfully completed our corn harvest, and we would like to acknowledge the work of our employees and Eisentraut Ag. Service for a timely and efficient harvest. In addition to the harvest, we also feel grateful that our farm and herd are prepared for winter, as our pasture water systems have been drained and all of our barns are secure and winterized. Additionally, the majority of Saxon cows are confirmed pregnant, so we are eagerly awaiting the arrival of our first calves in early March.

My uncle and father have faced many challenges and setbacks throughout the years, yet, those are the things that have motivated them to try harder and create new opportunities for our business. Through it all, they have remained grateful and optimistic. Like my Grandpa Eddie Klessig always said, “When one door closes, 10 more open up.” From everyone at Saxon Homestead Farm, we wish you a happy Thanksgiving. As you’re preparing your Thanksgiving meal, remember to thank a farmer.

This blog post was written by Emma Klessig, 17-year-old sixth-generation Klessig dairy farmer

The 10th annual Barn Dance Fundraiser was a hit! With 175 people in attendance, the event raised about $13,000 for the non-profit organization, Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership.

Watch the video below to see how barn dance attendees kicked up their heels and rocked the dance floor while our very own Justin Palm (Valerie Klessig’s husband) played with the band, Reckless Remedy! Wow, can you feel the energy in that barn!

We hope you can join us for future barn dances. We can assure you, it will be a night to remember!