Wisconsin's Small Dairy Farms – A Work In Progress

Dairy farming is Wisconsin’s largest industry. By 1899 more than 90 percent of all farms in Wisconsin were dairy farms. Now 20 percent of the Wisconsin farms are dairy. The number of dairy farms in Wisconsin has diminished 30 percent in the last thirty years, and fewer than 17,000 remain. Most of the small farms owned and run by families are slowly disappearing as large factory farms become more profitable. The larger farms confine the animals and often hire outside help to milk the cows.

Many of the farmers from small farms have tended livestock for several generations. In addition to raising and milking cows they must grow feed crops, fix machinery and tend to barns. Some farms not only raise cows but chickens, turkeys and pigs to feed the family or to sell. Often a wife needs to work outside the home to provide additional income. Milk prices fluctuate and farmers have to compete with imported milk. Urban sprawl has led to discord between newcomers and long time farmers.

Back to the Best Farm

Dan Seigmann is an exception among dairy farmers. He, his wife Paula and their eight children all take a part in running this organic farm. Dan, who was raised on a conventional farm, oversees the 120 cows while the oldest son runs an egg business. Paula runs an on site natural foods store and weekly organic produce market. The children help with the milking and other chores. The family also raises pigs and goats. The Seigmanns are religious Christians and the children are home schooled. They regularly engage in many old fashioned pastimes such as canning and square dancing. When the Siegmanns are not working on their farm they perform bluegrass gospel music at local churches, festivals and fairs.

Alfalfa Knoll Farm

On the corner of two country roads in Slinger sits a farm founded in 1848 by German immigrants. In summer hollyhocks grow tall, next to original stone buildings. An old, tall corn crib borders the property. Randy Wenzel, his father Carl, descendents of the founders of the farm, and Randy's wife Brenda still work this land. They all live in the duplex, built in 1903. Even Carl, 76, works daily, helping with chores.

At one time, Randy, Brenda and their young daughter Nicole raised 50 registered Jersey cows, grew feed crops and tended their horses. In the spring of 2005 Brenda and Randy decided to sell their dairy cattle to a young couple. After Randy’s knee surgery and problems associated with urban sprawl they took on jobs not related to farming. They are now raising a small herd of sheep in addition to several goats. They continue to raise crops.

Gary Sielaff Farms, Inc.

Each August, Becky and Abby Sielaff spend hours grooming, washing and blow drying their heifers. Along with their mother, Mary, they prepare them for judging at the Dodge Co. fair. They work late until the night, sleep in a trailer and wake up at 4:00 AM in order to wash their animals one last time before judging. Father, Gary stays home to milk the cows. Older sisters, Rachel and Elizabeth stop by the fairgrounds to help and watch the judging. The family also shows their chickens. Older brother, Bill stays on the farm to do chores.

The family lives in Oconomowoc on the same farm where Gary has lived his whole life. They raise 118 Holsteins including calves and heifers. They also raise pigs, turkeys and exotic chickens for their family. In the fall they enjoy hunting turkeys and deer.

Bedouin Women of the Negev Desert

During the past 30 years the Israeli Bedouin of the Negev desert have seen radical changes in their way of life. Once a largely nomadic people, the government has encouraged them to settle in permanent villages and towns in the arid Negev. Many lack such basic services as banking, mail and public transportation. Two of the largest towns, Rahat and Tel Sheva, are the poorest population centers in the country.

Moving from a rural nomadic way of life to a more settled one has had a profound effect on Bedouin women. Once women worked the fields, milked the goats, wove rugs, and sewed clothes. It was the women who decided when to break camp. Today, while the men go out to work in the Negev towns and the city of Beersheva, the women stay at home, largely deprived of their traditional roles. In most cases there are no fields or animals to tend and clothes are store bought. However like their sisters in the tents, they continue to bear large numbers of children, and spend most of their time rearing them.

Even with the trappings of modernization in some segments of Bedouin society only 20 percent of the girls complete high school. Ninety-nine percent of the women over the age of 40 are illiterate. Women of all ages must contend with polygamy even though it is illegal under Israeli law.

Jewish Residents of the Muslim Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem

Prior to the 1948 War of Independence, the Old City of Jerusalem was divided into four parts: the Muslim, Christian, Armenian and Jewish Quarters. But these divisions were not strict. Jews had long been living in the Muslim quarter and had maintained several yeshivas (places of learning) and shops. Anti-Jewish riots forced some of them to flee in the 1930's, while the Jordanians evicted the rest in 1948 when all of the Old City fell into their hands. After the Six-Day War many Jews began to return to the Old City. Most settled in the Jewish Quarter but some reestablished a presence in the Moslem Quarter, where about 500 Jews currently have homes or study. These Jews wish to reclaim Jewish property and to be near their holy sites.

Israel & Jordan

USA

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