3 26 16 zone2

Page 36 Dairy Star Saturday, March 26, 2016

Women In Jeans

Badgerland Financial is proud to sponsor

Holly GetschelOsceola, Wis.; Polk County

62 cows Tell us about your family. My husband, Doug, and I have four children. Brett, 23, graduated from UW-River Falls last spring with a degree in agricul-tural studies, Cody, 22, will graduate from UW-Madison in May with a degree in dairy science, Mykayla, 20, is in her second year at Iowa State University studying agricultural business, and Kristi, 15, is a freshman in high school. Tell us about your farm. Our farm, Hilltop Holsteins, has been in my husbands family since 1889. It has seen many changes over the years with each new generation. As the fth generation is about to embark on their years of managing the farm, we look back and are very thankful for what the previ-ous generations have done to keep it in the family. Currently, three generations are working the 475 acres of tillable land, growing corn, soybeans and alfalfa. Most of these crops are used to feed our cows and youngstock but we also cash crop some of it. In addition, we milk 62 cows twice a day in a 52-stall barn. Whats the busiest time of day for you? Mornings are de nitely the busiest time for me. Just as we are nishing up milking, I run up to the house to make sure the youngest is out the door in time for school. Then its back down to the barn to nish morning chores and feed horses. There is also the pressure of getting chores done in a timely manner to allow for the various other tasks that need to be accomplished that day.

How much time do you spend doing farm work compared to house-work? My time spent on farm work versus other work is about 50/50. Since our oldest son has graduated and returned to the farm, my duties have changed a bit. Instead of being relied upon to milk morning and night, I have become more of a ll-in-as-needed milker and tractor driver. This has given me the exibility to focus on other aspects. I do the bookwork for the farm and run many errands for farm items. However, off-farm activities also take up time. I am heavily involved in our local 4-H club and oversee/manage a senior hous-ing facility. As always, there is the never-ending cycle of cooking, laundry and taxi-servicing for the youngest to do as well. What do you do in your free time and why? When I get free time, I enjoy baking, riding horse, reading a good book, and spending time with my husband and children. Sometimes it is nice just to slow down and take time for the simpler things in life. Whats the best thing about farming? The best thing about farming is that it provides the ideal place to raise a family. Over the years we have had so much fun in the barn doing chores with the kids. Its a place where you can be as weird or as serious as you want and no one judges you. Some of the best air guitar solos happen in the alleyway with a pitchfork and some of the best talks about life happen on a straw bale. When you look back on your life, what do you want to be remembered for? I hope people remember me as a hardworking woman who always tried her best and strove to do things the right way. I want to be known as someone who raised four down-to-earth, respectful children who arent afraid to work to achieve their goals, yet be ready to help others if the need arises. Do you have any ideas that could make farming easier for you and all farming women? My idea comes in the form of advice: be open to new ideas. When the next generation is ready to come on board, give them the opportunity to succeed and to fail with some guidance. They really have some great ideas, even if sometimes we think those ideas are a little crazy. Working with family can be dif cult sometimes step back, take a breath or two, then carry on. Tell us your most memorable experience while dairy farming. The most memorable experience for me was when my husband took our oldest son out to disc with him in the eld and then returned later without him. He had left our then 8-year-old son out in the eld to run the tractor and disc by himself! As a mother, I was slightly worried, I closed my eyes, said a prayer, and trusted that my husband knew what he was doing. He did. We have a saying on our farm that goes, If you think youve seen it all, just wait a day. Every day is a new adventure.

Custom Fit. Every Cow. Every Time. LABOR

Let DCC Waterbeds do the work. Surface moves with the cow, excellent hock protection Minimizes amount of bedding and labor Repels liquids, helps keep cows dry The bed resets to form for the next cow No leveling required

SINCE 2003Ask us about

Dual Chamber Cow Waterbeds

ISO

Isolated chambers. Ultimate comfort.

Dairyland Equipment Services - Plainview, MNEastern Iowa Dairy Systems - Epworth, IAField Silo & Equipment - Mount Horeb, WIFullers Milker Center, Inc - Lancaster, WIGorters Clay & Dairy Equipment Inc. - Pipestone, MN

K&R Equipment - Fountain, MNKomro Sales & Service - Durand, WILeedstone - St Cloud, MN & Glencoe, MNLivestock Systems - Charles City, IAMidwest Livestock Systems Pine Island, MN Sioux Falls, SD

Northland Farm Systems - Owatonna, MNPreston Dairy Equipment - Sparta, WIRoss Equipment Company - Lonsdale, MNThe Scharine Group - Whitewater, WIUnited Development LLC- Brookings, SD

Contact one of these dealers to learn more!

(608) 709-2693 | www.DCCWaterbeds.com

2016 Badgerland Financial, ACA. NMLS ID 458065.

If you havent already, get to know Badgerland Financial. Let us prove why were the better option.

(877) 789-9058 badgerlandnancial.com