KEARNEY — Since moving their family dairy business from Virginia to Kearney 8½ years ago, brothers Dan and Steve Wolfe have been ambassadors for their industry.
“They operate a dairy system that is and could be the pride of any community,” John Martin of Riverdale said. “They now milk over 600 cows.”
Those cows produce about 39,000 pounds — more than 4,500 gallons — of milk per day that’s sold to Dairy Farmers of America. Steve said about 75 percent goes to the Leprino plant in Ravenna.
For their contributions to their industry and youth ag activities, the Wolfes are recipients of the 2006 Hub Freedom Award for agriculture.
Martin’s nomination listed Steve’s service as president of the Nebraska State Dairymen’s Association and Heart of America, a record system for dairy producers in states from the Dakotas to Oklahoma and Arkansas. He also is on the state Holstein Association Board and is a member of Nebraska Farm Bureau.
Martin commended the Wolfes for their willingness to open their dairy southwest of Kearney to tours by school, civic and commodity groups and their involvement in youth activities.
This will be the third year that Buffalo County 4-H’ers can lease a dairy calf from the Wolfes. The youths take possession of their 200-pound, six- to 10-week-old calves in the spring, usually in May.
Steve said the youths are given instructions about calf nutrition and a daily allowance to cover care expenses. “I usually end up visiting them (at the 4-H’ers’ homes) at some time or other,” he said.
The calves must be used as 4-H projects and shown at the Buffalo County Fair. The 4-H’ers have the option of keeping or leasing the same calf a second spring as the heifer becomes a cow.
In the third year, the cows are added to the dairy as milk cows.
Steve said former Buffalo County Extension Educator Ralph Anderson helped him develop the idea.
“There was one year when we had only two families show at the county fair,” Steve said.
“We just wanted to get more kids in,” Dan added.
“They never really own the calf, so we call it a lease,” Steve said.
In 2005, 32 calves were leased by Buffalo County 4-H members. The brothers still are waiting to see how many calves will be part of 2006 projects.
Buffalo County Extension Educator Brian Bosshamer said the lease idea is one of several efforts involving the Wolfes that has spurred growth in the county’s 4-H dairy program. “All of a sudden, it grew by leaps and bounds,” Bosshamer said.
“They’ve just been tremendous supporters and partners for the 4-H youth program,” he added.
Bosshamer described the calf lease as a “win-win” for everyone. It means fewer chores for the Wolfes and gives 4-H’ers a chance to complete a livestock project.
“It’s an inexpensive way to be in a 4-H animal project,” he said, “and they get wonderful support from the Wolfes.”
Steve also recruited a 4-H dairy judging team last year and will help with a new dairy skillathon at the 2006 Buffalo County Fair and district dairy shows.
Bosshamer said the Buffalo County team was organized just as the 4-H dairy judging event at the Nebraska State Fair was set to end because of a lack in numbers. The nine new Buffalo County participants made it possible for dairy judging to be taken off state fair probation.
Bosshamer said Steve also is a dairy judge and understands the life skills youths can learn by participating in judging events.
The new skillathon event this year at the Buffalo County Fair is “gonna teach kids about dairy farming,” Steve said.
He knows that few youths will go into dairy-related careers, “but you’ll have a lot of kids who know something about dairy.” When they grow up and move to other parts of the state or the country, Steve said they might help other consumers understand and support dairy production.
“It’s to educate the public,” Dan said about the overall goal.
That’s also a reason they’ll participate in “Life on the Farm” Wednesday at the fairgrounds. It’s an annual event designed to teach Kearney Public School third-graders about farming and livestock production.
“All their grandparents remember and will talk about milking,” Steve said. “For the next generation, that’s all lost.”
Martin also praised the courage shown by the Wolfe families to leave their Virginia roots to come to Kearney and start a successful dairy.
“We look back now and if we were going to move again, we might not pick a different spot,” Steve said. “Although we could use some more milk markets.”
“It’s still a good place to dairy,” Dan said, although the hot summer weather has been more difficult on the cows and dairymen than the cold winters.
He said that when they return to Virginia for a visit, the urban sprawl that was a factor in their move to Kearney is apparent. “It’s amazing how many houses have been built.”
“There are fewer and fewer farms,” Steve added.
e-mail to:
lori.potter@kearneyhub.com
