During this year's Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, three commercial dairy goat farms will open their operations to farm tours as part of the Grow Wisconsin plan to reinvigorate dairy.
The tours will run on Wednesday, Sept. 19. Tour sites will offer visitors an opportunity to see how these goat producers utilize and modify existing facilities for their operations. Visitors will also hear about the operations' future plans and goals.
Maps to the tour sites will be available in the Ag Pavilion and in the Ag Tech tent at Farm Technology Days. All stops are located within a 20-30 minute drive from the Plain View Stock Farm, Albany; the site of Farm Technology Days. Plastic boots will be provided at each site; however, attendees are responsible for their own transportation to the farms.
The farms, locations, and tour times are as follows:
Terry and Kathleen Regenold
17725 W. Hafeman Rd.
Brodhead, WI 53520
608-289-2712
11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Gary and Molly Phillips
N2428 County OK
Juda, WI 53550
608-558-0515
12 -2 p.m.
Laura and Antony Jay
W4282 Schutt Rd.
Monroe, WI 53566
608-329-4368
1-3 p.m.
Terry and Kathleen Regenold
The Regenolds purchased their 40 acre farm in 1992 and started milking 50 dairy goats in March of 2004. They are currently milking 111 goats and plan to continually increase their herd annually to reach 250 milking does.
Gary and Molly Phillips
After selling their operation in Illinois, the Phillips bought their current farm in 2000 for the purpose of milking goats. The five-acre farmstead was formerly a dairy cow farm, but after spending the first year retrofitted the farm for goats and purchasing animals they started milking in 2001. They currently milk approximately 225 does.
Laura and Antony Jay
Three years ago the Jays spent a year buying and raising kids to become milking does. In outfitting their barn for milking goats, they specifically designed their parlor to be simple enough that one person could handle milking. Currently the operation milks 140 does; in addition to milking goats, the Jays also sell vegetables at the Janesville farmer's market.
For further information about the goat tours, contact 608-224-5121 or e-mail jeanne.meier@wisconsin.gov. For information about Farm Technology Days, visit http://www.greenfarmtech.com/index.htm