December 8, 2010, Green
Bay, WI – Two Wisconsin farm families were recently honored by the Dairy
Business Association (DBA) at its annual business conference held in Madison,
Wisconsin.
December 8, 2010, Green
Bay, WI – Two Wisconsin farm families were recently honored by the Dairy
Business Association (DBA) at its annual business conference held in Madison,
Wisconsin.
The Crave Brothers Farm,
LLC was recognized as the DBA Advocate of the Year and Larson Family &
Larson Acres was recognized with the DBA Leadership Award. These awards are
given annually as part of the DBA’s annual meeting of dairy producer members,
allied industry representatives and invited state legislators. Both awards are
sponsored by Vita Plus.
DBA Advocate of the Year
Award – Crave Brothers Farm LLC
Charlie, George, Tom and
Mark Crave, along with their families, have made their farm in Waterloo,
Wisconsin a showplace of Wisconsin dairy efficiency and innovation. Their operation
includes roughly 2,000 cows, 1,800 acres, two anaerobic manure digesters and a
farmstead cheese factory. They make it a point to attend Wisconsin Department
of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection meetings, other legislative and
fellow producer’s hearings on the rights to farm, diversify and grow operations
within the state. They were also recognized for the excellent job they do day
in and day out taking care of their land while constantly sharing the story of
modern agriculture production. Whether
it’s the 80,000 some attendees at a recent year’s Wisconsin Farm Technology
Days that they hosted or the close to 1,000 people who visit the farm every
year, Crave’s continue to educate consumers, food editors, cheese buyers and
the media about industry production methods and practices. Their philosophy on
the farm is that they are proud to produce and promote high quality milk and
cheese. They enjoy telling the story of dairy farming that emphasizes cow
comfort, quality milk and working in harmony with the land to generate power
and produce quality milk and award winning cheese. For these efforts and
others, DBA, on behalf of their members recognized them with the Advocate
award.
DBA Leadership Award –
Larson Acres, Inc.
Ed, Mike and Sandy Larson
and their families who farm on 5,000 acres of land and care for 2,900 cows near
Evansville, Wisconsin were honored by their peers for demonstrating an
exceptional commitment to growing the dairy industry in Wisconsin. The Larsons
were recognized for their eight years of perseverance of doing what is not only
right for their operation, but for the entire industry. The Larson’s story
began in 2002 when Larson Acres applied for a conditional-use permit for a
heifer facility. The application met with considerable local opposition and
their ensuing experiences made them “poster children” of sorts for the adoption
of Wisconsin’s landmark Livestock Facility Siting Law. In their recognition it was stated that
the industry owes a great debt to the Larsons for not standing idly by when the town made decisions inconsistent with the Siting Law, but rather stood up for
itself and the industry in court, we hope when all is said and done,
establishing a clear precedent under the law that will benefit every dairy
producer trying to expand his or her operation by playing by the rules. Recently, the Larson Family hosted an
open house that drew an estimated 3,000 neighbors and friends who had an
opportunity to see that a modern dairy is a spectacular site where animals and
the land are well cared for. For their leadership and perseverance on upholding
the Siting Law they earned this year’s DBA Leadership Award.
