Barn full of memories

John R. Schroeder
Courtland, Minnesota

Within this feature the Dairy Star  catches up to retired farmers to talk about the ups and downs they had when dairy farming. The feature includes how each individual farm changed throughout the farmer’s career and what each has been doing since they hung the milkers up.

What year did you start farming and what year did you retire? I lived on the farm my whole life. I started milking when I was 9 years old. I milked for 62 years and sold the milking herd in 2018.

Tell us about your farm when you started and describe what it looked like when you retired, including how many cows did you milk when you retired? During that time, I was in partnership with my dad and later with my son, Jason. I was married in 1974, and my wife, Bev, also helped out on the farm. We had three children: one girl, Melissa, and two boys, Jason and Tim. It definitely was a family farm. We started with 30 cows and ended with 60 cows, all registered Holsteins. Our farm has owned registered Holsteins for 97 years, and the farm has been in the family for 145 years.

What were some of the big advancements you made during your career? The farm being as old as it was, the buildings needed to be replaced: the dairy barn after a tornado (1957), the calf barn (1972), the heifer shed (2001), and the manure lagoon system (2005).

What did you love about milking cows? I enjoyed watching production increase with management and nutritional changes.

What was the highlight of your dairy career? The highlight was breeding five All-American nominations — one All-American and two Reserve All-Americans — one of them was junior champion at World Dairy Expo in 1977. Our herd earned the Progressive Breeder Award for 38 years. I also had a passion for judging cattle shows. I judged 350 shows in Minnesota, Wisconsin and South Dakota. I judged at the Minnesota State Fair for nine years. I judged for 50 consecutive years.

What is the biggest challenge you faced in your career and how did you overcome it? The biggest challenge was fluctuating milk prices. To overcome it, you just keep plugging away.

If there is one thing you wish you could have done differently during your farming career, what would it be? There was nothing I would have done differently. I was blessed with a very supportive family.

What piece of equipment or technology has been introduced that you wish you had for your dairy career? Today, activity monitors would be a very effective management tool.

What do you miss most about dairy farming? I miss watching the cattle develop as they grow older. I liked watching the matings grow. I no longer judge or show cattle, but I enjoy our five grandchildren showing cattle.

What advice would you give to a young farmer today? Dairy farms are much larger today. Don’t go it alone. Find a good partner(s).

What is your tie to the dairy industry today? Our sons run the farm, and I help out where I can.

Was retiring an easy or hard decision/transition? When you’re tired, it’s not a hard decision, but I wouldn’t have done anything different. My wife and I were the fifth generation on the farm. Now, our sons are the sixth generation of Schroeders.

What have you been doing since you retired? I help out on the farm during haying and harvest. I also encourage the five grandchildren in showing.