Halversons share passion for dairying

BELLEVILLE, Wis. — When she was young, Aleta Halverson followed her dad around the farm. Today, she and her father, Steve Halverson, work side by side, doing daily chores and making decisions as a team.

Nearly 10 years ago, at the age of 19, Aleta returned home to farm full time with her dad at Hidden Marsh Farm near Belleville, where the Halversons milk 58 cows and farm 625 acres.

“While it’s come with a lot of head-butting and compromises, I think we make a good team,” Aleta said. “We can normally sort cattle without cussing each other out, and I think that’s what really matters.”

Aleta’s dad has been her teacher on the farm since day one, incorporating life lessons along the way while teaching her everything he knows about cows, machinery and fieldwork.

“He was pretty patient when it came to that kind of stuff,” Aleta said. “The most important thing my dad taught me was patience.”

Aleta began helping in the field when she was 12, where her first job was raking hay.

“I really enjoyed that and took pride in it,” Aleta said. “Shortly after, I was promoted to cutting hay.”

Aleta next learned how to plant, chop, chisel plow, cultivate and more.

“I combine here and there, but normally you’ll find me in the straight truck hauling grain,” she said. “I also love chopping corn.”

Steve said a highlight of farming with his daughter has been watching Aleta learn how to run equipment. Aleta started when she was young hauling manure with him on the 4010 John Deere, which became the first tractor she bought. She is also 50/50 with him on their new Meyer 2636 spreader.

“They grow up too fast,” Steve said. “I liked it better when she was little and following me around. Now, she’s bossing me around, but it works out fine. She thinks the same way I do.”

Aleta is the second generation on her family’s farm. Steve grew up on an apple orchard and when his dad passed away at a young age, he and his brothers and sister went to work for local farmers. Steve started at the farm with 50/50 shares in 1986 and then bought the farm in 1993.

Aleta purchased her first cow, a Milking Shorthorn, when she was 17. Today, she owns nearly half the milking herd and not quite half of the youngstock. Her cattle are marked with pink ear tags.

The Halversons’ herd includes Holsteins, Milking Shorthorns and a variety of crossbreds.

“I focus a lot on crossbreeding,” Aleta said. “I find crossbreds to be more durable. They don’t have the production of a Holstein, but they make up for it with components.”

Cows are bred via A.I. Aleta makes the mating decisions, and both she and her dad do the breeding.

“It’s been fun for me over the past few years being able to choose bulls,” she said.

When Aleta was younger, she wanted to be in the veterinary line of work like her mom, Diana, and her aunt, Judy. After attending college for a month, Aleta decided it was not for her and came home and began milking cows in the evenings. She later went to Southwest Wisconsin Technical College for several months, where she learned how to breed cows.

“It was nice to take classes that dealt with agriculture and not just general classes like math,” Aleta said.

At that point, Aleta decided she wanted to farm full time with her father and began milking morning and night. Before returning to the family farm, Aleta worked on a few dairies. Her role as a milker and field hand at home expanded to include management of mastitis, milk fever and ketosis.

“I came up with different ways of doing things,” she said. “I didn’t want to step on any toes but wanted to try other things that might work better and took more steps in different directions.”

As she works to master every facet of farming, Aleta taps into the resources around her.

“I have no issues asking questions,” she said. “When the vet is here, I have my list of questions, so I can learn to treat cows myself. Our vet wants us to be hands-on. We’ve both learned a lot from her.”

Steve and Aleta milk together in the farm’s L-shaped stanchion barn. Aleta handles the 40-stall section with six units, while Steve milks in the 24-stall section with five units. Steve’s brother, Doug, cleans the cow yard daily and helps with other jobs as needed.

Aleta oversees the health of all livestock, from calves to cows. She also makes culling decisions. Aleta treats calves that are sick, need shots or need to be tubed. She also administers electrolytes with warm water every day to calves on milk.

“I noticed it helps with scours and is good for their general health,” Aleta said. “It gives them a boost.”

Last year, the Halversons put up a new shed for youngstock and split the cost.

“We’re updating the farm, and I try to focus a lot on animal comfort,” Aleta said.

Holding onto all the things her dad taught her, Aleta, who is now a parent herself, is teaching the third generation about farming. Aleta’s daughters, Charlee and Madelynn, like to work alongside their mom and grandpa.

“My oldest loves to help my dad with anything and everything,” Aleta said. “She is his go-to person when it comes to feeding calves or checking the beef farm for new calves.”

One day, Aleta hopes to take over the family farm.

“I wish the dairy industry was a little better than it is, but I’m proud that she wants to keep going,” Steve said.

There is give and take between this father and daughter, and whether in the field or the barn, the Halversons tackle the work together.

“My dad never pushed me to farm,” Aleta said. “I made the choice, and I hope to do the same with my girls. I never want them to feel like they have to farm or that they have to take over the farm. I still have a lot to learn, but I’m thankful I get to spend each day with my biggest teacher, my dad.”