A lifetime in the barn

CLARKFIELD, Minn. — Merle Pearson started milking cows with his mother when he was 5 years old. Now, at 87, Merle has milked his cows for the last time.

“I was born into dairy,” Pearson said, “I did not think to do anything else; it is all I know how to do.”

With 82 years of milking cows twice a day, Pearson calculated over 59,000 milkings in his lifetime. A brief knee surgery recovery was the only time Pearson could remember not milking cows.

March 26 marked Pearson’s dairy retirement. With the help of a neighbor, Pearson milked his 40 cows in the morning just like any other day. Country music playing in the background, Pearson walked between the cows to dip and wipe teats before the milker was attached.

“Cows like the old-time music; they milk better,” Pearson said.

The cows were not the only ones who liked the old-time music. Pearson has been a widower for 20 years, but when his wife was around, they would polka down the barn alley.

Pearson purchased his farm when he was 26 years old from his grade-school teacher for $33,630. He and his teacher settled on a contract-for-deed agreement.

“You just do not find good people like that anymore,” Pearson said, “They wanted me to succeed, but I was not able to pay them much up front.”

The milk barn is original to the farm, over 100 years old. Pearson added on to the south end of the barn in 1981, increasing capacity from 12 to 52 stalls. This is the first year the barn has not been full since the expansion.

When Pearson started milking, he carried buckets and strained the milk himself. During the barn expansion, he installed a pipeline. Pearson also went against advice; he designed the tie stalls for the cows to be head-to-head.

“People told me the cows would not milk as well,” Pearson said. “(But) this way was easier for me to feed the cows grain.”

Pearson sold his milk to First District Association. April was a deadline to upgrade parts in his milk room to maintain his Class B status.

“I am getting too old to get new parts,” Pearson said.

Throughout his dairy career, he enjoyed the cows and taking care of them. Pearson put the milker on his cow, Red, one last time.

“I will miss coming in the barn in the morning and night,” Pearson said.

A semi-trailer was scheduled to arrive later that morning to pick up all the cows and heifers. Pearson plans to keep a few beef cross calves.

“I got to have something to do,” Pearson said, “I will rest for two days, then I will get back to work.”