A shared interest in dairy

BROWERVILLE, Minn. — Growing up as the youngest of six siblings, Anna (Salber) Butler was quick to volunteer for farm chores.

“When I would ask for help outside, (Butler) was always the first one out the door before anyone had a chance to answer,” said her dad, Mike Salber. “We knew all along she was going to come back to the farm after college.”

Now, Butler no longer has to volunteer over her siblings. As the newest owner to join the farm, she is situated to continue the farming legacy that began in 1963.

“I like raising the calves and watching them grow and getting to know their personalities,” Butler said. “That and driving a tractor, I like all the aspects of farming.”

Butler has been farming with her parents, Mike and Keri, following her graduation from Ridgewater College in 2016. In 2024, the Salbers established a limited partnership, placing Butler and her parents as owners of the farm.

The Salbers milk 90 cows in a swing-8 parlor near Browerville. They manage 600 acres of crop ground and pasture. The Salbers have been certified organic since 2003.

With an established third-generation on the farm, the Salbers have made upgrades to their facilities. In 2016, the Salbers built a separate barn for their dry cows, which had previously been housed with the milk cows. That same year, they built a new calf barn to replace an old, worn-out building. The new building is a 32-by-50 open-sided structure that has two large igloos along the south side. Along the north side are individual hutches where the calves spend their first two weeks.

“We use igloo huts instead of an enclosed calf shed,” Butler said. “That way, even on cold days, if the sun is shining, the calves lie outside.”

During the winter, the milking herd is housed in a hoop barn. To make feeding easier, the Salbers installed a feed lane so the total mixed ration wagon could be used for the cows.

The Salbers are also upgrading the equipment in their parlor to make sure the farm will last for years to come. The parlor was retrofitted into the existing stanchion barn in 2003. They also recently took down the rest of the stanchion barn to build a brand-new parlor and holding pen.

“We are on our way out, and Anna is working her way in, so the decisions we make today are going to impact her more than us,” Keri said.

Butler agreed.

“I want Mom and Dad to retire when they want to retire,” she said. “I might have to get a little smaller so that I can do it all myself, but we are in this together.”

Since Butler’s return, her duties have increased from a labor force to a decision maker.

“As soon as she got back (from college), she was in charge of the youngstock and making all the breeding decisions,” Mike said. “I had been doing all the A.I., but Anna has slowly taken that over.”

The Salbers’ herd consists of Fleckvieh, Normande, Brown Swiss and Jersey crossbreds. Butler said when making breeding decisions, she looks at components and hardiness.

The trio has their tendencies when it comes to chores, but everyone knows how to do everything if needed.

Mike and Keri begin morning milking at 5. Butler joins them at 5:30 and helps until there is milk to feed the calves. Then, she feeds the youngstock, and together, Mike and his daughter mix feed for the cows. In the summer, the trio works together to get projects done around the farm.

During haying, Butler cuts and rakes, Keri does the baling, and Mike hauls and wraps.

Mike and Keri are not only passing knowledge of the farm to Butler, but passion and dedication as well.

“It’s a good feeling that she loves to do what we loved to do for so many years,” Mike said. “Seeing her gain more confidence in the different aspects of the farm over the years since she has been back has been great to see too.”

Keri agreed.

“I’m glad that someone else has the ambition and has the same interests that I did when I was that age,” Keri said. “She is following in our footsteps, and that is a pretty great feeling.”