Keeping the door open

DANE, Wis. — Whether it be a kindergartener or a lawmaker, Chuck Ripp takes time to educate people about the dairy industry. The dairyman, who milks 920 cows and farms about 1,800 acres with his family near Dane, regularly devotes time to advocating on behalf of the industry he cares about.

“If people ask questions about the dairy farm, I always try to tell the story of what’s going on and what we’re doing and why,” Ripp said. “I’ve been farming my whole life, so we should be able to tell them what we do. When somebody calls and needs to talk, I try to make time to answer any questions I can.”

Because of his dedication, Ripp received the Dairy Business Association’s Advocate of the Year award Jan. 15 at the Dairy Strong Conference in Green Bay. The Advocate of the Year award honors farmers who excel in managing their farms while actively engaging with their local communities and taking on agricultural leadership roles.

“I was totally surprised,” Ripp said. “I had no idea I would even be offered something like that. I think of past people who have won over the years that I thought deserved it, but I never thought I would deserve it. I am very humbled and honored.”

Ripp and his brothers, Troy and Gary, are the third generation at Ripp’s Dairy Valley. The trio took over ownership in 2004 when their father passed away. Their brother, Craig, works full time on the farm. In addition, Gary’s son, Jacob; Troy’s son, Mason; and Chuck’s son, Riley, and daughter, Kailyn Kippley; also work at the farm full time along with 11 employees. Ripp’s mom, Eileen, continues to help at the dairy doing bookwork and running errands whenever needed. She also makes lunch daily for the family.

“Advocacy is not just one person; it takes the whole crew,” Ripp said. “For me to get away and go to all these meetings and be part of five or six different organizations, it’s so helpful to have people here at home to take care of things while I’m gone.”

Ripp is a long-time delegate member for Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation and AgSource, is a member of the DBA and was also a founding board member of the Yahara Pride Farms watershed group.

“I try to do my best to promote agriculture any way I can,” Ripp said. “The reason I do it is because too many people don’t do it or can’t do it. Some farms just want to keep to themselves.”

Saying ‘yes’ when people ask to visit his farm and offering his opinion on current issues facing farmers is second nature to Ripp. Ripp said he tries to speak not only on behalf of his own farm, but for the farmers around him as well to represent everyone’s best interests.

“That’s really important to me, to communicate in that way,” he said. “When DBA calls because they have someone in the area, maybe a legislator, and they ask if they can bring them out to our farm, I’m always willing to host.”

Ripp has hosted Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Secretary Randy Romanski several times and has talked to him about various issues.

Ripp said topics of importance to him include immigration reform, export markets and regulation.

“You can’t just sit back,” Ripp said. “If you believe in something, but you don’t say anything, it does no good. Make your voice heard. And if you get enough voices, people start to listen.”

Ripp said a successful example of this is the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act.

“It’s rewarding when you hear that something got signed into law and you know you were a small part of that because you were with the Farm Bureau or on a committee,” Ripp said. “The whole milk act is something we’ve been talking about as an industry for a long time, and it finally got signed. It’s a big deal, and it’s nice to know somebody is listening, and something went our way.”

Cows at Ripp’s Dairy Valley are milked three times a day in a double-16 parallel parlor, and talking about the product they produce is a must for Ripp.

“People have to know where their milk comes from, and they have to feel safe and comfortable about it,” Ripp said. “If we’re producing food that we want people to eat and like, and they have questions, we have to be there to answer their questions.”

Ripp said he and his family strive to be good neighbors and a welcoming resource in their community. For more than 20 years, the Ripps have hosted farm tours every spring for Waunakee school district kindergarteners.

“Nobody else really was doing it, so we figured that’s one place we need to step up,” Ripp said. “We show them what we do, show them different animals and try to make it fun as well as educational. Grande Cheese makes pizzas for lunch, and the kids also receive milk and ice cream.”

When it comes to setting standards and representing the industry in a positive light, Ripp said he likes to lead by example. For instance, the Ripps supply manure to a community digester along with four other farms to produce renewable natural gas.

“We stuck our head out there for the digester project, and it has been very positive,” Ripp said.

The Ripps’ sustainable mindset also extends to land management practices like minimal tillage and low-disturbance manure injection.

As he works to be a voice for the industry, Ripp said he encourages other farmers to advocate as well.

“When you’re busy at certain times of the year, you just have to say ‘no,’ but try to make the effort to help anyone you can,” he said. “When you go to meetings, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Educate yourself about the topics in advance and then give a response.”

Motivated by a passion for sharing his story and making a good name for dairy, Ripp said he will continue promoting the industry.

“I’m proud to be a farmer,” Ripp said. “I love farming, and I keep the doors open when I can.”