Seizing the opportunity

DALTON, Wis. — When Andrew Trotz and his wife, Hannah, had the opportunity to buy a dairy herd this fall, they saw a chance to build a future in an industry they both knew well. Since the beginning of October, the couple has managed 135 cows with help and support from the farmer who previously owned the herd and the neighbors who have made farming an enjoyable way of life.

The opportunity first came in April, when Roger Wojtalewicz approached the couple about purchasing his cows. After considering the risks and talking through their options, Andrew and Hannah decided to move forward with the purchase this fall from Wojtalewicz and his wife, Karen, buying the cows from what was then called White Star Dairy farm.

Though he had worked on the farm for 10 years, Andrew was initially hesitant to take the step into farm ownership.

“He didn’t know if he wanted to farm because,
obviously, there’s a lot of risk involved,” Hannah said. “We just sat down, and I said, ‘Well, what do you want to do as far as work?’ He didn’t know, and I said, ‘Well, why don’t we try and buy the cows?’ And then he kind of thought on that for a while.”

That conversation eventually led to the creation of Trotz Family Farm, a business the couple is now building together.

Andrew’s connection to agriculture started at age 12, when his grandfather owned a farm. He also gained experience through a brief stint at a feed mill and learning through the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Farm and Industry Short Course.

Hannah grew up on her family’s dairy farm and attended Short Course as well. Her and Andrew’s shared agricultural backgrounds gave them a foundation of experience as they considered taking on the responsibilities and risks of dairy farm ownership.

Hannah had previously helped milk cows occasionally while also caring for the heifers near their home. Since purchasing the herd, she has taken on a larger role in the daily milking chores to help maintain labor costs.

The couple rents the farm property and purchases feed from Wojtalewicz. They also use a combination of rented and purchased equipment. For now, they plan to focus on maintaining the herd rather than making major changes, with the long-term goal of owning more of the equipment needed to operate the farm.

With two young children, 3-year-old Harvest and 1-year-old Holden, the change has also meant adjusting the family’s schedule. The grandparents are helping care for the children to give Andrew and Hannah more time to manage the cows.

The children are still part of farm life, and Hannah values the opportunity to raise her family surrounded by the dairy farm.

“I think raising kids on a farm is one of the best ways to grow up,” she said. “You learn how to work, and you learn what responsibilities are. I mean, it’s tough, but I feel like you can’t get that anywhere else.”

Andrew has continued his regular farm responsibilities, caring for the cows, helping with milking and handling other daily tasks. Despite the risks that come with taking on a dairy farm, he sees the purchase as a way of life for his family.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime deal that we got,” Andrew said. “It’s a good place to grow a family, and my wife wants to do it, so that’s special.”

The couple’s different personalities also complement one another as they navigate ownership.

“I get pretty excited sometimes, but I worry way more than my wife because she’s kind of the opposite,” Andrew said.

When both have farming backgrounds, it helps, Hannah said.

“You both know what the chores are and what’s expected of you every day,” she said.

The first month of owning the herd has gone well overall, but the transition has come with a few unexpected expenses. One of the biggest challenges was updating the farm’s milk license, which required changes to the pipeline system because the previous farmer had been grandfathered in under older requirements.

“The stainless milk line had unions pressed together, and those are no longer legal,” Andrew said. “So, we had to go through the whole pipeline, take it apart and put the fittings back together.”

Along with Wojtalewicz’s experience, support from neighboring farmers has helped the couple adjust to ownership. For Hannah, that sense of community is one of the most valuable parts of farming.

“You’ve got to have neighbors who help you out,” she said. “You’ve got to help each other, definitely in the farming community. I feel like there are a lot of farmers you can help in the area, or there’s a farmer who does this and another farmer who does that.”

As Andrew and Hannah settle into the opportunity, they are focused on building their operation without losing sight of the relationships that helped make the opportunity possible. With 135 cows, two young children and a supportive farming community, the two are beginning their next chapter in dairy farming one day at a time.