The Hilton of cattle accommodations

DYERSVILLE, Iowa — The 2025 Delaware County Farm Family of the Year are not only dairy farmers, but experts in the show ring and proficient at providing premium care for show cattle.

Tom and Sara Kruse, along with their three sons, Kaleb, Cole and Carter, were honored as the 2025 Delaware County Farm Family of the Year. The Kruses are the fourth and fifth generations to operate the 100-cow dairy near Dyersville.

“Earning the award was a surprise, and it’s very humbling at the same time,” Tom said.

Complementing the milking herd, the Kruses operate KCCK Genetics boarding, a spin-off of the dairy owned by Kaleb, Cole and Carter. With a passion for dairy, showing and raising quality animals, the Kruses built four barns to board animals under the KCCK Genetics umbrella.

The dairy industry plays a significant role for the Kruse family and their history. Tom and Sara grew up in 4-H in Delaware County and have been members of the Delaware County Dairy Promotors.

Even their barn holds history. The Kruses’ herd is milked in a tiestall barn, which is the same barn that Tom’s parents used before him. As he enters the milking barn, Tom said he is reminded of his parents, Pat and Angie, who operated P&A Ayrshires on the same farm. That name is engraved in concrete over the entrance, serving as a reminder of the legacy the Kruse family carries on.

Tom manages the family’s dairy, with assistance from Sara. Sara also works for ST Genetics as the U.S. dealer sales manager. Their sons work off-farm jobs, but are on the farm every morning and night and on the weekends.

Kaleb is a feed salesman with Vita Plus Corporation, Cole is a hoof trimmer with Demmer Hoofcare LLC and Carter works in construction with Craig Schulte Construction.

Through their KCCK genetics boarding service, the family provides a boarding facility for animals from around the country for people who have interest in owning animals, but do not have access to the necessary facilities, or are not able to manage and care for the animals themselves.

Kaleb, Cole and Carter manage and house the boarded animals with help from the farm’s employee, Jett Kuhens. The team provides special care and marketing assistance. Animals are washed daily, fed individually and given the utmost care in state-of-the-art facilities.

“The boys help the people who board with us through the entire process,” Sara said. “They offer advice or assistance in buying or finding an animal, developing them, showing and marketing.”

The origin of KCCK Genetics traces to Kaleb, Carter and Cole’s early days in the show ring, when they often brought a large contingent of animals to the Delaware County Fair.

“This is a 4-H project gone wild,” Sara said. “They’d show with friends and family, and at times we would have over 20 head at the county fair. Caring for a large number of animals has been what they know and have been around their entire lives.”

Showing with their boarding clients has developed many relationships, and success for one means success for all.

“When they win, we win,” Sara said. “We’re one big team and we work together with each other. We want it to be a fun and rewarding experience for all involved.”

With Kaleb, Carter and Cole involved in the dairy industry since birth, Tom and Sara wanted to provide as many opportunities as possible for a future in dairy. They brought the boys to sales, conventions and shows. This gave the younger generation a broader view of what a future in dairy looked like.

“We wanted them to see all the possibilities and learn from as many opportunities (as) they had access to,” Sara said. “We all continue to learn, and we have met some of the greatest people. They’ve become some of our best friends and mentors or people we admire and strive to be.”

The Kruses continue to lend assistance or expertise where they can. Kaleb is an active member of the Delaware County Dairy Promotors. He serves as an auctioneer at many of the local fundraising auctions or as a ring man. He also works with Cowbuyer, often as a pedigree reader for sales, and has judged at local, state and national level dairy shows.

“Kaleb is great at getting the crowd going at auctions through his voice and bid-taking abilities,” Tom said.

Cole works at several sales and has judged at the local, state and national levels, too, and has also led animals for others at shows.

“His mind is like an encyclopedia for genetics,” Sara said. “You can reference a cow he might have seen one time five years ago and he’ll know exactly what you’re talking about.”

Carter has also led animals at shows for others and has a keen eye for cattle.

“Carter is everything in between the other boys,” Sara said. “He is a great communicator, organized, pays attention to detail, and can truck and fix anything.”

Together, the Kruses said they strive to provide opportunities to connect society with agriculture through showing and being a consistent presence in their community and the dairy industry.