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Life on a dairy farm starts early and ends late. Here’s a look at what goes into running a small dairy farm like ours:

• 4:30 AM: Morning chores begin – feeding, cleaning, and milking the cows. Each cow is part of our extended family, and their health and comfort are our top priority.

• 8:00 AM: Breakfast – a moment to recharge (and warm up in the winter). A quick breakfast is all we have time for as we prepare for the rest of the day.

• 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Maintenance work – fixing fences, repairing equipment, tending to crops that feed the herd.

• 12:00 PM: Lunch and planning – reviewing the herd’s health, managing records, or preparing for deliveries.

• 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Fieldwork – depending on the season, it’s hay baling, crop planting, or harvest time.

• 4:30 PM: Evening milking begins – ensuring the cows are comfortable and healthy before bedtime. Clean up for the evening so everything is ready to get started early tomorrow morning.

• 7:30 PM: Dinner and family time – a brief respite after a long day.

For a small family farm, no two days are the same, but every day is filled with dedication, hard work, and gratitude for this life God has given us.

Wisconsin isn’t just the Dairy State by nickname – it’s a testament to generations of farmers who’ve cultivated its reputation as America’s cheese capital. Small family farms, like ours, make up a significant portion of the state’s agriculture and play a crucial role in both local and national food supply.

However, small farms face unique challenges today, from economic pressures to technological changes. While larger operations and corporate owned farms often dominate the industry, it’s the small farms that preserve Wisconsin’s dairy heritage and provide for local families, maintain community values, and connection to the land.

Supporting small dairy farms means sustaining traditions, ensuring quality food production, maintaining the rural landscapes that make Wisconsin unique, and providing for hard working families like ours.

Dairy farming has come a long way since the year 1900, when the first generation of Nonns began milking cows by hand. Over the last 125 years, we’ve seen tremendous change in the industry:

• Early Days (Year 1900): Manual milking, small herds, and reliance on local sales.

• Mid-20th Century: Introduction of machinery like milking machines, milk parlors, silos, and pasteurization technology.

• Modern Day: Large farms use robotics and automated management systems.

However, with progress come challenges. The rise of industrial-scale farms and fluctuating milk prices have made it harder for small family farms like ours to compete. But at Nonn Family Farm, we are trying to embrace change while preserving tradition – finding balance through sustainable practices, local partnerships, a commitment to quality, and an attempt to modernize like these large corporate owned competitors.