January 2010 - Swiss Valley Farms

M I L K Q U A L I T Y A W A R D S
VENTEICHER FAMILY reaches 30 YEARS
by Nancy Feeney
When Paul and Norma
Venteicher started up
their dairy 58 years ago,
they were can milkers with a herd
of 22 Holsteins. That same family
dairy now milks 150 Holsteins with
computers connected to most of
the equipment. After experiencing a
lifetime of changes, this couple can
relax in their retirement and look
back over a long and successful dairy
career, one that was recently honored
by earning a 30-year Milk Quality
Award from Swiss Valley Farms.
Paul and Norma started farming
in 1951, renting the Strawberry
Point, Iowa farm from Paul’s father
Anton. Purchasing the farm in 1971,
Paul and Norma began to grow their
dairy. Their sons David and Richard
joined the operation in ’71 and ’75,
respectively. The family built a 48 x
84 foot barn with 44 stanchions.
They gradually increased the herd
size to 120 Holsteins and in ’96 built
a 100-stall freestall building with sand
bedding. They also remodeled the old
cattle shed into a freestall building
that houses 50 cows. They converted
their dairy barn into a milking parlor
and holding pen. The parlor has since
been expanded to a double-eight and
a 1,300-gallon bulk tank was added.
In 2008, Paul and Norma retired
to Edgewood and David and Richard
took over the operation. Their herd
now has a rolling herd average of
23,000 pounds with a 3.7 Butterfat
average with a 3 pt. Protein average.
Richard handles most of the milking.
David handles the feeding. They raise
all their own feed on their 600 acres,
planting corn, hay and oats.
Matt, who is the son of David and
Ann, joined the operation three years
ago and has been a great asset. Matt
studied ag mechanics, so he keeps
the farm equipment in great running
order. He helps with field work and
with cleaning the free stall barns and
all other chores that need to be done.
His hard work keeps everything
running on schedule, and he is very
knowledgeable in equipment and
dairy needs.
“It’s nice to have these young
Paul & Norma Venteciher are enjoying
retirement in their new home in Strawberry
Point, Iowa while their sons and
grandsons carry on the dairy.
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SWISS VALLEY FARMS DAIRYMAN