September 2006 Dave and Pam Bolin Receive Ralph Keeling Award

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member story HEATHERSTONE ENTERPRISES by Nancy Feeney Mike Holschbach and his son Chase stand beside the 100-year old dairy barn. Heatherstone Enterprises, Inc. is a three-generation Wisconsin family farm that participates in cutting edge, 21 st Century technology, creating a wonderful blending of the old and new. Owned by Swiss Valley Farms members Mike and Valerie Holschbach, the immaculate farmstead is located just outside the city limits in Baraboo, WI, along US Hwy 12 leading into Madison. Originally purchased in 1974 by Valerie’s parents, Duane and Carol Jean Hegna, the farm had been linked to the name Heatherstone since the ‘50’s, when Welsh ponies were bred there. The Hegna’s decided to keep the Heatherstone name with the farm when they set up their dairy operation. The page 4 original barn is over 100 years old and is the focal point of this renowned showplace. Twenty –two years ago, Mike and Valerie started farming here, purchasing the personal property. Since that time they have remodeled the main and heifer barns, added another Harvestore silo, TMR system, and most recently built a 50-cow freestall barn. In addition, the house and barn received a “new look” with vinyl siding and a major landscaping project completed just in time for their eldest daughter’s wedding this past June. Family Operation Mike and Valerie have enjoyed working with the Hegna’s and raising their three children on the farm. “This is the best life --- raising family in a rural setting and having everyone work together as a family,” Mike says. “All the children have learned responsibility and take pride in our family farm.” The two daughters, Brienne, 24, now an elementary school teacher in Madison, and Chelsea, 17, a senior at Baraboo High School, fed calves, handled the show animals and milked when needed. Son Chase, 20, now farms in partnership with his parents and handles the majority of field work. Mike admits, “We bought a new tractor last year that I haven’t even been inside of.” The Hegna’s still help out on the farm. Duane is readily available to assist with field work, repairs and odd jobs, while Jean helps Valerie maintain the physical beauty of the farmstead. A neat, well kept farm is important to the Holschbach’s because they feel it presents a positive image of dairy farmers to consumers, visitors and buyers. Each year the farm hosts many national and international visitors, school children, judging teams and tourists that may stop when visiting the local Circus World Museum or Wisconsin Dells area. Peak season for visitors is during the two-week period surrounding World Dairy Expo every fall. Mike states that in terms of the marketing of their genetics, there is nothing that can match WDE and he is proud to serve on their Board of Directors since 1997. The Holschbach’s show their Registered Holsteins at local, district, state and national shows, and have had six homebred All-American nominations. While all three children have done well showing their cattle, the family most proudly notes that three generations have won the SWISS VALLEY FARMS DAIRYMAN
applying modern methods with great results. Howard Clapp Award for Excellence in Showmanship and Leadership at the Wisconsin Jr. State Fair. Brienne won it when she was 16, Mike at the age of 18, and Grandma Carol Jean also while she was in high school. Genetics Mike developed his good eye for dairy cows early on, competing on a state winning 4-H dairy judging team in Sheboygan County and as a student at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He has since served as a dairy cattle judge at many county fairs and state shows, as well as internationally. So it seemed only natural for Mike to desire developing a herd of superior genetics. The Holschbach’s currently milk 110 Holsteins, with a rolling herd average of 27,000, 1000 fat and 880 protein. Several of the top cows in the herd are flushed and embryos are put back into their own cows to improve the herd. Some of the resulting bull calves fulfill A.I. contracts. They occasionally sell frozen embryos to other countries such as Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, England and France. Frozen embryo sales have declined in recent years, according to Mike. “Global economies have affected these sales. BSE has had a huge effect as well.” Conservation Project Heatherstone just wrapped up a two-year project in cooperation with the Sauk County Land Conservation office. “Our farm is situated near a creek and along a major highway. It is The calf pens sit atop white cement apart from the free-stall barn area while blue harvestore silos stand sentinel over all the buildings on Heatherstone Enterprises. Above: Bright, white cement surrounds one of the many new water run offs to be found around the dairy. “ We are doing our part to protect the environment,while the physical signs of the project . . . add to the attractiveness of the overall operation. “ SEPTEMBER 2006 page 5
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September 2006 Dave and Pam Bolin Receive Ralph Keeling Award

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