September 5, 2017 at 3:32 p.m.
Dairy Profile: The Hirsches
Tom and Sharon Hirsch
Sleepy Eye, Minn., Brown County
How did you get into farming? Tom: I grew up on this dairy farm. After high school, I rented from Dad and then eventually took over the operation. Sharon: I grew up on a dairy farm about seven miles north of this farm. I was on a softball team that played in the pasture that belonged to Tom. Tom was our coach. A number of years later we started dating, and eventually married.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced since you started dairying and how did you overcome it? We were milking cows in an old 24 stall stanchion barn with bucket milkers when I first took over milking. In 1982 we built a new 52-cow tie stall barn. It was like heaven. We had a pipeline, manure pump, and cement feedlot. We even installed an electric feed cart. Our herd average increased, somatic cell count went way down and we were making money!
What are some of your thoughts or concerns about your dairy or the dairy industry this year? We are now milking about 85 cows in that 52-stall barn. So switching is a challenge. We have an old loose housing pole barn that the cows are switched into. We are at that point where we need to take that next step. Of course the low milk price doesn't provide a lot of incentive to be creative!
What advice would you give other dairy farmers? It's hard to remember that your goal was to drain the swamp when you're knee deep in alligators! Don't let your everyday problems overwhelm you.
What is the biggest investment you ever made in your dairy? Next to our barn in 1982, it was a new cement 80-by-120-foot liquid manure storage lagoon in 2007.
What has been your biggest accomplishment while dairy farming? Staying in the dairy business for 40 plus years and raising a wonderful family of six children have been our biggest accomplishments.
What are your plans for your dairy in the next five years? Our son Jacob has come back to the farm. The next five years will hopefully involve passing the farm onto him, and working on ways to make the farm more profitable. We are a century farm and Jake has said that he'd like the farm to continue into the next century.
What is your favorite thing to do on the farm? Tom: I love running the 6410 JD loader tractor. Sharon: I like working outside with the cows. Jake: I enjoy having a variety of things to do on the farm.
What is your favorite dish using a dairy product? Tom: vanilla ice cream. Sharon: egg bake with lots of cheese. Jake: pizza with extra cheese.
What is your favorite tool? Tom: knife and pliers. Sharon: computer. Jake: cordless impact wrench.
Tell us about a skill you possess that has made dairy farming easier for you. Tom: I have good hollering skills and a weak back. Sharon: I have good organizational/business skills. Jake: I have knowledge of electronics, possess good mechanical skills, and a strong back!
How do you or your family like to spend time when you are not doing chores? We love spending time with our family. When we get together the kids play blue-grass music in the "family band". We go fishing as a family. We are very involved with our church choir. Showing cattle through 4-H has been a family activity through the years. Attending our kids' events has always been a priority.
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