A day in the life of the Kayharts

GRANTON, Wis. — Involvement in the Granton FFA Chapter is a right of passage for the Kayhart family. The 2026 Wisconsin FFA Convention marked two milestones for Mark and Julie Kayhart, as their son, Peter, was set to receive his Wisconsin FFA Degree in the afternoon session, June 17, and be recognized as a finalist for Wisconsin’s Star in Agricultural Placement during the evening session.

“It’s pretty humbling to be picked as a finalist for one of the top awards,” Peter said. “There are a lot of kids who have some pretty good projects, and to be recognized among them is pretty neat.”

The Kayharts milk 94 cows, with their four children — Anna, Peter, Phillip and Andrew — on their Clark County dairy farm near Granton. The farm was purchased by Mark’s father, Lyle, who continues to help with farm chores.

On Wednesday, June 17, Peter got a reprieve from his usual farm chores to travel to Madison to set up and present his display for his Supervised Agricultural Experience. Meanwhile, the rest of the Kayhart family doubled down during morning chores to allow Mark and Julie to join Peter during the state degree luncheon and ceremony and to watch him be recognized among his peers at the evening session.

The Kayhart family headed to the barn that morning around 5, with the goal of allowing Mark and Julie to be on the road to Madison by 9. In typical farm fashion, fresh cows and silo unloader complications added to the chore list.

Anna, a past recipient of the Wisconsin FFA Degree and top 10 finalist in the dairy proficiency competition, is back this summer to help her family after finishing up her second year at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Anna is majoring in dairy science. During the school year, she works part time at a dairy farm near campus and at the campus horse farm for a little different experience.

As the family worked together that Wednesday morning, the farm was a scurry of activity. Julie and Anna tackled milking and took care of the fresh cows, while Phillip cleaned the barn and bedded the cows. Mark fed the cows and worked to keep the silo unloader functioning. Andrew took care of cleaning and bedding calves, then fed grain and hay to them. Anna fed calves once she had the milk. Lyle pitched in where needed and prepared to haul manure once Phillip finished running the barn cleaner.

“Grandpa has farmed his whole life,” Anna said. “I’m glad that I’ve grown up on the farm and have the background I do. I can’t really imagine growing up not having all of this to do and take care of. It’s been such a big part of my life.”

Once he got the silo unloader working, Mark finished up feeding the last of the cows. On a normal morning, once he finishes feeding cows, Mark would travel to neighboring farms where the Kayharts have heifers and dry cows housed, to care for those animals. Wednesday morning however, those duties fell to Phillip and Andrew.

Outside of farm work, Julie and Anna also take turns helping care for Julie’s mother, who has cancer and recently entered hospice.

“I had wanted to find an internship for this year, but in the end, I’m glad that didn’t work out,” Anna said. “I’m glad to have this time to spend with my grandma. That means a lot to me.”

Julie appreciates Anna’s assistance.

“It really helps, having Anna home this summer,” Julie said. “If I have something here I have to do or errands I have to run, I don’t have to worry about anything because I know she’s there. And she’s right, the time is special.”

With the cows fed and milked, calves cared for and manure hauled, Mark and Julie got ready to make the trek to Madison to join Peter. Phillip and Andrew went to care for dry cows and heifers and Anna headed to care for her grandmother. Showers in the forecast kept fieldwork off the agenda.

Mark and Julie arrived at the convention, held at the Alliant Energy Center, just after 11:30 a.m., where they found Peter and his display. After visiting with their son about the morning on the farm, they walked around and viewed the other displays before heading to the state degree luncheon with him.

After lunch, they found seats to watch the session in which Peter was one of 441 FFA members receiving their Wisconsin FFA Degrees. They then listened to Dr. Temple Grandin speak about using talents to positively impact the world. After that session, they enjoyed more of the convention and spending time with Peter before heading to the evening session, where Peter was recognized on stage as a finalist for the Star in Agricultural Placement.

After the final session, Mark and Julie headed home.

“I wouldn’t have minded just getting a hotel, but Mark said he’d sleep better in the four hours or so of sleep he’d get than he would in a hotel,” Julie said. “I told him that was fine — but I was sleeping on the way home.”

Since his high school graduation last month, Peter has transitioned to working full time on the farm alongside his dad. He plans to eventually transition into ownership — possibly with his brothers — and continue as the third generation to operate the farm.

Though June 17 was busy, the chaos of the day was close to their normal schedule for recent weeks. In addition to Peter’s high school graduation, the Kayharts hosted the Granton FFA Alumni Dairy Breakfast May 31.

“It’s been a busy few weeks, that’s for sure,” Mark said. “But it all works out. It’s just what you do, as a family — especially a farm family, in a small community. You’re just involved in things, you’re a part of that community, and it’s part of what makes farming the special way of life it is.”