Barn full of memories: Leslie Olson

What year did you start farming, and what year did you retire? I was born into a second-generation dairy farming operation. I spent my entire life there until I retired as a dairy farmer. I retired from milking in 2017, sold our machinery in 2018, and sold our land in 2019.

Tell us about your farm when you started and describe what it looked like when you retired, including how many cows you milked when you retired. We built the second milking parlor in Minnesota in 1962. Before that, we were milking 24 and were up to 40 after the parlor was finished. I farmed with my family farm corporation until 1983, when my wife and I purchased the dairy and the land. When I retired, we were milking 279 head, three times a day, and raising about 300 head of heifers.

What were some of the big advancements you made during your career? We started milking three times a day in the early 90s and used recombinant bovine somatotropin when it became available. We got into registered Brown Swiss and these two things dramatically increased our milk production, along with fat and protein. We also started a very successful in-vitro fertilization program that allowed us to put our genetic program on an accelerated track. For several years in a row, we had the top U.S. genetic animal in the breed.

What did you love about milking cows? We loved the genetic aspect of milking cows. Seeing the beautiful animals we had bred and raised come through the milking parlor was very fulfilling. Even though we did have outside help, the dairy was a family operation. Seeing our children actively milking the cows and doing chores alongside us was a great source of pride. The lessons they learned on the farm went a long way towards making them the successful people they are today.

What is the biggest challenge you faced in your career, and how did you overcome it? Personally, my biggest challenge was a devastating heart attack I suffered in 2010. We could not have continued milking if not for our family, friends and employees keeping everything milked, fed and healthy while I was recuperating. It was very difficult having to watch other people do my work, but I was so lucky to have the support I had. I recovered to a large degree, but I was not the same as before. I had to learn to accept my limitations and allow others to do what I couldn’t.

If there is one thing you wish you could have done differently during your farming career, what would it be? More family time. I regret everything I missed. Birthdays, anniversaries and holidays were always controlled by the cows.  If I could go back, I would make family time more of a priority.

What piece of equipment or technology has been introduced that you wish you had for your dairy career? I think robotic milkers would have been a very interesting concept. Unfortunately, I was a little too far along in my career to make them feasible in their early days. A large self-propelled chopper and trucks would have been on my wish list also.

What do you miss the most about dairy farming? I certainly miss the cows. Not so much when the wind chill is minus 40, but I do miss them. I think mostly I miss the people associated with keeping the dairy running smoothly: our employees who became part of our family, the vet, the milk hauler and the dozens of other people we saw often. Sometimes I saw them as an unwanted distraction, but now I realize how much a part of our lives they were.

What advice would you give to a young farmer today? Take more time for your family. The work is never done on the dairy. Kids grow up and move away and you can never get that time back. A work-life balance is so important, and it is difficult, with all the demands on your time.

What is your tie to the dairy industry today? My son, Aaron, and his wife, Gretchen, own a small farm building site. They raise and show Brown Swiss dairy cattle. Some are descendants of cattle from our herd. It is fun to watch him show at the Minnesota State Fair and World Dairy Expo. He had his first All-American a few years ago. I am so proud of his dedication to raising beautiful cattle. He also supplies the animals for all our grandchildren who want to show. Our next generation loves the Brown Swiss as much as we did. Our daughter, Katie, is head of global research and development for ABS Global in De Forest, Wisconsin.

Was retiring an easy or hard decision/transition? Funny, I guess it was both. I would never have retired when I did if I hadn’t contracted Guillain-Barré. My recovery was slated to take approximately two years and nothing was guaranteed. I realized that I couldn’t put that burden on my family. There is something about thinking that your life may be cut short that puts life in perspective. It was a hard decision to make, but it was the right one for me.

What have you been doing since you retired? We’ve been traveling while we can. We’ve been to Montana to visit our grandson, to New Mexico to see our daughter, and to Texas and New England to visit family. We have also gone to the grandkids’ sporting events, from basketball and track to wrestling and volleyball. I also work at a large Fleet Farm store, stocking shelves. I love being a low-level employee, as there is no stress. I get to see old friends and neighbors, get my 15,000 steps in a day, and can take off when I need or want to.