Barn full of memories: Steve and Lori Lins

What year did you start farming, and what year did you retire? We started farming in 1993. We retired in 2023 due to an injury.

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. Our farm wasn’t much when we started. It was rough, but we were first generation, and it was what we could afford. We purchased 50 cows and rented a barn for about a year before purchasing the farm. When we retired 30 years later, we had 240 milk cows and about 250 heifers. We pretty much started over with the dairy. We rebuilt the tiestall barn and eventually built a freestall barn, a parlor in the barn, a heifer barn, a calf barn, two machine sheds and a shop.

What were some of the big advancements you made during your career? I learned how to artificially inseminate my own cows and how to do my own nutrient work so I was able to balance our rations.

What did you love about milking cows? I loved morning milkings. We started early, and everything was quiet and peaceful. Watching cows improve over the years was rewarding, and we were able to raise our kids here on the farm.

What was the highlight of your dairy career? Our whole career was a highlight to us — from better cows to better buildings to better machinery to a better life in general.

What is the biggest challenge you faced in your career, and how did you overcome it? It wasn’t one challenge; it was a lifetime of challenges. You always have to keep thinking ahead and asking questions to people whom you trust.

If there is one thing you wish you could have done differently during your farming career, what would it be? I wish I could have purchased more land earlier in my career, but there just wasn’t the money to do so at that time.

What piece of equipment or technology has been introduced that you wish you had for your dairy career? Nothing really. We put in a parlor, built some buildings and bought some better equipment.

What do you miss most about dairy farming? The cows by far. We also miss the joy of seeing change with every decision you make. Not every decision pans out, but you do learn from it.

What advice would you give to a young farmer today? The same advice I was given by an older neighbor when I started farming: “Be patient and don’t get frustrated.” Remember that every day is a new beginning; do not drag yesterday along, and don’t forget to live a little.

What is your tie to the dairy industry today? I drink a lot of milk. I still help neighbors and my daughter’s family on their dairy.

Was retiring an easy or hard decision/transition? It wasn’t our decision. Father Time was catching up.

What have you been doing since you retired? A lot of things. We run a 100-cow-calf operation and still crop the land. I help anyone who asks, from farming to construction. My wife is back being a florist, and we are both enjoying our grandchildren. There is a life after dairy farming, and it is a good one. It has been a great ride.