Dairy Profile

Stephanie Hughes
(Pictured with husband, Alan, and sons, Bryce, Gavin and Derek)
Sunsett Dairy
Pittsville, Wisconsin
Wood County
65 cows

How did you get into farming? My husband and I began renting his father’s farm in 2007. We purchased our own registered dairy cows.

What are your thoughts and concerns about the dairy industry for the next year? Input prices to plant our crops is an extremely huge concern.

What is a recent change you made on your farm and the reason for it? We have started direct marketing our finished Jersey steers to consumers. We also opened an on-farm store, Sunsett Farmstead Market.

Tell us about a skill you possess that makes dairy farming easier for you. Being knowledgeable about animal care and being able to diagnose and treat cattle, therefore saving vet costs. Also, being able to artificially inseminate my own cattle is a huge cost savings.

What is the best decision you have made on your farm? Putting in a stationary mixer was great. Our cows are healthier on a total mixed ration, we have good milk production, and we are able to better manage feed inventory.

What are three things on the farm that you cannot live without? First would be my husband and my kids; they are the reason I get up in the morning. I work hard for them, and they work hard with me. They support my passion to dairy farm. Second would be our cows. They are the income-earning asset, and I love developing good cows. Third would be the skid loader. We use the skid loader every day to help us feed and clean. It makes our lives easier.

What strategies do you use to withstand the volatile milk prices? Every day we focus on efficiency. We try to do many things ourselves with the cows, machinery, improvements and repairs. Direct marketing our meat has helped cash flow as well.

How do you retain a good working relationship with your employees? We have one or two part-time employees every year. They are typically young people. I am fortunate to have very good help the last few years, and we can get away from time to time. I enjoy working with them and teaching them about farming, because it isn’t just a job.

What do you enjoy most about dairy farming? What I enjoy most about farming is raising my kids on the farm. The experiences and life lessons are second to none. We have good days and bad. We celebrate our success and dust each other off when we need to. They see life, and they see death. We work hard and play hard. I love this life and love doing it with them.

What advice would you give other dairy farmers? Try to do as many things as you can yourself. Be open to learning and education. Listen to learn, ask questions and participate in trainings. Never take anyone for granted. Be humble and kind.

What are your plans for your dairy in the next year and five years? This year, we would like to continue to grow our direct marketing business and continue to raise and develop good-quality registered dairy cattle for my kids to show. In the next five years, we would like to start planning the construction of a heifer and steer facility.

How do you or your family like to spend time when you are not doing chores? We like to show our registered dairy cattle. We like to fish, canoe and kayak. We also like to attend local car, truck and tractor shows.