The reasons may be different, but enduring change is nothing new for Sturgeon Bay’s DeFere Family Farm. The organic operation was slated to host this year’s Sevastopol FFA Dairy Breakfast before COVID-19 concerns led to the cancellation of the event that routinely draws thousands of people. Bought by her parents in the 1970s, Tina and her husband Mark Wagner joined the family business and helped transition the 80 acre, 42 cow operation to organic in 2002. She credits their attention to detail for why DeFere Family Farm won the Cream of the Crop Award for milk quality from Organic Valley.
Since organic operators rely more on grassy pastures for their animals than other dairy farmers, Wagner says it has more flexibility when it comes to hosting the event for the first time since 1986. On Friday you can learn how the dairy industry is taking its June celebration virtual.
