Such is Life: A Tale of a Dairy Farm Couple

Today I want to share the story of my friends Andrew and Chelsa Golberg. These two crazy lovebirds CHOSE to become dairy farmers. If you come from a rural small town area like myself, or have scrolled Facebook and seen the headlines in regards to dairy farmers lately, (i.e. "Tough Conditions Contribute to Dairy Farmer Suicide Rates) you will understand why I refer to them as a little bit crazy. These two people I am lucky to know have the most beautiful little farm. I have been blessed to be able to sit in their charming, albeit tiny, non-air conditioned kitchen on a summer night with the windows open while her two kids will show my starry eyed children how to jump from hay bale to hay bale and rile up the chickens. Chelsa, a full time math teacher at the local school, will serve homemade salsa from her garden and laugh about whatever problem her 100 year old farm house is handing her that day and how nothing seems to be level. Her family has a genuine happiness about them, and being on their farm is, quite literally, a breath of fresh air for my soul. Over the past two months I have asked numerous farmers, "what can we do to help?" and nobody seems to quite know the answer. I have read about supply outpacing demand, the decline in people drinking milk (especially in schools) and how mega farms and polices that changed in the 1970's encouraged farms to, "get big or get out". I don't have any answers, but its easier to care and be more interested when you know the faces behind the headlines and that gallon of milk you are purchasing. So allow me to introduce you to, Andrew and Chelsa. Sometimes farmers get a bad rap for a variety of stereotypes. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't met a cranky, pessimist farmer who thinks their job is "the hardest of them all". But this is why I want you to meet Andrew and Chelsa. They are truly two of the most optimistic, hardworking and friendly people I know. They love animals and care about doing things the right way. Here is their story.

Andrew always knew he wanted to be a Dairy Farmer. When he was small, his parents had a dairy farm in the 80's but struggled with the huge capital investment of buying land, facilities, livestock and machinery it takes to farm. 18 percent interest and poor prices forced them to cut their losses and move into town. He was four when the family left the farm, but he had already been bitten by the farming "bug". In 1998 his parents bought the farm he is currently on. His mom worked in town and they had beef cows and crops and Andrew knew this was the way he wanted to make his living. His senior year of college he borrowed money from the farm service agency's Young Farmer Loan Program to buy a herd of 55 cows and equipment. He started milking in 2005 while he was finishing his last semester of college. He has a four year degree in Animal Science with an emphasis in dairy production. Chelsa and Andrew met in college and Chelsa says, "Andrew warned me he wanted to be a farmer, but I had no clue what that meant. I have started this farming wife thing from scratch and have learned so much. It is hard." They married in 2007 and have since bought out Andrews parents share of the business and grew their herd to 200 milking cows. In the last two years they have also added a custom harvesting business and started custom raising heifers for a large dairy farm in central Minnesota.

Above:Andrew finishing a concrete pour. Making grooves in the concrete so the cows won't slip.

In regards to farm life struggles, Andrew says, "The margins for a dairy farm are razor thin, and when you are starting from scratch there is a big disadvantage in all the debt it takes to get up and going. Farming is very capital intensive, and can have a tiny return for all the money it takes to operate. Big debt payments builds equity but you can't eat equity so you end up living on very little. In 2009 prices were unbearably low. It was forecasted that for every 10 cows you would lose $10,00 a month. We lost over $100,000 that year and we weren't alone. Those numbers held up for almost everyone, even the most “well heeled" farmers were borrowing lots of money to pay bills. The problem? Margins keep shrinking, farms get bigger and more efficient and when prices drop only the strongest survive. Simple capitalism. The shame is that our community is paying a huge price for its cheap food and the farmers cut is tiny compared to the retailer. Way less farms mean way less families with kids in school, buying goods and services in town like your mechanic, hardware stores and fleet stores. Our farm alone pays roughly $50,000 to local vendors for goods and services per month (example feed co-ops, fuel, bedding, labor and vet bill)! (Andrew and Chelsa hire out labor because their cows go through the parlor three times a day,that means technically 600 are milked and they all need to be fed, calves need to be bottle fed for three months, etc. It's not a job one man or even one family can do.) Think of the economic impact losing 80 percent of the dairy farms has had on our local economy. Our small towns are drying up, fewer and fewer people actually farm for a living."

Fresh summer produce from Chelsa's garden and Hank and Ellie learning to make salsa.

When I asked Chelsa her opinion she said, "to be totally honest being married to a dairy farmer can be a struggle because the work that a dairy farmer has many times is work that you can't just walk away from. You can't just not bed or feed your cows and heifers after a snow storm, not be around when you have a bunch of cows calving, not answer your phone when you have an employee calling because something broke, etc. Many of the tasks are things you have to deal with or you know your animals will suffer. People don't think of the behind the scenes things that go on with any business: payroll, bookkeeping, employee management, financial decisions, etc. Andrew is practically an engineer, always figuring out how to fix things, manufacture new parts, welding, etc. He is also a vet at times, treating sick animals, assessing animal health, understanding what he needs to do to provide our animals the best health he can. These are the things that keep it interesting and challenging, but can make it stressful at the same time. We feel that I have to work out of the house because we need to have my income as something reliable, we can't always count on the farm. I struggle with the feeling like we are stretched too thin...there is a never-ending list of things and animals that need our attention and or money. Maybe I'm the pessimistic one". I assure you all, she is not.

Hank and Ellie on the Golberg Farm

When asked "how can I help?" Andrew's response was, "The only solution I can see is for people to start voting with their checkbook. Buy local, find food that is grown here packaged here instead of Arkansas. Milk is a little tricky to source but it is possible. Our milk is made into a product that is sold to another processor who makes it into a finished product. There are local cheese plants and milk bottling plants. Support them and if at all possible buy direct from farmers whatever the food may be. Most of the dairy farmers I know are farming because they love to farm. I love the challenges, the rewards “not always monetary" and the opportunities it gives me as a parent to teach my children. Handling money, doing the work today for a reward that might not be instantly gratifying, and taking care of animals who in turn take care of us."

Little Hank helping on the farm.

Chelsa and Andrew were hesitant that by sharing their story people would get the idea that they are looking for sympathy, and that is not the case. Andrew loves the lifestyle he has chosen and by sharing their story, they are merely joining me in trying to bring awareness to the climate and issues surrounding dairy farmers. One reason I wanted to share this story is because Chelsa and Andrew's marriage has been an example of great strength to me. They work hard together and set a positive tone for their kids on how to make ends meet.

That being said, take time to see if there are any farms nearby that you can buy products directly from. Take your kids to farms with strawberry patches and other vegetable stands this summer. Care about where your food comes from, and the crazy good people like Andrew and Chelsa who stand behind it.