The month of June is just around corner and with it comes June Dairy Month, a time for the celebration of cows, cheese and all dairy products. The whole thing started in the late 1930’s when a national drug store initiated “National Milk Month” as a way to increase their dairy counter business in light of the annual spring milk surplus.
In 1940, Wisconsin Governor Julius P. Heil officially proclaimed “June Dairy Month”. While June Dairy Month has received some token recognition nationally, it remains primarily a Wisconsin tradition and event, with dairy breakfasts on the farm (approximately 50) serving as a key ingredient.
According to late historian and columnist John Oncken, Wisconsin’s June Dairy Breakfast on the Farm tradition dates back to 1970 when the Clever Clovers 4-H Club in Jefferson County was looking for a project for the annual Pure Milk Association (PMA) dairy promotion contest. Somehow, the idea of inviting a few city folks from nearby Fort Atkinson to a breakfast on the farm took hold and Craig and Laura Beane and children Tom and Marcia, offered their Holwis Farm at Fort Atkinson as a possible site. The Fort Atkinson Chamber of Commerce sent their members invitations “to visit a dairy farm and have a free breakfast … limited to the first 100 people that call.
The idea was a booming success and continues to this day as dairy farms across Wisconsin open the farm gates wide and invite both rural and urban community members to learn about their dairy farmer neighbors. Besides getting a chance to tour a working dairy farm and see animals up close, it’s a chance to share a good breakfast with farm-raised products and enjoy the conversation of friends and strangers.
Here’s a listing of dairy breakfasts and events across Wisconsin during June Dairy Month.
Saturday, June 6
Barron County Dairy Breakfast, 6 to 11 a.m. June 6 at Nelson Family Dairy Farm, 907 7 1/2 Ave., Barron, Wisconsin.
Cows on the Concourse, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Madison Capitol Square, 100 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Madison, Wisconsin. Meet and greet cows from local dairy farms, enjoy Wisconsin dairy products, listen to live music for free.
44th Crawford County Dairy Breakfast, 6 to 10 a.m. at Payne Rock Acres, 25653 Roach Road, Eastman, Wisconsin.
Iowa County Dairy Breakfast, 6:30 to 11 a.m. June 6 at Miller Time Farms, 179 6 Fairview Road, Avoca, Wisconsin.
Jefferson County Dairy Breakfast, 7 to 11 a.m. June 6 at Kutz Dairy LLC, N3612 Will Road, Jefferson, Wisconsin.
June Dairy Month Customer Appreciation Day, customer appreciation day 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Benoit Cheese Haus at 23920 County Highway F, Ashland, Wisconsin.
Monroe County Dairy Breakfast, 7 to 11 a.m. June 6 at Trescher Town-View Dairy, 829 Cashton Ave., Cashton, Wisconsin.
Price County Dairy Breakfast, 7 a.m. to noon June 6 at Kennan Memorial Park, N4211 Division St., Kennan, Wisconsin.
Rock County Dairy Breakfast, 6:30 to 11 a.m. June 6 at Brandl Farm, 10817 East Lake Shore Road, Clinton, Wisconsin.
Sunday, June 7
Brown County Breakfast on the Farm, 8 a.m. to noon June 7 at Tinedale Farm LLC, 2768 Poplar St., Wrightstown, Wisconsin.
Dodge County Dairy Brunch, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 7 at Dodge County Fairgrounds, N6558 High Point Road, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.
Marathon County Dairy Breakfast, 8 a.m. to noon June 7 at NTC Agriculture Center of Excellence, 1000 West Campus Drive, Wausau, Wisconsin.
Stratford FFA Alumni Dairy Breakfast, 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 7 at Country Aire Ballroom, 118600 County Road P, Stratford, Wisconsin.
Saturday, June 13
Dane County Breakfast on the Farm, 7 to 11:30 a.m. June 13 at Swaindale Genetics, 2810 County Road W, Deerfield, Wisconsin.
Dunn County Dairy Brunch, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 13 at Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, 3001 County Road B, Menomonie, Wisconsin.
Lafayette County Dairy Breakfast, 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. June 13 at UW-Platteville Pioneer Farm, 29200 College Farm Road, Platteville, Wisconsin.
Sauk County Dairy Breakfast, 7 to 11 a.m. June 13 at WindiRidge Farm, S5424 County Highway G, Hillpoint, Wisconsin.
Vernon County Dairy Breakfast, 7 to 11 a.m. June 13 at Jerad and Stacey Fleming’s Farm, S2095 Volden Road, Westby, Wisconsin.
Washington County Breakfast on the Farm, 7 to 11 a.m. June 13 at Iron Ridge Dairy LLC, 5385 Sunset Drive, Kewaskum, Wisconsin.
Sunday, June 14
Edgar FFA Alumni and Supporters June Dairy Breakfast, 7 a.m. to noon June 14 at Jason and Penny Borchardt Family Farm, 121588 County Road N, Edgar, Wisconsin.
Grant County Dairy Breakfast, 7 to 11 a.m. June 14 at Majestic View, 5368 Commercial Road, Lancaster, Wisconsin.
Lincoln County June Dairy Breakfast, 8 a.m. to noon June 14 at Smith Center at the Merrill Area Recreation Complex, 1100 Marc Drive, Merrill, Wisconsin.
Manitowoc County Breakfast on the Farm, 8 a.m. to noon June 14 at Hochkammer Dairy Farm LLC, 5908 Center Road, Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
Marquette County June Dairy Breakfast, 7 a.m. to noon June 14 at Kempley Sod Farm, W6389 Wisconsin Highway 23, Endeavor, Wisconsin.
Oconto County Breakfast on the Farm, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 14 at Riewe Farms, 6947 Old 15 Road, Oconto, Wisconsin.
Town & Country Dairy Breakfast, 6:30 a.m. to noon June 14 at Taylor County Fairgrounds, 845 East Broadway Ave., Medford, Wisconsin.
Friday, June 19
Dairy Day, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 19 at Burnett Dairy Cooperative, 11631 Wisconsin Highway 70, Grantsburg, Wisconsin.
Saturday, June 20
Buffalo County Dairy Breakfast, 7 to 11 a.m. June 20 at Buffalo Ridge Organic, W301 Buffalo Ridge Lane, Fountain City, Wisconsin.
Columbia County MOO-DAY Brunch, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 20 at Rob and Jenny Baerwolf Farm, W3220 Bristol Road, Columbus, Wisconsin.
Dairy Pop-Up food, bingo event, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 20 at Calumet County Fairgrounds, 231 Chestnut St., Chilton, Wisconsin.
June Dairy Day on the Farm, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 20 at TePoel Organic Dairy Farm, 11652 East TePoel Drive, Maple, Wisconsin.
La Crosse County Dairy Breakfast, 6 to 11 a.m. June 20 at Creamery Creek Farms, W1250 County Road U, Bangor, Wisconsin.
Pepin County Town and Country Dairy Breakfast, 6:30 to 11 a.m. June 20 at Baier Creek Farms, E2493 South County Road P, Elmwood, Wisconsin.
Pittsville FFA Alumni June Dairy Breakfast, 7 to 11 a.m. June 20 at Marti Farms LLC, 6603 Grant Road, Vesper, Wisconsin.
Rusk County Dairy Breakfast, 7 to 11 a.m. June 20 at K&K Agronomy/Sunset Oaks Event Center, W8812 County Road D, Holcombe, Wisconsin.
Sheboygan County Breakfast on the Farm, 7 a.m. to noon June 20 at Majestic Crossing Dairy, N5853 Meadowlark Road, Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin.
Trempealeau County Dairy Breakfast, 6 to 11 a.m. June 20 at Bert-Mar Farms, W12976 Huskelhus Road, Osseo, Wisconsin.
Watertown Agri-business Club Dairy Breakfast, 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 20 at McFarlandale Dairy, N302 County Road KK, Watertown, Wisconsin. Call 920-342-2229 for more information.
Sunday, June 21
Kewaunee County Breakfast on the Farm, 7 a.m. to noon June 21 at EL-NA Farms LLC, E4029 Pheasant Road, Algoma, Wisconsin.
Marshfield FFA Alumni June Dairy Breakfast, 7 a.m. to noon June 21 at D&B Sternweis Farms, 10071 Airport Road, Marshfield, Wisconsin.
Ripon FFA Alumni Breakfast, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 21 at Hollatz Farm, W12954 Hall St., Ripon, Wisconsin.
Watertown Agri-business Club Dairy Breakfast, 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 21 at McFarlandale Dairy, N302 County Road KK, Watertown, Wisconsin.
Waupaca County FFA Breakfast on the Farm, 8 a.m. to noon June 21 at Waupaca County Fairgrounds, 602 South St., Weyauwega, Wisconsin.
Saturday, June 27
Auburndale FFA Alumni 46th Annual June Dairy Breakfast, 8 a.m. to noon June 27 at Auburndale High School Shop, 10629 North Road, Auburndale, Wisconsin.
Sawyer County Dairy Breakfast, 6:30 to 11 a.m. June 27 at Sawyer County Fairgrounds, 10172 Bender Road, Hayward, Wisconsin.
Sunday, June 28
Colby Dairy Breakfast, 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Lindsey and Peter Graff’s Rambling Acres, 238041 Bruckerville Ave., Stetsonville, Wisconsin.
Envision Greater Fond du Lac Breakfast on the Farm, 8 a.m. to noon June 28 at Tower View Acres, N7268 Tower Road, Mount Calvary, Wisconsin.
Juneau County Dairy Breakfast, 7:30 to 11 a.m. June 28 at Elroy Fair at Schultz Park, 301 South Main St., Elroy, Wisconsin.
Shawano County Brunch on the Farm, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 28 at Kurowski Dairy, W3052 Swamp Road, Bonduel, Wisconsin.
Waushara County June Dairy Breakfast, 7:30 a.m. to noon at Waushara County Fairgrounds, 513 South Fair St., Wautoma, Wisconsin.
JULY
Sunday, July 5
Sevastopol FFA Alumni Dairy Breakfast, 6 to 11:30 a.m. July 5 at Lazy J Dairy LLC, 871 Pit Court, Luxemburg, Wisconsin.
This article originally appeared on Wisconsin State Farmer: Cows, cheese and community: Celebrate June Dairy Month at a breakfast on the farm
Reporting by Colleen Kottke, Wisconsin State Farmer / Wisconsin State Farmer
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