Two counties in Wisconsin have recognized the importance of young people in the dairy industry and have taken steps to ensure they have a successful start. The Marathon and Lincoln County Agribusiness Incubator Project last month hatched its first successful transition farm, and already the project is becoming a model for other counties.
Understanding the importance of agriculture to north central Wisconsin and the difficulties young farmers face when breaking into the industry, a number of veteran dairymen are stepping up to show the ropes to the next generation.
The University of Wisconsin-Extension, which facilitates the four-year-old program, helped design a lease agreement and mentoring situation for young farmer Enos Martin and veteran Lyle Guralski.
Guralski owned a farm in Athens and another about four miles away in Edgar. Martin had worked for him for about two years when he entered an agreement to purchase 90 of Guralski’s 240 cows so he could build up equity to purchase the Edgar farm within three years. Things went so well, however, he was able to buy the farm in June, a year ahead of schedule.
Guralski said he served as a reference to help Martin secure a loan, a process made easier by the fact the farm already was up and running. At age 52, Guralski hopes to retire within two or three years, and he’d like to transfer his farm in a similar manner when that time comes.