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College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

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July 2, 2018 - 12:06pm -- Anonymous

2018 Dairy Twilight Tour

The Wayne-Ashland Dairy Service Unit invites all dairy farmers, dairy service industries, businesses and anyone with an interest in dairy farms and the dairy business to the 2018 Dairy Twilight Tour scheduled for Tuesday evening, July 10.  Winkler Farms, LLC, located at 13344 Kauffman Ave. in Sterling, Ohio will host the 2018 tour, which begins at 6:00 pm.  Jim, Joan, Jeff, Rebecca and Jerrod Winkler operate Winkler Farms, LLC.  At the March 2018 Wayne-Ashland Dairy Service annual meeting, the Winkler family received the Herd Management Award.  The farm was a silver winner in the 2017 National Dairy Quality Awards program.

Parking is limited at the farm site, so guests must park at Norwayne High School located at 350 S Main Street in Creston, 44217.  The high school is approximately 3 miles from the farm and buses will provide transportation to and from the farm all evening from the high school location.  Buses will begin transportation to the farm at 5:30 pm and continue to run until the evening’s activities at the farm are finished.  Limited handicapped parking is available at the ballpark across the street from the Winkler farm.

The farm will offer a walk-it-yourself tour of some of the facilities.  Participants can expect to see a well-managed dairy farm that produces high quality milk, and provides a comfortable environment for their cows.  The Winklers milk more than 350 cows with a rolling herd average of 27,657 pounds of milk per cow per year with an average somatic cell count (SCC) below one-hundred thousand. 

Winkler Farms LLC also does an outstanding job of raising calves and recently completed construction of a new calf barn.   Other topics that will be covered during the tour include dairy farm economics, labor, and manure management.  At 8:00 pm, there will be a discussion/interview with the Winkler family.  After family introductions, they will provide an overview and explanation of the farm operation and management.  Tour participants will have an opportunity to ask the family questions about their farm and management practices.

In addition to touring the farm and its facilities, attendees can visit the various sponsor displays and exhibits.  In recent years, more than sixty sponsors have set up displays or exhibits that include tabletop displays, product samples, and even tractors, machinery and equipment.  These exhibits represent the impressive dairy industry infrastructure that we have in this area of the state.  The support structure of feed, seed, supplies, equipment, and services such as electric, insurance, financial consultants and Ag lenders is necessary to have a thriving dairy industry. 

Another tour highlight, thanks to our sponsor’s generous support, is the free chicken and pork meal.  Meal service begins at 6:00 pm and continues throughout the evening.   In addition to the meal, guests can enjoy pie, ice cream, cheese, and of course, plenty of milk available.

Mark your calendar and make plans to attend the dairy twilight tour the evening of July 10th at Winkler Farms, LLC in Sterling.  An informational flyer is available on the Wayne County Extension web site at http://go.osu.edu/agwayne or contact the Extension office at 330-264-8722 for more information.