Couple's dairy dream starts small, but is growing

Agri News
Thursday, November 24, 2005
http://webstar.agrinews.com/agrinews/41770230661632.bsp

Couple’s dairy dream starts small, but is growing

By Stephanie Corbin
Agri News staff writer

LEWISTON, Minn. — Kevin and Reagan Hulbert of Lewiston knew they wanted to be dairy farmers, but the challenge was getting a herd and a farm.

Though neither grew up on a farm, they both have animal science degrees from the University of Minnesota and were interested in farming. Reagan has a master's degree in animal science.

The couple rents a dairy farm from Lewiston farmer Ray Radatz, who stopped his dairy operation in August 2004. They began renting the farm in April.

The Hulberts own 11 heifer calves, five yearling heifers and 40 milking cows.

Reagan worked several jobs in northern Minnesota near Eveleth, where she grew up. She was interested in being a veterinarian and worked with beef herds and horses.

"I got interested in large animals," Reagan said.

But she found out she liked dairying the best after working at the University of Minnesota's dairy.

"With beef you don't have much contact (with the herd)," Reagan said. "With dairy, you do. Twice a day."

Kevin is from the Lewiston area and knew a couple who rotationally grazes their dairy herd. The Hulberts wanted to start doing the same and were told about loans from Heifer International.

To qualify for the loan, Reagan said she and Kevin took the Land Stewardship Project's Farm Beginnings course while they were living in the Twin Cities.

They bought 15 heifers with the loan.

After the course, Reagan worked for Lewiston farmer Warren Hoppe, who produces milk using managed grazing.

"I got the job to get experience," Reagan said.

At that time, Kevin lived in the Cities and tried to sell the couple's home. He took Reagan's job on Hoppe's farm after the home sold. "We needed to actually do it."

The couple worked on Hoppe's farm for about a year before finding Radatz's farm to rent.

For now, Kevin works at Winona National Bank in Winona while Reagan works the dairy farm full time.

"In a few years we hope to have enough equity to buy our own farm," she said.

Reagan said their goal is for Kevin to work full time on the farm in about two years.

"Right now, I really need his help," she said. Kevin works on the farm evenings and weekends.

The couple's dairy herd has registered Brown Swiss, Holsteins, Norwegian Reds, milking Shorthorns, Ayrshires and a lot of crossbreeds of Holstein/Jersey and Holstein/Shorthorns.

"The crossbreeds are so much more resilient than the others," Reagan said. She plans to keep the Brown Swiss registered.

The couple has plans to expand up to about 100 animals eventually, but Reagan said she doesn't if they will buy more animals.

"We'll grow internally," she said.

She said the cows calve from March to May, which is a stressful time.

"We'll go through calving season first before making a decision," Reagan said.

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