Wisconsin Ag Connection - Statz Bros Farms to Host Farm Tech Days in 2015

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Statz Bros Farms to Host Farm Tech Days in 2015
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 02/12/2013

The location for the 2015 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days has been announced in Dane County. On Monday, organizers of the state's largest farm show introduced the owners of Statz Brothers Farms, Inc.--which is a three-generation operation made up of brothers Donald and Richard Statz and their sons in the town of Sun Prairie. Collectively, they milk about 2,000 Holsteins in three different facilities and farm nearly 5,500 acres of corn, soybeans, forage and small grains.

The Statz brothers first bought the farm in 1966, which only had a 40-cow stanchion barn at that time. They expanded the operation to more than 300 cows in 1974 and doubled in size once again in the early 1990s. Currently, they are in the process of building a double-50 parallel parlor to consolidate the herds together. The farm employs about 75 full-time workers.

As hosts, the family will go to work immediately with the Executive Committee and state Farm Technology Days coordinators to plan crop rotations to fit with the field demonstrations.

"We're proud to have the Statz Brothers, Inc. dairy as the home of Farm Technology Days in Dane County," said Dane County Executive Joe Parisi. "Their farm reflects much of what makes Dane County a special place to live--our strong agriculture heritage, our focus on families, and our respect for the land. I have no doubt that working together we will make Farm Tech Days in Dane County a great event for everyone to enjoy."

Dane County FTD Executive Chair Bob Wipperfurth adds that the show can capitalize on the farm's location.

"I think that site and the quality of the land and buildings, but more importantly the quality of the family, exemplifies outstanding agriculture in Dane County," Wipperfurth said. "This is going to be a great educational opportunity, especially with Dane County's population being so diverse. I think this is an event that will draw people together, develop new friendships and invoke leadership development. It has many positive effects on the community on many different levels."

Dane county is one of Wisconsin's most productive agricultural areas. It ranks first in both corn grain and corn silage; second in soybean production; and third in wheat production.

Meanwhile, organizers have scheduled the show for August 25-27, 2015.

The county previously held Farm Progress Days in 1970 near Sun Prairie on the Krebs farm and 1986 near DeForest on the Rauls and Treinen Farms. Both years the show was held during the fall featuring corn production and fall tillage.

This summer, FTD will be held July 9-11, 2013 in Barron County at Breezy Hill Dairy, owned by the Alex and Mary Olson Family, just south of Rice Lake. Portage County will be the host in August 2014 at Blue Top Farms near Plover.

Farm Technology Days is run by a group comprised of representatives of state and federal agencies involved in agriculture and natural resources, the University of Wisconsin, and the agribusiness-industry and farming sectors.

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