Joe Hartzler

Then...

Joe Hartzler almost flew off into an aviation career before returning to dairy farming. His initial desire to fly high above the earth may explain why family members say Joe seems to see the big picture so well.

"The market for natural food products is exploding," says Joe. "And that means there is a great opportunity for farmers to direct market their products to customers."

It also explains Joe's positive attitude about his current situation. He and his wife, Jean, who milks with him, have 38 registered Holsteins on their farm...and they all have names. You can tell they appreciate animals. Joe still speaks fondly of his "Grandma cow" which passed away last year. ("She produced over 270,000 lbs. of milk in her lifetime," states Joe.) Jean is a serious horse trainer who takes championship care of her Pintos.

Joe's milking set-up is somewhat different from the other Hartzler family dairies in that he owns and operates a tie-stall barn. Most dairies use a milking parlor system whereby the cows are herded into a lot or holding area and wait to be milked four to six at a time. A tie-stall barn basically provides each milking cow with their own stall. Each cow can then be fed and cared for on an individual basis during the two daily milking routines.

Joe's barn also has a big, homey feel to it. All the lights are encased in Mason jars on which swallows build nests every year. According to Joe, the swallows, which he affectionately refers to as "skeeter hawks," return to the barn the exact same week each spring.

Joe, the sixth Hartzler son, says his first job on the family farm was taking care of calves, feeding and watering them, a job which he now passes on to his own children. Joe returned to the current location in 1983 after a brief stint in aeronautical school. He has been a devout follower of his father's, Harold, organic farming methods ever since.

Now...

Coming Soon

"..The Cream Rises to the top"