Bio: Weideman, Arthur/Lydia – Outstanding Farmer Award (1974)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Weideman, Eggebrecht, Mullarkey, Talcott, Goldschmidt, Klein, Grewe

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 136 Jun 1974

The Arthur Weideman family, rural Abbotsford, has made a family farm succeed.

The Weidemans were honor as this year’s “Outstanding Area Farmers” at a banquet in St. Bernard’s Church Hall, which marked the opening of the 1974 four day Abbotsford Dairy Days celebration.

Speaking at the banquet was James Eggebrecht, Colby, president of the Central Wisconsin Cheesemakers Association.

Arthur and Lydia Weideman began farming in 1941 with 80 acres in the town of Mayville. With 56 acres under plow, they rented 80 acres of wild pasture, and owned 17 cows and seven heifers. The couple remembers the first mile check of $26.

They have since brought the farm acreage up to 680 acres by acquiring land from some of the surrounding farms. A partnership with his son, Gerald, was formed in 1962 by Weideman.

Through the years they have cleared and broken 134 acres and presently have 660 acres under plow. This year’s acreage included 240 acres of corn, 133 acres of oats, 30 acres of pasture and 300 acres of hay.

The present herd numbers 170 Holstein cows, of which over half are registered; 145 heifers, 30 steers, 18 brood sows, 20 feeder pings and 900 chickens. The average production of butter fat per cow is 544 pounds, and during the past six months the farm produced 1,201, 177 pounds of milk.

The Weidemans practice soil conservation with ditch waterways and terracing according to conservation officials recommendations.

Weideman has been a member of the Abbotsford School Board for 24 years.

Mr. and Mrs. Weideman have a son, Gerald, and five daughters, Mrs. Jim (Janice) Mullarkey, New London, Mrs. Warren (Darlene( Talcott, Spencer, Mrs. Richard (Nancy) Goldschmidt, Colby, Mrs. Tom (Jenny) Klein, Riverside, California and Mrs. Alan (Wendy) Grewe, Abbotsford.

One daughter is deceased.