Dahl Family Hosts Granton Dairy Breakfast 2019

Members of the Dahl family hosting the Granton FFA Alumni Dairy Breakfast June 2, include
(front, l-r) Grace Tischaefer, Alex Tischaefer, Rick Tischaefer,
(middle) Bryan Dahl, Shana Tischaefer, Lori Brown, Nate Brown,
(back) Gary Dahl and Dave Brown. Photo submitted

This year marks a special point in the history of the Dahl family farm. As such, it is only fitting that it be the site of the annual Granton FFA Alumni Dairy Breakfast.

The breakfast is set for this Sunday, June 2, at the Gary, Marjorie, and Bryan Dahl Farm, one-half mile north of USH 10, at N3870 Pelsdorf Ave., Granton.

The family has been on the list to host the breakfast for seven years, waiting for 2019. They will be honored as a sesquicentennial farm this summer during a ceremony at the state fair. Sesquicentennial means that the farm has been in the family for 150 years, established in 1869 by Marjorie’s great-grandparents. Sadly, Marjorie passed away this winter, missing the special celebration, but the family wants to honor her and her family’s heritage by keeping her name as a host.

August Schlinsog, Sr. purchased the farm in June 1869. At that time the property consisted of 80 acres, a log house and a log barn. He replaced that log house with a small wood frame home, which is still part of the existing house today. The original log barn also remains on the farm.

August Schlinsog, Jr. then purchased the farm from his dad in 1907. Shortly after that, he built a large addition on to the house. He also built the dairy barn on the property. He continued to farm there until he sold it in1939 to his son Emil Schlinsog. Emil and his wife Lorraine raised three children on the farm, one of whom was Marjorie. They farmed for many years and decided to expand the dairy barn in 1964. Emil built an addition on the barn that year with the help of Les Keuer, who ironically, was Gary’s grandpa.

Gary and Marjorie were married in June 1975 and rented a house north of Granton while Gary farmed with his dad at his farm on CTH K. Then in 1977, Gary and Marjorie purchased the farm from Emil and Lorraine. They made some renovations to the farmhouse, added a couple of silos, built new heifer facilities and updated the milk house and milking system to include pipeline equipment. The latest addition to the farm was the shed built in 2012, which will serve as the main building for the breakfast event. The shed is 54 feet by 136 feet with a concrete floor.

When Gary and Marjorie purchased the farm, it had 100 acres, a few buildings and some equipment. At the time of purchase, they entered into an agreement for a 25-percent milk check assignment program for the purchase and paid for the original farm in five years. Since then, they purchased an additional 260 acres of land in 1982 and they rent another 220 acres from Gary’s mother at the farm where Gary got his start. The primary crops raised on the farm today include corn, soybeans, small grains and hay.

When the couple started milking at this farm, they had 32 cows. Today they have about 40 cows that are producing milk, with an additional 40 head of young stock. Gary remembers Dec. 4, 1964 as a significant day in his life, as it was the day that he milked his first cow. His family moved their cows into a newly remodeled barn that day, and he learned how to milk them.

“I’ve been milking ever since,” said Gary.

He purchased his first herd of his own in 1971.

Gary and Marjorie raised three children on the farm, Bryan, Shana and Lori. Bryan remains at home farming with Gary. Shana is married to Rick Tischaefer, and they have two children, Grace and Alex. Lori is married to Dave Brown, and they have one son, Nate. The three grandchildren regularly visit the farm and enjoy time there.

Gary said one of the biggest changes he has seen in his years of farming is the disappearance of the number of small farms in their area. At the time he and his wife purchased their farm, there were nine small dairy farms along Pelsdorf Road on the three-mile path to his family’s farm. Today there are only two left.

Bryan said he has seen a large increase in the conservation methods implemented in farming over the years. There are more ‘no-till” or “minimum-till” farming practices, along with other conservation practices, to help save soil. Their farm has been utilizing strip cropping is another conservation practice since the early 60s, since it has a lot of rolling land. They also utilize the hay crops, not only for the feed value, but also for the advantages of a cover crop.

Both recalled 1993 as being a challenging year similar to this year, with lots of rain, slowing the plating process. Bryan also shared memories of his sisters and him raising hogs and beef for the county fair as 4-H and FFA projects. They purchased hogs as feeders in the spring and raised them to market weight in time for the fair. The beef were male dairy animals raised at home from their herd. Marjorie also served as a 4-H leader in the areas of drama and cake decorating.

The farm has produced many fruits and vegetables each year. Apple trees in the orchard can still be found on the farm, producing good quality apples. Gary recalled that for years anyone in the neighborhood or family could come and pick all the apples that he or she wanted because there were so many produced. The only stipulation was that a person had to ask and didn’t dare pick without permission.

Marjorie spent many hours in the garden throughout the years, raising vegetables and flowers. There are still many lilac bushes on the property from family members that came as immigrants. The family is hoping that they will be in bloom for the breakfast.

There will be a variety of activities throughout the day, as well as a delicious meal in the shed for this event. Serving will run from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and parking will be on site, including special handicapped parking.

Breakfast will feature the Granton FFA Alumni’s special eggs, along with pancakes, provided by Uncle Pancake catering. Pure maple syrup, butter and applesauce will be available to enjoy with the pancakes. There will also be sausage, cheese curds, ice cream, milk, juice and coffee. The cost of the breakfast is $7 for adults, $3.50 for children in kindergarten through fifth grade, and preschool-age are free.

Special events during the day will include music by the Balsam Road Rambler’s Band, a display of antique tractors and a petting zoo, hosted by Granton FFA members. In addition, registration will begin at 10:30 a.m. for the pedal pull competition for children ages 12 and under. The pull will begin at 11 a.m. and will be conducted by River Valley Pedal Pulls from Osceola.

Pictures will be on display depicting the various changes to the farm throughout the years, and there will also be a few antiques from the original farm.

“This promises to be a fun, family event, to share the joys of farm life, reflect back on agricultural history and enjoy a meal and camaraderie celebrating the dairy industry,” Granton FFA Alumni member Cheryl Steinbach concluded in a press release.