The annual Granton FFA Alumni Dairy Breakfast is taking place in Chili Sunday, June 5, at the John and Joan Martin family farm at W1290 Chili Road.  The farm is easy to find and personnel will be on hand to direct parking.  There will be handicap parking available.

John and Joan volunteered to host the breakfast this year as sort of a family celebration. They hosted their daughter’s wedding on the farm in 2014, and then celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary last year, also on the farm.

So, they both said, “Heck, let’s host the Dairy Breakfast, this farm partying is kind of fun!”

John and Joan had five children, who are now all gone from home.  They include Jamie, Jeremy, Jacob and Jada and Jesse, who passed away in 2003 after a courageous battle of cancer.  All of the martin children were active Granton FFA members.

The Martin family purchased the breakfast site in 1979, buying the house first.  They acquired the land and farmstead in 1996.  They began milking at the farm in 1991, renting from John’s father, Bob Martin Sr.  They started with eight dairy cows.

“It was a financial struggle when we first started, but as calves were born and the herd expanded, times got a bit easier,” John and Joan said.

At their prime milking, they were up to 40 cows, even having to switch stalls in the barn, since it only had 28 total tie stalls and stanchions.

The farm consists of 110 acres, 68 of which are tillable.  They now rent the land to Heimans.

John and Joan sold the cows in 2005.  John began working full-time off the farm at Weber’s Farm Store, which is now Heiman’s Holsteins, where he remains employed.

“After we lost our Jesse, who was the one who had the most farming interest, we just lost our drive to continue,” Joan said.

Joan was a stay-at-home Mom while they raised their children.  She began working at Marshfield Clinic in 2003 as an escort, and she continues her employment there today.

She initially sought employment to help with financial bills and insurance, but came to love it.

“I stay now because I meet a lot of neat people each day,” she says.  “I also get my daily exercise.”

The annual dairy breakfast is sponsored by the Granton FFA Alumni and will be held rain or shine.  Nearly 200 Granton FFA and FFA Alumni members will help out with the event.

A homemade, all-you-can-eat breakfast is planned, with pancakes, sausage, pure maple syrup, special eggs, applesauce, cheese, milk, juice, ice cream and coffee.  The delicious menu will be served from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Special events at the breakfast will include live music by the Balsam Road Ramblers Band and animals to enjoy, including dogs from the Clark County Humane Society.  John and Joan, along with family friend, Keith Okonek, will also have their antique tractors on display.  At 10:30 a.m. there will be a River Valley Youth Pedal Tractor pull for any interested youth, with prizes being awarded.

In addition to the delicious meal, guests may help show their support at the breakfast by participating in the donation drawing opportunities.  The FFA Alumni will use all proceeds from the breakfast for FFA student scholarships, trips and projects.

The Martin family is busy gearing up for the annual Granton FFA Alumni Dairy Breakfast, which will be held at their farm in Chili Sunday, June 5.  Family members are (l-r) Jamie, Catlin, Jordan, Joan, Jacob and John Martin, Rick and Jada Ellefson, Jeremy and Alik Martin, Cheri Redig and Taylor Martin. (Contributed Photo)

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