Rob and Kari Anderson of rural Westby will be hosting the annual Vernon County Holstein Twi-light Meeting on Friday, July 11. The Andersons reside on a century-old farm at S1415 Lovaas Ridge Road with their three children, 8-year-old Lucas, 6-year-old Karly and 14-month-old Link.

The Andersons purchased West Nook Farms 12 years ago from his parents, Loren and Gerry Anderson, who currently reside in the city of Westby. Loren purchased the farm from his parents, Lawrence and Helen Anderson, now deceased, who coincidently sponsored the county Holstein twilight meeting 40 years ago in1968.

The Andersons are currently joining a growing trend and are in the process of converting the 70- acre home farm to organic, with certification expected to be complete in 2009. The Andersons also rent 47 acres of organic cropland nearby. The organic concept of farming does not allow spraying of fields and requires old-fashioned cultivating for weed control.

The Andersons met while showing cattle at the Vernon County Fair in 1990 and although black and white Holsteins won after they exchanged wedding vows in 1996, Kari was raised on a Jersey farm. After experiencing the ups and downs of milk prices the transformation to organic has allowed the Andersons to remain small and keep the traditional family farm alive. The Andersons are working to increase their future milk yields through purchasing higher quality livestock and proven genetic blends. They are currently milking 26 Holstein cows and own 70 registered animals.

“We need to focus on the future with genetics. We have no desire to go big. We like being small family farmers,” Rob Anderson said.

The twilight meeting will be held on Friday, July 11. The program starts at 7 p.m. with cattle judging and lunch.

The evening program will provide reports from the Vernon County Junior Holstein Association and from the state and national representatives of the Holstein Association. The guest speaker for the evening will be Dave Kammel, UW-Extension Ag Engineer, who will share his experiences with dairy modernization in the countries of the Ukrane and Belarus.

A special appearance by the Wisconsin State Holstein Princess, Shi Lurvey, is scheduled and the Vernon-Crawford DHIA will present individual cow production awards and herd recognitions.

The Anderson farm is located at S1415 Lovaas Ridge Road, Travel one mile west of Westby on USH 14/61 and turn on to Lovaas Ridge Road. The West Nook Farm is the third farm on the left.

Visitors will be able to tour of the facilities and the public is invited to attend the dairy promotion event.

“You don’t have to be a farmer or raise Holstein cows to attend. We want everyone interested in farming to stop by,” Kari Anderson said.