Iowa Farmer Today, IA
06-23-07
Milking a way of life, for Keeling winners
By Gene Lucht, Iowa Farmer Today
CLARKSVILLE -- Milking and family are intricately intertwined on the Bolin farm
near here.
“We always told people we are a mixed marriage,” Pam says when talking about
her and husband Dave.
Then, she explains: His was a Guernsey-milking family, and her parents had
Holsteins. Even today, the Bolin family cow herd includes both breeds, as well as
a few Jerseys.
But, no matter what breed is in the North Central Iowa pasture, there was always
a dairy operation here. Running it was a family effort.
It even helped add to the family when their eldest son, Matthew, met a girl from
Florida during a dairy quiz bowl competition and ended up marrying her.
“I guess we’re just a dairy family,” Pam says.
Perhaps that’s one reason they have won several industry awards, including the
2006 Ralph Keeling Leadership Award from the Iowa State Dairy Association.
It probably doesn’t surprise too many friends who grew up near Dave or Pam that
they became dairy producers.
Dave’s father quit milking when Dave was about 13, but the teenager kept a few
cows and continued to milk. Pam’s family also milked.
After Dave earned a degree in dairy science at Iowa State University, the young
couple began their small dairy operation with a few 4-H animals in 1979.
Today, they operate Beaver Creek Farm, a 75-cow dairy farm. The Bolins milk
twice a day in their double-four herringbone swing parlor.
Dave does all the artificial insemination work. Their rolling herd average is 18,389
pounds for milk, 723 lbs. fat and 602 lbs. protein.
The Bolins have been involved with: the American Guernsey Association, the
Butler County Dairy Promoters, the Iowa Guernsey Board, the Iowa Holstein
Association, the Iowa State Dairy Association, the Midwest Dairy Association
(MDA) Corporate Board, the MDA Iowa Division Board, the MDA Iowa Dairy
Nutrition Council, the National Milk Producers Federation Young Cooperators
National Board, the Swiss Valley Board and the Unified DHIC Board.
On top of all those industry boards and councils, Pam is on an advisory council
for ISU Dean of Agriculture Wendy Wintersteen.
“That’s really interesting,” Pam says. “I try to offer a dairy farmer’s perspective.”
However, it always comes back to family.
Eldest son Matt is an ISU dairy science graduate. He and his wife, Ashley, have
a young son, Noah, and are in the process of moving back to Iowa to work in the
dairy nutrition area.
Dan graduated from ISU last year with a dairy science degree. He and his wife,
Lynn, are in Iowa. The youngest son, James, is a senior at Crossroads College in
Rochester, Minn., where he is a sports ministry major.
Back on the farm, the effort to run a quality dairy operation is a continual
challenge, but one the family relishes.
“Our major business is selling milk,” Pam says.
It is clear this is one family that likes what it does.