Every morning, Brett Von Ruden wakes up at 5 a.m. in the home where he grew up, and walks a few steps from his front door to the barn where his father, grandfather and great-grandfather have milked the family’s small herd of dairy cows for over 80 years.
Brett Von Ruden feeds the young stock April 16 near Cashton. Von Ruden is the fourth generation of his family to work on the farm that was established by his grandfather in 1942.
Darin Von Ruden pushes his granddaughters, Etta, left, and Evelyn on April 16 in Cashton. Von Ruden passed his dairy farm down to his son, Brett, in 2015.
Brett Von Ruden shovels feed March 7 at his dairy farm in Cashton. The Von Ruden Dairy Farm is almost entirely run by Brett, with the help of his father and grandfather, who both live nearby.
Sabrina Servais guides the last cow out of the barn and onto pasture May 8 at Hamburg Hills Farm in Stoddard. Servais, 25, returned to the farm she grew up on after getting a degree in Dairy Science from UW-Madison.
Sabrina Servais feeds the calves on a rainy morning at Hamburg Hills Farm in Stoddard on April 25. Servais, who is the calf manager and the breeding manager, feeds the calves seven days a week.
Roommates Sabrina Servais and Gretchen Hoppe hang out at their apartment Aug. 11 in La Crosse. Servais lives in the city and commutes 20 minutes to the farm every morning.
Dale Von Ruden, 83, climbs into one of the tractors at his family farm Aug. 29. He lives just down the hill from the farm he passed down to his son and grandson, but he visits daily to lend a helping hand.
From left, Jim Servais, Zach Servais, his daughter, Rosalynn, Jackson Servais and Sabrina Servais meet over morning coffee to discuss plans for the farm May 29 at their home in Stoddard. The three siblings returned from college to run the farm with their parents and plan to eventually take the reins.
IN PHOTOS: Wisconsin's young dairy farmers persevere
Sabrina Servais feeds the calves on a rainy morning at Hamburg Hills Farm in Stoddard on April 25.
Saskia Hatvany, River Valley Media Group
Lisa Servais holds her granddaughter Rosalynn on May 29, 2025 at her home in Stoddard, Wis. Servais runs the farm's office and looks after her grandaughter several days a week.
Saskia Hatvany,River Valley Media Group
Dale Von Ruden and grandson Brett Von Rudin stand in the cattle barn that was orginally established by Brett's great grandfather.
Saskia Hatvany, River Valley Media Group
Brett Von Ruden loads a machine with seed May 7.
Saskia Hatvany,River Valley Media Group
Saskia Hatvany,River Valley Media Group
Sabrina Servais feeds a newborn calf on April 18, 2025 in Stoddard, Wis.
Saskia Hatvany,River Valley Media Group
Sabrina Servais watches the cattle as the heard heads out to pasture on May 8, 2025.
Saskia Hatvany,River Valley Media Group
Saskia Hatvany,River Valley Media Group
Brett Von Ruden feeds the young stock April 16 near Cashton. Von Ruden is the fourth generation of his family to work on the farm that was established by his grandfather in 1942.
Saskia Hatvany, River Valley Media Group
Darin Von Ruden pushes his granddaughters, Etta, left, and Evelyn on April 16 in Cashton. Von Ruden passed his dairy farm down to his son, Brett, in 2015.
Saskia Hatvany,River Valley Media Group
Brett Von Ruden shovels feed March 7 at his dairy farm in Cashton. The Von Ruden Dairy Farm is almost entirely run by Brett, with the help of his father and grandfather, who both live nearby.
Saskia Hatvany, River Valley Media Group
Sabrina Servais guides the last cow out of the barn and onto pasture May 8 at Hamburg Hills Farm in Stoddard. Servais, 25, returned to the farm she grew up on after getting a degree in Dairy Science from UW-Madison.
Saskia Hatvany,River Valley Media Group
From left, Jim Servais, Zach Servais, his daughter, Rosalynn, Jackson Servais and Sabrina Servais meet over morning coffee to discuss plans for the farm May 29 at their home in Stoddard. The three siblings returned from college to run the farm with their parents and plan to eventually take the reins.
Saskia Hatvany,River Valley Media Group
Sabrina Servais feeds the calves on a rainy morning at Hamburg Hills Farm in Stoddard on April 25. Servais, who is the calf manager and the breeding manager, feeds the calves seven days a week.
Saskia Hatvany,River Valley Media Group
Zach Servais operates a tractor while hauling manure from a pit to the fields May 8 in Stoddard.
Saskia Hatvany,River Valley Media Group
Roommates Sabrina Servais and Gretchen Hoppe hang out at their apartment Aug. 11 in La Crosse. Servais lives in the city and commutes 20 minutes to the farm every morning.
Saskia Hatvany, River Valley Media Group
Brett Von Ruden milks cows at his family farm April 16 in Cashton.
Saskia Hatvany,River Valley Media Group
Dale Von Ruden, 83, climbs into one of the tractors at his family farm Aug. 29. He lives just down the hill from the farm he passed down to his son and grandson, but he visits daily to lend a helping hand.
Saskia Hatvany, River Valley Media Group
Brett Von Ruden milks cows at his family farm April 16 in Cashton.
Brett Von Ruden feeds the young stock April 16 near Cashton. Von Ruden is the fourth generation of his family to work on the farm that was established by his grandfather in 1942.
Darin Von Ruden pushes his granddaughters, Etta, left, and Evelyn on April 16 in Cashton. Von Ruden passed his dairy farm down to his son, Brett, in 2015.
Brett Von Ruden shovels feed March 7 at his dairy farm in Cashton. The Von Ruden Dairy Farm is almost entirely run by Brett, with the help of his father and grandfather, who both live nearby.
Sabrina Servais guides the last cow out of the barn and onto pasture May 8 at Hamburg Hills Farm in Stoddard. Servais, 25, returned to the farm she grew up on after getting a degree in Dairy Science from UW-Madison.
Sabrina Servais feeds the calves on a rainy morning at Hamburg Hills Farm in Stoddard on April 25. Servais, who is the calf manager and the breeding manager, feeds the calves seven days a week.
From left, Jim Servais, Zach Servais, his daughter, Rosalynn, Jackson Servais and Sabrina Servais meet over morning coffee to discuss plans for the farm May 29 at their home in Stoddard. The three siblings returned from college to run the farm with their parents and plan to eventually take the reins.
Roommates Sabrina Servais and Gretchen Hoppe hang out at their apartment Aug. 11 in La Crosse. Servais lives in the city and commutes 20 minutes to the farm every morning.
Dale Von Ruden, 83, climbs into one of the tractors at his family farm Aug. 29. He lives just down the hill from the farm he passed down to his son and grandson, but he visits daily to lend a helping hand.
