The Meier family of Sunset Ridge Dairy Farm in Monticello will kick off the cavalcade of Farm Breakfast events across Wisconsin for June Dairy Month when they welcome guests to the 42nd Annual Green County Breakfast at the closes on Saturday, May 28.
Sunset Ridge Dairy Farm is owned and operated by Duane ‘Dewey’ and Jeanne Meier along with their son, David and Tiffany Meier and their daughter Avery.
Dewey is a third generation dairyman and David a fourth generation dairyman. In addition to the farm, Jeanne works at Figi Insurance and Financial Services and Tiffany works at the Oregon Veterinary Clinic.
Dewey and Jeanne also have 3 daughters and 11 grandchildren: Jenna (Dave); Jodi (Andre); Jessie (Eric) and grandchildren: Ari, Sophie, Cohen, Ethan, Elizabeth, Ryan, Samantha, Oliver, Mac, Jordy and Avery.
After many years of renting from other farms, the Meiers bought the farm on their current location in 1999. For many years they milked in a stall barn, but decided to expand the operation in 2014, by building a free-stall barn. They expanded again in 2016 with the addition of a double eight milking parlour.
The Meiers own 120 Registered Holstein and Brown Swiss cows and raise their own replacement heifers to continue improving their herd. Their milk is shipped to The Chalet Cheese Co-op, known for “The Home Of World Champion Cheeses”, including their famous Limburger and Deppeler’s Baby Swiss cheese, as well as many other cheese varieties: Brick, Pannaro, Havarti, Deppeler’s Swiss Wheel Aged and Cheese Curds.
They also farm in partnership with their son-in-law Andrew and daughter Jodi who live on the neighboring farm.
The Meiers are very proud of their farm operation which has allowed their children to help while growing up on the farm. Jenna, Jodi, Jessie and David have been very active in showcasing livestock through 4-H and FFA. The Meiers encouraged many other children to show off their cattle while also holding many practices for young dairy judging teams.
The Meier family invite the public to join them at their farm for a breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausages, cheese, homemade coffee cake, milk, coffee and orange juice, as well as strawberry sundaes.
Breakfast will be served from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The farm is located at W2902 Oliver Rd. Monticello, WI 53570. Parking will be available on site, weather permitting. Bus transportation from the Walmart Supercenter in Monroe or the Albany Lions Club in Albany is strongly encouraged as space is limited.
The cost of breakfast is $8 for adults (11 and older), $5 for youth (5-10), and free for children (4 and under). Entertainment over breakfast will include the Stateline Playboys band from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., an antique tractor display and petting zoo, as well as agricultural and wellness education stations and various craft vendors.
Age-old tradition
The Green County Dairy Breakfast has been a centuries-old tradition in the county since 1961, when the first event was held at the Church of Judah. From 1961 to 1979, various schools and churches in Green County held the Dairy Breakfast every spring, to kick off Dairy Month in June.
In 1979, through collaboration between the Green County Ag Chest and local farm families, the Dairy Breakfast was replaced by “Breakfast on the Farm”. Each following year, a different Green County farm family volunteered to host breakfast at their home for more than 5,000 attendees.
The Green County Ag Chest spends months planning breakfast on the farm. Each year, dozens of volunteers, local partners, farmers and supporters help make this breakfast a success.
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