The Long Days of Summer « Back

The long days of summer are here and I just got off the phone with the Sheehan family from Sheeknoll Farms in Rochester, Minnesota, which made me smile.

Sheeknoll Farms have two dairy facilities near Rochester – the newer 230-cow free-stall and milking parlor, and a tie-stall barn that houses 55 cows. “This expansion made it possible to bring the next generation into the operation and to continue the dairy at Sheeknoll Farms,” says Jeannette. The Sheehan family also farms 800 acres of crops, including alfalfa and corn, which is raised to feed all the cattle on the two farms.

Keystones for success for Sheeknoll Farms include excellent cow care, superior animal genetics and agriculture involvement, all of which have made them well-known throughout the countryside.

At milking time the maintaining, cleaning and excellent sanitizing of milking equipment is executed. “Cleaning and sanitizing the milking equipment before and after each milking is a must,” says Jeannette. “Keeping the cows clean and healthy is another area we focus on.” Both dairy facilities have mattresses where the cows lay in “free-stalls” which allow them to move about or rest, and are bedded with sawdust to help them stay clean and comfortable.

Taking care of their land was is another important practice for Sheeknoll. “We have always taken care of our resources with good land practices,” says Jeannette. They test the soil and their agronomist directs them on their manure management plans, plant nutrition and weed control. The Sheehans chisel plow as their main tillage practice, which leaves crop residue on top of the soil to protect it from erosion.  They also rotate which crops are in a field to ensure good fertile soil and they apply manure from their dairy to keep costs down and make use of the natural fertilizer it provides.

On top of their sunrise to sunset role of taking care of their cows and land, the Sheehans find themselves very involved in both their local community and dairy scene – a role that they would not pass up. From hosting school tours, to educating the local school districts on dairy through Ag in the Classroom to their local church involvement – both Robert and Jeannette find huge satisfaction in giving back to their communities. “Every day our goal is to do the best we can,” says Jeannette.

This passion and enthusiasm for dairy has been passed down to the next generation. Robert and Jeannette’s children are very active in the dairy industry, with experience in 4-H, reigns as dairy princesses and national dairy judging team honors—to name a few. “Our upbringing on a dairy farm has not only shaped our future in the industry, but also instilled deep values for life,” says Kelly (Sheehan) Kendall, daughter of Robert and Jeannette.  It’s a reflection shared by each generation of the Sheehan family.