Long, Rich Tradition of Dairy Farming « Back

Dairy farming is nothing shy of hard work and for those that have kept the rich tradition thriving – generation after generation – I raise my glass of milk in admiration.

One of those dairy farms is home to Maple Lawn Jerseys near Tremont, Illinois. This is a century-old story still in the making. Home to Dan and Connie Schweigert and 20 Registered Jersey milk cows—this small dairy has excelled on many levels by working together and never sacrificing its focus.

Maple Lawn’s mission has been consistent; their goal is to achieve excellent physical traits, high milk production and longevity for each and every cow, attaining this because of the family’s awesome individual cow care. Their average cow is eight years old (very good for a cow) and one of the herd favorites, “Baclava,” just celebrated her 18th birthday, an admirable achievement for a cow. This Jersey cow has produced more than 270,000 pounds of milk in her lifetime; ranking fourth in the country for her high merits.

Dan, a third generation dairy farmer, takes tremendous pride in his dairy, his cows and his family. He believes a small herd can carry on and provide a living if the cows are productive and have excellent physical traits. “It’s fun going to the barn to milk excellent cows that fill the milk pail,” Dan says.

Milk quality is never forfeited at Maple Lawn Jerseys. Their milk does very well in tests that measure wholesomeness.  They achieve this by their meticulous cleaning – whether it’s in the barn, the cow lot or with the Jersey cows themselves. “When the cows are in the barn, they are checked and cleaned regularly throughout the day,” Dan says.

The Schweigert’s small herd of Jersey cattle has received much recognition for top-notch milk production, ranking them first in the state.  Their cows, on average, produce nearly 20,000 pounds of milk each lactation, which is about 305 days. Just as important to the family, their herd has produced more than 100 Registered Jerseys that have performed exceptionally well in the show ring.

Through it all, Dan and Connie love to work together as a couple and as a family. They have three grown sons: John, Jim and Jeff, and five grandchildren. “The kids and grandkids love to help out where they can—whether that’s in the show ring or in the barn,” Connie says.