New Day Dairy Recognized as First Good Farm Neighbors in Butler County

08-25-2023 in Good Farm Neighbor

CLARKSVILLE, IOWA – August 25, 2023 – Dan and Lynn Bolin of New Day Dairy were honored as Good Farm Neighbors on August 3rd, 2023, with a ceremony on their Century Farm. They farm just outside of Clarksville in Butler County with help from Dave and Pam Bolin, Dan’s parents.

The Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award, sponsored by the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers, is given to Iowa livestock farmers who raise livestock successfully and responsibly, care for their land, and are involved in their community. The Bolin Family is an excellent example of these three pillars.

“It’s in big and small ways that we have to make sure we are getting to consumers and the non-ag public about animal agriculture,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Naig, during the ceremony. “One of the things I love most about New Day Dairy is that they that to heart.”

The big ways New Day Dairy is connecting with consumers and the non-ag public is by being involved in industry organizations like Midwest Dairy, Butler County Farm Bureau, 4-H, Common Ground, Iowa Farm Bureau, and dairy specific boards. These organizations allow dairy farmers to promote dairy products and educate the public about dairy products.

Another way New Day Dairy is advocating for animal agriculture is through their guest barn. The guest barn allows the family to tell the story of dairy farming in a positive and insightful way. Guests can pet a cow, tour the dairy operation, name a calf if it is born, and ask any questions they may have.

Animal care is a top priority for New Day Dairy. The operation is FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) certified through their farmer-owned milk cooperative, Prairie Farms. All the cows are housed in a modern barn designed to protect them from inclement weather. The barn also has a robot named Rita, which customizes each cows’ milking experience and can alert the family of any possible issues with the cow.

The family grows corn, hay, peas, barley, and oats on 200 acres. To care for the land, the family uses minimum tillage practices to preserve soil health. Manure from the dairy is applied as fertilizer onto the land as well.

“We don’t think of what we do as anything that special,” said Dan Bolin, upon receiving the award. “Normative for me is that you care for your cows, you take care of the environment, and you love your neighbors as yourselves.”

The Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award is made possible through a partnership with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and The Big Show on WHO Radio. This award recognizes Iowa livestock farmers who take pride in caring for the environment and their livestock and have demonstrated a commitment to their community. The award is named in memory of Gary Wergin, a long-time WHO Radio farm broadcaster who helped create the award.

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