Dairy Twilight Tour repeats success at the Falling Star Farm & Meyer Hatchery
The 2022 Dairy Twilight Tour held at the Falling Star Farm & Meyer Hatchery and hosted by the Wayne-Ashland Dairy Service Unit in cooperation with the OSU Extension of Wayne County was a repeat success in showcasing the dairy industry.
The Ashland County dairy farm owned by the Dewey Meyer family is located in the north-east portion of the county. The family also owns and operates Meyer Hatchery and Branson Excavation.
They have 500 milking Holsteins, farm 600 acres of corn and 400 acres of hay. The hatchery offers over 160 breeds of poultry with chicks shipped across the United States through the postal service. The three-generational farm is pleased to have the fourth generation growing up on the farm.
The program began with the Dairy Summit that offered seven sessions each with a focus on outlook for the industry, current challenges and some tools to mitigate the current industry’s concerns. Speakers included Frank Burkett, Seth Gerber, Haley Zynda, Laurie Oswald, Tom Stocksdale and Scott Higgins.
Dairy Twilight Tour begins with shuttle rides to view the facilities
The Dairy Twilight Tour began following the summit offering shuttle rides to view the facilities used for the dairy operation.
Tours were also given by a people mover train powered by a DX-25 Case tractor constructed by the Stoller family. A display of at least 7 show ready red paint tractors welcomed the touring public brought in by near-by neighbor, Jerry Bauer.
Once parked and registered, each was provided a free meal ticket good for any of the four food trailers, opportunities to visit a vast array of vendors invited because they are a vital part of the Meyer dairy operation in some manner, and plenty of water and milk.
A first during the activities was a benefit auction held to assist a dairy family faced with medical needs. A variety of baskets, wheels of cheese were held by members of the Meyer family while bids were called by Auctioneer Jake White.
Among the items offered was the choice of one calf from a selection of 4 that were available to view during the evening. A tally of $5,430 was garnered to support this young dairy family facing challenges that was coordinated by the Meyer family.
History of the Ashland County dairy farm, Meyer Hatchery and Branson Excavation
In 1953, Phillip Kerr and Shirley Fisher married and began life on the family dairy farm located not far from the current location. While he was stationed 18 months in Germany serving in the Army, Shirley managed to milk the cows with the assistance of one other hand.
To register the Holstein herd, the couple needed a name and where conversing on this one evening in 1958 they were looking toward the stary sky it came upon them to call the dairy Falling Star and it remains to this day.
In 1962, they purchased the Kuchenbecker on State Route 89 and moved the cattle on to the farm one very cold day by walking them down the county road to the new farm. Their children included Lisa, Karen, Russ and Kathy. They continued to build from the 43 initial milking cows and 160 acres. In 1979, Karen married and brought Dewey into the family dairy business.
The story of the hatchery began with a small incubator as a hobby for Karen in 1985 and has expanded to the current business that includes not only hatching 50-60,000 of 160 breeds of chicks annually, but also raise starter birds and pullets with their retail store and mail order business.
Branson Excavation is also owned by the Dewey and Karen. It was purchased in the spring of 2012 and has proven to be a valuable asset to the farm and community. Today, the Meyers include Russ, Clay, Neal, and Page along with their children. They have a 500 head milking herd and a facility to produce food and fiber.
Thousands take part on the Dairy Twilight Tour
Thousands of folks toured this family dairy farm on a Tuesday evening in July and found favorable conditions to view the operation, activities for the children, fine selection of foods and offerings of free milk, water, ice cream, cheese, information and knickknacks shared by the many vendors present.
Wayne Ashland County Dairy Service President Tom Stocksdale shared deep gratitude of the cream of the crop supporters of which make this education event possible. Assisting with parking were members of four FFA chapters including Smithville, Triway, Northwestern and Hillsdale.
The Wayne County Dairy Ambassadors assisted with the registration along with the members of the Unit assisting with various duties of the event. The Unit plans to hold the tour on a Wayne County dairy next year.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: 2022 Dairy Twilight Tour at the Falling Star Farm & Meyer Hatchery
