When Bob Vandoske graduated from high school and made the decision to continue farming with his parents, the family was milking about 230 cows in a stanchion barn.

“It was the worst time of my life,” he said during a virtual farm tour at World Dairy Expo. “It was not fun. But dairy farming was all I ever wanted to do.”

Fortunately, things evolved quickly, and they continue to evolve at Vandoske Dairy Farms near Cleveland, Wis. The Vandoske family now milks about 600 cows and recently added a new calf barn, a facility to board show animals, and a retail store where the family sells ice cream directly to consumers. Those additions came after earlier improvements of freestall barns and a milking parlor to make caring for and milking the cows easier and more efficient.

Bob and his wife, Tara, farm with their three children, Brianne, Reid and Brooklyn. The farm was established by Bob’s grandparents, Rueben and Roma, in 1945 with just 18 cows, and grew incrementally over the years at the hands of Bob’s parents, Richard and Jane, and now Bob and Tara.

Bob credits his parents’ foresight to getting the farm on the right path.

“We wouldn’t be here without my parents’ vision and expansion at the right time,” Bob said. “They helped us get to where we are now, step by step. They didn’t take on a lot of debt or a big project they couldn’t handle. We did it the right way, a little at a time.”

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The Vandoskes own about 700 acres and rent an additional 400. Of those 1,100 acres, about 600 acres are planted into corn for silage, 400 acres are alfalfa used for forage, and 100 acres are wheat grown for straw and a ration grain. All crops grown on the farm are used for feed on the farm.

Bob said a key to the farm family’s success is the people they surround themselves with. The farm employs 12 people, but the farm’s advisers are also an important part of keeping the business on the right track.

“Our local veterinarian, our nutritionist and Compeer Financial have all been crucial for us,” he said.

Bob said he is comfortable with the current size of the dairy herd, but decided the farm would have to diversify if it wanted to attract their children to join the operation at some point.

A good-size dairy enterprise

“I like where we’re at right now,” Bob said. “I like the management level and the amount of labor we need. I don’t want to milk 10,000 cows and manage 50 people. I like the fact that I still have a role in the farm. I still milk a cow once in a while — I am still hands-on.

“But to bring in the next generation, we had to do something different. That’s why we started the on-farm store and the boarding business. They have really taken off.”

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Bob said he had the idea for a farm store for a number of years before they finally pulled the trigger on the project this year.

“As dairy producers, it’s not just our job to produce milk that makes these products — it’s also our job to educate the public on where their ice cream comes from, where their cheese comes from, where their milk comes from,” he said. “This is a way to bring people from town out to the country. We have a viewing window so they can see the cows. It gets everybody a little more involved, not just to enjoy the great quality ice cream, but to know exactly where it comes from.”

The ice cream is not made on the farm, but the Vandoskes say that might be done down the road. For now, the family decided to bring in the ice cream from off the farm to see how the business goes, before making the investment to make the ice cream themselves.

The cheese sold at their store — called Vandoskes’ Countyline Creamery — comes from BelGioioso in Green Bay, Wis., where they ship their milk. Tara said they are planning to sell glass-bottled milk and possibly specialty grilled cheese sandwiches at the creamery next year.

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The farm is located on County Line Road, between Interstate 43 and State Highway 42.

The show-cattle building was added this year as a way to give special care to the Vandoskes’ show cattle and other animals they board there. They are boarding 12 cows and six heifers from seven different clients.

“It’s supplemented our income quite a bit to help us pay for the new barn,” Bob said. “Some people are interested in playing with show cattle without the expense of housing them themselves. We hire the expertise to take care of them and we can provide a little extra service.

“The show cattle are more of a hobby and a passion. Once you start showing cows, like I showed when I was younger, it’s an addiction that you just don’t get rid of. I think a lot of people can attest to that.”

New calf barn

A calf barn was erected in 2022 that houses 80 calves. Bob said prior to the construction of the building, they were feeding calves “all over the farm.”

“It’s been a tremendous asset to have all the calves in one facility,” he said. “We can take care of them better in rainstorms, snowstorms or hot weather. It is much easier and more employee friendly.”

The Vandoskes’ 600-cow herd averages about 100 pounds of milk per cow per day for a herd average of about 30,700 pounds of milk. The cows are milked three times a day in a double-eight parallel parlor. Bob said they take pride in milk quality, and constantly train their employees in the proper milking techniques so everybody is on the same page.

“Cleanliness in stalls and cleanliness in cows is the way we maintain our high milk quality,” he said. “It’s not an industry where you can take shortcuts. You have to put in the time and be committed to what you’re doing.”

The family uses social media to connect and educate consumers about what goes on at the farm.

“We try to make posts that are lively and showcase our products,” Tara said. “Every week we do a spotlight of an animal. People have really gravitated to that. It’s been another avenue to get people to come back and see what’s next.”

Future plans for Vandoske Dairy Farms

As for what’s next for the farm, Bob said there are lots of possibilities.

“Right now, we want to get the store under wraps, and we have ideas for different outings and products in the future,” he said. “With the show cattle, there is always the next big winner. So far, it’s been a fun ride.”

Brianne, Reid and Brooklyn all have responsibilities on the farm, whether it be in the show barn, freestall barn or on-farm store. Tara also has a side responsibility as the manager of a dog kennel on the farm.

“We expect our kids and ourselves to represent the farm well,” Tara said. “That means the grass is cut, the facilities are clean. We give the kids responsibilities before and after school and it keeps them interested in the dairy. We’re lucky enough to be told we have a beautiful facility, so it’s something that’s expected from now on.”

In a video played during the virtual farm tour, Reid said seeing the farm grow the way it has “has made me want to take over the farm when I get older.” He said he sees that “hard work pays off” in the various aspects of the farm operation.