260 | Building a Legacy: How Country Aire Farms Grew a Generational Dairy in Wisconsin
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen launches a four-part series in partnership with De Laval, spotlighting the multi-generational story of Country Aire Farms in Greenleaf, Wisconsin. Brothers Mike and Tom Gerrits share their journey from growing up on a small 80-cow dairy to leading a thriving, innovative operation.
The episode explores how their father, Bud, instilled a strong work ethic and forward-thinking mindset, guiding the family through pivotal decisions—like building the area’s first rotary parlor in 1998—that set the stage for major growth. Mike and Tom discuss the division of responsibilities (cows vs. crops), the importance of embracing new technology, and the challenges and rewards of bringing the next generation into the business.
Listeners hear about the transition of leadership, the value of learning from mistakes, and the family’s commitment to core values, community, and continuous improvement. The episode closes with reflections on legacy, pride in the next generation, and optimism for the future of Country Aire Farms.
This episode is brought to you by DeLaval. DeLaval provides integrated solutions designed to improve dairy producers’ production, animal welfare, and overall quality of life. To learn more, visit Delaval.com/en-us/.
0:00 — Introduction & Series Overview
1:02 — Meet the Gerrits Brothers
2:08 — Sponsor Message
3:22 — Early Days on the Farm
6:09 — Division of Labor (Cows vs. Crops)
8:59 — Transition to Ownership
11:29 — Growth & Building the Rotary Parlor
14:24 — Embracing Technology
18:44 — Next Generation Joins the Farm
24:16 — Lessons in Leadership
27:53 — Family Legacy & Values
34:52 — Looking to the Future
39:37 — Closing Thoughts
41:19 — Outro & Sponsor Message
