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HARRISBURG -- Area dairy farms will be participating in the Calving Corner at the 2024 Pennsylvania Farm Show, which started Saturday and runs through Jan. 13.
Cows representing these four farms will calve on site during the entire length of the Farm Show, so visitors can witness the dairy birthing process and meet newborn calves. Dairy industry volunteers will be volunteering at the Calving Corner exhibit throughout the week to answer questions about Pennsylvania dairy.
The Calving Corner is part of the "Destination Dairy" Northeast Hall at the Pennsylvania Farm Show. The Calving Corner is the cornerstone exhibit, but there are also interactive, family-friendly learning stations--including activities centered around dairy nutrition, animal care, shopping locally, and more.
Pennsylvania is home to more than 5,000 dairy farm families, nearly 40 dairy processing companies, and a wide array of small-scale dairy creameries and artisan cheese makers. According to the Center for Dairy Excellence, 99% of all dairy farms in Pennsylvania are family owned. The Destination Dairy exhibit hall will highlight several of the state's dairy farm families and share the impact Pennsylvania dairy is making within our communities.
Four dairy farms are volunteering as host farms for the 2024 Calving Corner:
Kish View Farms
Kish View Farms, located in Belleville, Mifflin County, is operated by brothers Keith and Kent Spicher and their family.
To ensure high-quality milk, the Spichers and their dedicated team are committed to providing clean water, nutritious feed and comfortable housing for their 600 cows. All the crops needed to feed their cows are grown on the farm.
To be good neighbors and good stewards of the land, Kish View's on-farm methane digester reduces odors and converts manure and methane gas into electricity to power the farm. Recycled solids are used for bedding.
Keith and Kent are looking forward to including future generations in their family farm.
Proud member-owners of Land O'Lakes, Kish View farm's milk is found in Weis Milk and Land O'Lakes butter.
Reinford Farms
Reinford Farms in Juniata County is home to and operated by Chad, Brett and Drew Reinford and their families.
Reinford Farms is a modern farm that focuses on sustainability and environmentally friendly practices. Much of what they grow on the 1,300 acres of land is fed to their 750 cows.
An on-farm methane digester converts food waste, manure and methane gas into electricity to power the farm and heat their homes and the recycled solids are used as bedding. This entirely sustainable and cyclical operation keeps over 50,000 tons of food waste out of landfills each year.
After the PA Farm Show, the butter sculpture is actually recycled at Reinford Farms.
Milk from Reinford Farms is found in Hershey's chocolate milk, Land O'Lakes butter and other dairy products.
Mowrer Farms
In 1990, Mike and Janet Mowrer moved their family and their cows to Huntingdon County to grow Mowrer Farms.
Now, their son and his family, Nate, Erica, Madison and Luke are the seventh and eighth generation working on Mowrer Farms.
They strive to produce high quality milk by being the best caretakers possible, providing nutritious feed and clean water in a calm, comfortable, clean environment and utilizing the highest standards of treatment and care.
The farm and the cows are the Mowrers' livelihood and legacy. In addition to the Calving Corner, Mowrer Farms' cows are also exhibited in the dairy show during the PA Farm Show.
Milk from Mowrer Farms is found in Dairymaid milk and cheese.
Schrack Farms
Schrack Farms is a modern dairy farm located in Loganton, Clinton County. Founded in 1773, Schrack Farms is operated by the 10th, 11th and 12th generations of the Schrack family -- Kevin Schrack, Jim and Lisa (Schrack) Harbach and their family.
To ensure that each of their 1,400 cows are well cared for, Schrack Farms relies on a team of great employees, including 20 family members. All the crops needed to feed their cows are grown on the farm.
Utilizing modern environmental and sustainable technologies ensure that future generations of the Schrack family will continue the farm with healthy, high-quality land.
Milk from Schrack Farms is marketed as Lehigh Valley Milk and Land O'Lakes butter.