Hometown Farmer: Dairymen Expect 1,200 Visitors - Siouxland News - KMEG 14 and FOX 44

(HULL, IA) - Every June the Western Iowa Dairy Association holds an open house on a dairy farm. This year, Donson Farms in Hull, Iowa expects to host more than 1,200 visitors.

The goal is to give people a chance to see what a dairy farm is all about and to connect with people who produce milk every day. Donson Farms is right across the street from a cheese factory. It was the perfect location for this year's open house.

Kevin Boote spends his days caring for dairy cows. He's been working with his brother Terry for more than 30 years. The two started farming with their dad and decided to carry on the family tradition as partners.

"We enjoy it. And we also like the fact that we have two managers on the place. So one of us can leave and get away and the other person is left to take care of business and make sure the place keeps getting run," said Kevin Boote.

Terry enjoys working with the older cows while Kevin watches over the calves.
 
"As they get older, we said it's a lot like working with junior high kids because they follow each other and if everybody goes into the barn, everybody goes in. if nobody goes in the barn, then they stand at the barn door and wait until somebody has enough leadership to do it," said Kevin.
 

"For me, it's sitting down at the computer doing paperwork. It's almost restful. Kevin hates the paperwork," said Terry Boote. "He likes to fix on machinery. If something's broken, I call him. If a cow's sick, I do the vet work."
 
Saturday June 16, the Boote brothers will show off their dairy farm skills to nearly 1,200 people. It's an open house the Western Iowa Dairy Association puts together every June.
 
During that open house, the Boote brothers will be able to show people step-by-step how they get their dairy and how it all works.
 
"This is especially for city people, families, little kids. We like to show them what a real farm is like even though we grow up in a rural area. Lots of people haven't been out on the farm that much or that close to animals," said Terry.
 
The convenient part about this dairy tour: Donson Farms is just a hop, skip and a jump away from the Agro-Pur cheese plant.
 

"You can just see it right over my shoulder here. I work on this hill here every day and every morning and almost all daylong. And I've watched almost every piece of steel go up in the cheese plant. I watch every truck go in and truck go out," Terry explained.

Keeping an eye on where their milk goes, these brothers still have their fair share of laughs.
 
"We had one cow head over to Casey's general store next door. We swear she was there to get a donut, but we're not sure why, but she got out of the pin and just kept running. Usually, they don't within 100 yards of the fence, but that one decided it would visit town," said Kevin.

The Donson Farms tour goes from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday June 16. Anyone is invited to come along for the tour. There will be games for the kids and even a chance to pet the calves. 332 Division St. Hull, IA 51239