Page 18 • Country Acres | Friday, June 18, 2021
Farm advocacy thanks to a robot Schlangens on life mission to help small farmers BY DIANE LEUKAM | STAFF WRITER
ALBANY – Robot milkers are becoming more common in the dairy industry, with numerous farmers choosing to go that route. Steve and Cheryl Schlangen have had theirs since 2010, and it has changed their lives – and possibly many others’ lives. Because of the robot, Steve has been able to follow his life mission to serve other farmers through a multitude of organizations. He currently serves as the chairman of the board of the dairy farmer-owned Associated Milk Producers Inc.; he is on the board of National Milk Producers Federation and the Minnesota Milk Policy Committee and is involved in a return on investment project with Headwaters Agriculture Sustainability Partnership (HASP). After nine years, his term on the Stearns County Dairy Advisory Committee is finished, though he remains involved. “They probably take up half of my mental
time, maybe more than that,” Schlangen said May 27 on the farm south of Albany. The Schlangens milk 65 cows and raise corn, alfalfa, soybeans and barley on their 200-acre farm. On a normal year, it is enough to feed the cattle with some of the crop to sell. They began by renting the land in 1987 and eventually bought the farm in 1989. Over the years, they have put up nearly all of the buildings, including the freestall barn in 1992. The Schlangens milked their cows in a double six herringbone parlor for many years. Their four kids were getting older – daughters Krista and Jenna were away from home and twin sons, Michael and Matthew, were reaching high school age. Both were in three sports and Steve and Cheryl wanted to watch their games. When they began hearing about robot milkers, they thought it seemed like a crazy idea,
PHOTO BY DIANE LEUKAM
Steve Schangen and his wife, Cheryl, farm near Albany where they milk 65 cows with the assistance of a robotic milker. The technology has allowed Steve the time needed to be involved in many farm organizations as an advocate for dairy farmers within Central Minnesota and the state, as well as nationally.
but it sparked their interest. “Our vet, Dan Tomsche, took us to Greg Blaine’s farm near Little Falls to see his operation; we saw it work and felt it would change our lifestyle,” Schlangen said. “We came back and said,
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‘we have to find a way to do this.’” Since then, they have never looked back. They had plenty of challenges and there is maintenance, but help is just a few miles down the road. Even though it was a new idea at the time, they de-
cided to take a chance. “I didn’t think we would lose money; it was a big investment – it’s like buying a combine or something except you use it every day,” he said. “I don’t know what we would have done over the years if we wouldn’t have
put it in.” An addition was built onto the freestall barn to house the unit. Sitting at the desk in the small office, Schlangen explained the technology he once saw as intimidating but
Schlangens page 19
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