Dan and Pam Schullo, lifelong farmers, have sustainably grown Valley Vu Farm over forty years into the successful operation it is today. Despite facing several setbacks, including two substantial barn fires that required major reinvestment, the family has heavily invested in their herd with an advanced milking parlor, new freestall barns and cow comfort technology.
Pam emphasized, “A big philosophy of ours is to keep the curb appeal of farming. We want people to crave a glass of milk when they drive past our farm.”
Today, the Schullo family milks nearly 950 cows in a Herringbone Parallel Parlor, along with owning additional dry (non-milking) cows. Their herd includes black-and-white Holsteins, red- and-white Holsteins, Brown Swiss and Shorthorns. “My favorite are the Brown Swiss,” Pam shared. “It’s fun to have the diversity of breeds, and it has really helped our protein counts.”
For many years, Pam’s pride and joy was raising the calves. “I get so excited to welcome a new calf into the world and watch them grow,” she expressed. Now, the family outsources calf rearing after birth, bringing them back to the farm once they are older. Pam’s efforts are now focused on other aspects of the farm business. She manages the financials, oversees the breeding program and works to set and improve goals each year.
The Schullo family has embraced precision agriculture across their farm, enhancing data collection to make informed decisions that benefit the land, the herd and their financial outcomes. Utilizing advanced technology like DeLaval DelPro™, they effectively manage their animal welfare program, providing timely and reliable information on each cow. Such an advanced system is crucial for managing a herd of this size. Pam mentioned that while the vet visits weekly, they can now quickly find issues that may affect the animals’ overall health, reproductive needs and longevity.
The Valley Vu farms spans over 2,000 acres, with the majority of the land cultivated for cattle feed including: corn, shell corn, alfalfa, grass hay and soybeans. The family aims to expand their herd, making land sustainability crucial for growing their own feed while maintaining optimal land performance. The Schullo family collaborates closely with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to implement soil nutrient programs that continuously support and enhance soil health. They also adopt no-till and cover crop practices where appropriate.
Other important programs like Nutrient Management Planning assist farmers such as the Schullo in applying the right amount of nutrients to crops at the optimal time and place, significantly reducing nutrient runoff into the environment. This is particularly important to the Schullos, as the Yellow River State Public Fishery Area is located nearby. The family manages a 1.9 million-gallon manure pit, and through their management plan, they have reduced the use of commercial fertilizers on their fields by substituting them with precise amounts of manure.
The Schullo family loves opening their farm to their local community. They have hosted three dairy breakfasts for Barron County and various group tours, including Ventures Unlimited, Inc. which provides vocational services to people with disabilities in Northwest Wisconsin. When not farming, the family enjoys tractor pulling as their pastime. Their tractor, “The Entertainer II,” has competed in several tractor pulling events both near and far.
Dan and Pam have a lot to be proud of – they have five children and even more grandchildren. “We love mentoring the younger generation to spark an interest in farming to show it can be a rewarding life,” expressed Pam. Although the family has been farming for decades, they recently celebrated their second anniversary with Foremost Farms and are excited about deepening their engagement with the cooperative. They look forward to leveraging the cooperative’s resources and expertise to further enhance their farming practices and overall success.
The Schullo’s have a mother and daughter that are albino! The mother is a Holstein, and the calf is a Brown Swiss. This is very rare, about 1 in every 10,000.