History

Fifty Years of Family Farming
  • 1967

    • Fred Broker's family's farm in Poskin is sold. His mom then buys a cafe in Poskin.

  • 1972

    • At the Barron County Fair, Fred meets Katherine Erickson

  • 1974

    • Fred and Kathy get married. Fred graduates from WITC's Dairy Management program. Fred begins renting a farm north of Barron, where he and Kathy live.

  • 1977

    • Fred and Kathy purchase the current farm at 1747th Avenue between Rice Lake and Stanfold. With the farm is included 150 acres. Kathy gives birth to the couple's first child, Julie.

  • 1980

    • Kathy gives birth to the family's first and only son, Mike.

  • 1986

    • Kathy gives birth to the family's second daughter, and youngest child, Sarah.

  • 2002

    • Mike graduates from UW-River Falls with a Bachelor's in Dairy Science. He marries Cindy Uher. Julie marries Joe Moenck. The farm went through its first major renovation. A freestall barn was added for milking cows, and the manure pit was relocated.

  • 2003

    • Half of the current heifer barn is constructed.

  • 2008

    • Cindy and Mike's oldest son, and Kathy and Fred's first grandson, Daniel, is born.

  • 2010

    • Broker Farms hosts the 35th Annual Barron County June Dairy Breakfast. It was the first time they hosted the June Dairy Breakfast.

  • 2011

    • Cindy and Mike's youngest, Garrett, is born. Sarah marries Chuck Fastner.

  • 2017

    • The second major renovation of Broker Farms. The old parlor is replaced with a new swing-twelve, the old, silver heifer barn is torn down, as are silos connected to the Red Barn. All cows are moved from the Red Barn, which is changed completely to storage. The freestall barn is added to in the front, the new location for transition cows (cows waiting to have a calf). The heifer barn is expanded to also hold older heifers. Ryan Erickson, grandson of Lyman Erickson, begins working at Broker Farms.

  • 2020

    • Sarah and Chuck's first child, Mason, is born.

  • 2021

    • Julie and Joe move to Birchwood from the Rochester area.

  • 2022

    • Ciara Williams joins the Broker Farms crew. The robotic manure collecters and feed pusher is installed.

  • 2023

    • Daniel wins the Wisconsin FFA State Convention Creed Speaking LDE and competes at National Convention, where he earns a Silver Award, placing in the top 16.

  • 2024

    • Fred and Kathy celebrate their 50th Anniversary. Broker Farms celebrates their 50th Anniversary and host the 49th Barron County June Dairy Breakfast.