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Free tour at farm in Plymouth County

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To celebrate June Dairy Month, dairy farmers from across northwest Iowa are inviting the public to a family-friendly event at Plymouth Dairy Farms near Le Mars. The event will include a dairy farm tour, free food and kids' activities from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, June 30.

The farm is located at 23505 K-49, about four miles south of Le Mars. The event is sponsored by the Western Iowa Dairy Alliance and Midwest Dairy Association.

"Dairy farm families work hard every day to provide wholesome, nutritious milk and dairy foods to consumers, while providing the best care for our animals and the environment, " said Kurt Wierda, Plymouth Dairy Farms manager. "We're proud to open our doors to the public so they can see firsthand how milk is produced."

Guided tours will be given of the Plymouth Dairy Farm, including opportunities to see where cows are milked, where they are housed and fed, and how calves are raised. Following the tour, guests will enjoy a free meal of cheeseburgers and hot dogs grilled by Plymouth County Cattlemen members. Blue Bunny(r) ice cream treats will be provided by Wells Dairy in Le Mars, and cheese will be provided by Green Meadows Foods in Hull. A children's activity area will also be available.

June Dairy Month is a great opportunity to celebrate the efforts of Iowa's dairy farmers as they deliver a wholesome and nutritious supply of milk and dairy products and make a significant contribution to the state's economy and rural communities. Dairy is the fifth largest agricultural business in Iowa, generating S795 million a year. There are about 1, 890 dairy farms in the state, and about 99 percent of those dairy farms are family-owned.

Plymouth Dairy Farms was founded by the Feuerhelm family in the spring of 2000. The first cows were milked Aug. 25, 2000. There are currently about 2, 700 cows milked three times each day at the state-of-the-art farm.

Western Iowa Dairy Alliance is a non-profit organization working as advocates for the dairy producer and all those who support this industry with commitment and integrity, allowing us to bring the very best, most nourishing products to market, every day. For more information, visit www.wiadairy.com.

The Midwest Dairy Association is a non-profit organization funded by dairy farmers to build demand for dairy products through integrated marketing, nutrition education and research. Midwest Dairy Association is funded by check-off dollars from dairy farmers in a nine-state region, including Iowa. For more information, visit www.midwestdairy.com.



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© 2011 Sioux County Index-Reporter Hull, Iowa. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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