Beekman Dairy Hosts Breakfast, Farm Tour
Published: Friday, June 14, 2019
The idea to host a breakfast and farm tour on the Beekman Dairy Farm in northern Huntington County took several years to perk, but finally came to fruition last Saturday. The farm's owners, Jay and Jasmine Beekman, their children Braylon, 10, and Brynnlee, 5, and, Jay's parents, Jay and Virginia Beekman, welcomed the community to their farm on that sunny, breezy morning.
"This has been a conversation between Jay and I for a few years," explained Jasmine. "I've been trying to sell him on the idea and, finally, this year he agreed! As a farm family, it's always very intimidating and humbling to invite others onto your farm. In fact, it's something that not a lot of farm families do. Agriculture is tough. Dairy is going through a very tough time. The best way to communicate that is to really show people. We are blessed to be in this industry and want to share our story."
"We hoped to use this as an educational opportunity for the community," she continued. "We wanted others to realize how agriculture, especially dairy, directly impacts them. We also wanted to take this opportunity to thank our community and neighbors. We understand that being a neighbor to a working dairy isn't always easy. Sometimes cows get out, there's extra equipment up and down the road. We want our neighbors to know that we appreciate their patience."
Around 400 people attended the well-organized event, enjoying a free country breakfast and a number of educational, family-friendly activities. Volunteers included family, neighbors, friends from the Beekmans' church and members of the local Farm Bureau; they welcomed visitors and served eggs, sausage, pancakes, milk, yogurt, orange juice and coffee. The Huntington County Sheriff's Department and Bippus Community Fire Assn. were also present to help with traffic control and community relations.
Visitors were greeted by Prairie Farms representative Robin Fuhrman and Braylon Beekman in a Holstein cow costume. A photo booth complete with calves, a make-your-own ice cream station, a hay stack for climbing, and a shelled corn pit complete with toy tractors, offered many fun activities for families.
The Beekmans have been in the dairy business in Huntington County since 1971, when the elder Jay purchased the farm. But the Beekman family has an even longer history with dairy farming which traces back to the 1800s. The current operation covers 750 acres divided between corn, soybeans, wheat and hay, and they milk about 100 cows and keep around 130 young stock. They have both red and white and black and white Holsteins and often show them at local, regional and national competitions. They also employ one full-time and two part-time workers. Their plan is to install robotic milking machines in the near future.
Unlike her husband, Jasmine did not grow up on a farm, but she said that she would not trade being a farmer for anything. She met Jay while working at the Huntington County Boys and Girls Club, where he volunteered. In addition to being a farm wife and mother, she also works at Vera Bradley in Fort Wayne. They are both active in their church, Faith Chapel United Methodist, and Jay also serves on the Indiana State Dairy Assn. board of directors and the Huntington County Extension board. Braylon shows dairy animals, pigs and chickens in 4-H and helps in many ways around the farm. Brynnlee also enjoys the animals and farm life, for now by cuddling kittens and following her parents around the farm.
The Beekmans reported that they received lots of positive feedback and they are planning on hosting another similar event in the future.
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