Like father, like son
Joe Zinser ready to take over for retiring dad
Updated
BY JILL TATGE-ROZELL
jrozell@kenoshanews.com
BRIGHTON — Joe Zinser said he is proud to be able to follow in his father Ernest’s muddy footprints on the family dairy farm.
“This is all I’ve ever done,” Zinser, 38, said. “Once my dad realized I could reach the (equipment), I started milking. I don’t know what else I’d do.”
Zinser said he likes the idea of being his own boss and his father Ernest, 71, is ready to retire. So, Zinser is leasing the land and machinery from his parents and has purchased the dairy cattle with the goal of taking over the operation started by his grandfather John in the late ’40s on 60 acres near highways 142 and 75.
Worth the risk
Ernest grew the farm from 18 cows to 44 cows and added on to the barn in the ’60s.
“I would like to get a little bigger,” Joe said.
However, he has no brothers with which to share the workload and getting much bigger would require employees. It also means he is tied to the farm 24/7, 365 days a year. Because he will be the sole farmer, he does not have time to take another job to create supplemental income.
“It’s not the easiest thing to do in the world,” he said of farming. “But you’re going to have doubts no matter what kind of business you start. Sometimes it gets frustrating because there is a lot that is out of your control. Everyone has good days and bad days on the job, though.”
On the farm, those bad days involve trouble with feed conveyors, broken hoses, flat tires, broken belts and bad weather, for example.
“It’s usually when you think it’s all lined up and ready to go,” he said. “Mother Nature can destroy you.”
The toll farming can take on a body and how long he will be able to keep it up weigh on his mind. But, even with these stressers, Zinser said farming is worth the trouble. There is also a benefit to being the sole owner. When a partnership is formed, it can be difficult to get everyone to agree, he said.
Dad likes decision
There was a time when area farmers discouraged their children from farming and said they wouldn’t wish a farmers life on anyone. But Ernest said he never regretted being a farmer and is pleased his son wants to continue the heritage.
“I’m glad he would like to be farmer,” Ernest said. “It’s hard, but it’s still a nice lifestyle.”
He said he will do what he can to help with the transition.
“My advice is, don’t go too deep into debt to start with,” he said. “Farming is uncertain and prices vary.”
The younger generation realizes the farm is also the retiring generations bread and butter — their retirement account — and is appreciative of the sweat equity that went into it. Part of the reason the older generation did without certain luxuries was to ensure there was something to leave behind. Zinser said it is important to him that his parents’ needs are met through this process.
“If it wasn’t for their hard work there would be no farm to carry on,” he said.
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