June Dairy Month farm stops continue with a visit at Stich’s Je-Ta Farm with the Styczynski family in the Angelica area. Both Jeff and Tammy Styczynski lived on farms growing up and continue their own operation today, which Tammy says is celebrating 30 years this month.
“It was just used as heifer housing, so we totally re-gutted everything and put an addition on the barn,” Tammy said of how their farm has come along over the years. “It is a traditional tie stall and some stanchion barn. That’s where we milk the cows, but we still do milk in that setup and in 2005 we had added on a free stall barn and grew our herd.”
Currently the Styczynski’s are at 160 milking cows, with another 170 young stock.
Their two adult sons Brandon and Trenton have helped on the farm growing up. Brandon has since returned to work on the farm with Jeff and Tammy, while Trenton is on the road working with fancy dairy cattle, but the Styczynski’s have had a history of young hired help.
“We employ currently high school boys, but we’ve had girls in the past too, but over the years we’ve employed many high school students and it’s been a joy to just teach them about responsibility,” said Tammy.
Farm life keeps Jeff and Tammy busy, but that doesn’t mean they don’t find time to remain active in their community.
“I am actually on the Shawano County Dairy Promotions Board,” she said of her other work. “I also have been active in Bonduel FFA Alumni and my husband Jeff has been involved in the FFA Alumni as well. He’s currently on the Shawano County Ag Society Board. He’s also been very active in the 4-H Dairy Key Committee.”
Tammy adds it’s rewarding having been able to raise their family on a farm, for the lessons it teaches and values it instills.
“To raise a family on a farm is a wonderful way to show your children responsibility. We’ve through the years grown together, obviously because you work together. Not going to lie, there’s been good days and bad. I guess that’s with any job, but with farming there is always challenges and you hope to overcome them and keep moving forward.”