Like a sower in a field, the experience planted within him not only fond memories of his grandfather but a love of forages.
He still helps out on the family farm, only now his chores, like Chase, have gotten bigger and so has the farm – a scenic forage and dairy spread called Heatherstone Enterprises in Baraboo, Wisconsin.
What once was 300 acres when Chase’s grandparents owned it has grown into 450 acres of alfalfa hay and corn.
They’re products that have been recognized by professional forage judges in contests the family has been entering since Chase (now 27) was 15 years old.
Chase, representing the farm owned by his parents, Mike and Valerie Holschbach, this year took fifth place in the dairy haylage category of the 2013 World Forage Analysis Superbowl – and last year he won first place in the contest’s commercial hay category.
He takes greatest pride in the forage his family produces and says he always takes home something from the contests, even if it isn’t always a trophy.
“This year our visual wasn’t as good as it could have been,” he says, noting that what he took home with him this time was a little more determination. “We’ll have to do a better job at taking samples next year.”
Overall, however, the family has always done well in the contests, their forages often placing high in the relative feed value category.
Though the contests are fun events to participate in, they also serve as an indicator to the real value behind the products.
The family milks 150 Holsteins, and Chase says you cannot overestimate the importance of quality hay in helping the animals be healthy and produce high-grade milk.
“Haylage is one of the most important things cows eat because it affects the milk more than any other feed,” he said. “It helps create higher protein in the milk.”
To help forages get a better start, the farm uses the latest technologies such as Roundup Ready alfalfa.
Some things they look for when selecting a product is label information about regrowth potential – “how fast the forage comes back after you cut it,” Chase says. Hay cuts, especially the first harvest of the season, are important.
“We cut pretty aggressively, making about five crops each summer,” he says. “The relative feed value is higher the earlier you cut.”
“You really have to be aggressive with your forage and not be afraid to take chances,” Chase says.
Besides Chase and his dad, Mike, who currently serves as president of World Dairy Expo, the farm has two full-time employees.
Chase’s mom, Valerie, helps raise the calves. He also has two sisters; one is studying to become a large-animal veterinarian, which eventually, he says, also will be a boon to the farm.
What advice does this young, learning farmer who manages the family’s crops have for others? Grow with the times.
“Pay attention to the details,” he says. “There are just a lot of different possibilities and new technologies that come out every year” that can help the modern farmer to be successful. FG
Chase Holschbach enjoys the challenge of raising quality forage.
Photo courtesy of Chase Holschbach.
