WATERTOWN — Dennis and Phyllis Duddeck of Watertown didn’t waste any time getting to the bus that would shuttle them to the Watertown Agri-Business Club Dairy Breakfast on Saturday morning.
“We’re going to support the dairy farmers,” Dennis said. “I was a dairy farmer myself.”
Duddeck’s farm in Watertown earned recognition as a century farm at the 2018 Wisconsin State Fair. The Century Farm Awards Program began in 1948 as part of Wisconsin’s centennial celebration. The program honors families who have had continuous ownership of their Wisconsin farm or home for 100 years or more.
“We understand the hard work that comes with dairy farming,” Dennis said pointing to his wife, Phyllis. “We’ve been married for 55 years and probably farmed together for most of those years.”
Phyllis agreed.
“I give a lot of credit to the dairy farmer,” she said. “It’s certainly not for the fainthearted. It’s a lot of work.”
The dairy breakfast was held on Saturday and Sunday at an active dairy farm owned and operated by Mike and Anna Gudenkauf and their children, Greg and Maryann. The farm is on N8232 Little Coffee Road just outside of Watertown.
Ben and Becky Rageth of Watertown were also found at the Watertown Agri-Business Club dairy breakfast on Saturday.
“It’s a great way to kick off Father’s Day weekend,” Becky said while enjoying a vanilla ice cream cone. “We’ve been to other dairy breakfasts before and enjoy the food.”
Ben said visiting the Gudenkauf farm reminded him of the times he would take his children to different dairy breakfasts in the area on Father’s Day weekend.
“It’s just good to come out here and show our support and see all of the people here, too,” he said.
Katie Paul of Janesville said the dairy breakfast provided her with the opportunity to see her family members who live in Watertown.
Paul, who walked the dairy farm grounds with her daughter, Ellie Paul, 2, said the wholesome event provided good, clean fun and a tasty breakfast.
“It’s a beautiful day and to spend it with family members and see the dairy farm is a good time for us,” she said. “Plus, we get a chance to celebrate Father’s Day together.”
Mike and Anna Gudenkauf are the third generation to farm on Little Coffee Road outside of Watertown. Bernard and Emma Gudenkauf established the farm in 1940, with seven cows and a barn with no electricity. They then transitioned the farm to Mike’s parents Alvin and Judy who ran the farm until 1999. Today, the Gudenkaufs milk 150 cows while farming 800 crop acres with their children, Maryann and Greg. They also custom farm 1,500 acres which includes combining, planting, and baling.
The Watertown Agri-Business Club is a non-profit that raises money to support local youth pursuing secondary education in agriculture. The purpose is to promote an active interest in the community, to unify and strengthen the agricultural business in the community, to establish beneficial producer-consumer relations, provide a place for members to freely express themselves on ideas and problems in the agricultural business field and to enable members to speak with a common voice on matter pertaining to the agricultural business world.
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