Riverview Dairy is rebuilt with some modern adjustments, following a fire from December 3, 2020 that de – stroyed the main barn at the century farm, located just off the Yellow River up in Colburn.

“Things got busy real fast,” Dan Holub said of when the fire was dis – covered by a worker who came back after milking to get their wallet and saw smoke. Before long several fire departments were on the scene, with flames visible from across the river on County Highway S. The road past the farm itself was effectively closed off to non-fire personnel. With "lots of com – motion" the following morning as cows were moved to other farms, they start- ed coming back for good March 28 of last year, with Riverview Dairy back to milking full-time as of April 1. Six neighboring farmers helped out with housing the cows between the Decem – ber fire and March return to Riverview. Never making a single phone call for needed animal lodging, the Holubs said that others had made the calls, with neighbors started lining up with their

cattle trailers at 4:30 a.m., or about an hour after fire crews had finished fight – ing the fire that broke out after milking time.

Among those neighbors helping out were Doug Danielson from Cadott, John Backhaus in Boyd, City View in Stanley, Tim and Trevor Mahr with T &

Seen from across the Yellow River off County Highway S, Riverview Dairy is rebuilt and operating in Colburn township with more cows than before the fire. Inset at top right is the Holub Family, recognized in 2018 for their century farm. From left to right are Ali, Jackie, Dan, and Matt. Family photo submitted. UP AND RUNNING

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R Dairy, the Milas Dairy, and Jeff Kennealy from Cadott.

"Without those six neighbors we'd have had a tough couple months," Jackie Holub said of the help with lodging animals be – tween the fire and subsequent rebuild. Along with cow lodging came things like food and cleanup, provided by others, for which the Holubs were appreciative.

"There was a lot of cleaning up to do around the barn," Dan said of the fire's aftermath. "They just showed up and it went well.”

At the time of the fire the Holubs were milking 190 cows total, with the number increased to 220 when dry cows were included. Choosing to sell some cows after the fire, Riverview Dairy and the Holub family are now back to milking 230 head, having purchased some of these in addition to having other cows fresh – en. The term 'freshen' refers to the beginning of milk production in a cow following calf birth. In the immediate aftermath of the fire, meanwhile, the need for animal shelter while barn recon – struction started was taken care of-and fast.

"Small towns are the best," Jackie added of the extra help after the fire. "When you need help, they're there for you." As to the fire's exact cause meanwhile, it was never officially determined.

"Not officially but I think it was electrical," Dan shared of the blaze that took place December 3, 2020 and destroyed the barn. Following cleanup and insurance, rebuilding started shortly after January 1, 2021.

As to the new barn replacing the one that burned, it's modern, a wood-frame building with 2 by 8 inch walls along with a ten foot extension to the south, bigger bulk tank, and an office put in.

"It's a much nicer work environment," Jackie shared, with some boards from the bottom of the former barn’s haymow being saved and used for a new office wall. As to the barn that burned, things below the haymow were saved and largely the same, it was shared, although the mechan – ics had to be redone at ground level. The gates and rest were reused. With the new barn deemed nicer for the cows as well, not having a haymow in the rebuild saved money and also gave other advantages, as Dan explained.

"By doing it this way we raise it up about four feet," he said of the ceiling. Also included the new construction is wider and better airflow, while the re-used milking parlor dates from 2006, with freestyle barn layout from 2007. So where's the hay kept these days?

"Most of the forage is up on the feeding pad," Jackie said of cow nutrition at Riverview. So what's dairy farming like these days in terms of work? Not much different from 50 years ago, though changes include increased milk yield and better genetics.

But not quite everything. "We get up early," Dan said of the daily demands of running a modern dairy farm, further defining "early" as a 4:15 a.m. daily wake up call. Both the Holub's kids Ali and Matt help, along with Ali's husband Taylor.

Three other workers help out, including Sheena Pogodzins – ki. Sheena started working at Riverview 12 years ago as Sheena Briski prior to marrying husband Jason.

Following the 4:15 a.m. daily wakeup call, meanwhile, it's off to the barn, where the Holubs and help get things ready for the morning milking before bringing the cows in. Evening milking sees the milking crew in the barn by 4:30 p.m.

"Everyone has their nitch," Jackie said of getting things done, with Jackie helping with the calves and doing book work. So what goes into a modern 21st-century farm operation, or just how much land is needed to feed and milk 230 cows?

"We farm 500 acres of land," Dan shared of Riverview Dairy, about 230 of which are rented from others by the Holubs. Not all the land in question is cropland, with some being wooded pasture for heifers and dry cows. A 'dry' cow is one who has stopped producing milk in between milking cycles. Dry cows start to pro – duce after having a calf, with the milking cows contained in the freestyle barn and feed a consistent ration of 40 percent haulage and 60 percent corn silage, morning and night, adding up to 100 pounds a head each day. The feed consisting of grain, corn, min –

eral, and soybean mix is put into a TMR mixer and blend to pro – vide a consistent ration for the cows. So what do calves do while the cows are being milked?

"We have a calf barn with a feeder," Jackie says. Calves are bottle fed for seven to 10 days before being switched to an au – tomatic feeder. The Holubs make sure the calves are doing well before they get sent out to the field with the rest of the herd.

Now over a century old as to operation within the same fam – ily, Riverview Dairy is set to go for at least another 100 years- pending the unseen future.

With a ten foot extension to the south, the new replacement barn at Riverview Dairy has the same foundation surmounted with a new and improved top portion. Photo by Joseph Back.