News Release
For Immediate Release
June 12, 2009
Contact: Sally Worley, Practical Farmers of Iowa, (515)232-5661, sally@practicalfarmers.org
Mike Bandstra, Frisian Farms, (641)204-2222, enjoyourcheese@frisianfarms.com
Join Practical Farmers of Iowa for a Field Day at Frisian Farms
Oskaloosa—Do you want to know how cheese is made on an Iowa family farm? Brothers Mike and Jason Bandstra will lead a tour of their farm, which is known for its signature Gouda cheese, on Thursday, June 25, from 6:00-8:30 p.m. See the farm’s pastures, where cows graze fresh forages. Tour the milking parlor, cheese house and the climate-controlled cheese storage and aging area. Enjoy samples of Frisian Farms Gouda cheese.
Jason started Frisian Farms with ten one-week-old Holstein calves. Mike came back to the farm after several years of managing an organic dairy. Today, traditional Dutch cheese-making techniques are the secret to turning milk from the Bandstras’ 80-cow herd into Frisian Farms Gouda.
Directions: Frisian Farms, 2321 Highland Ave., Oskaloosa. From Pella, take Highway 163 east about 10 miles. Take a right (west) on 235th Street and go about 2 miles. Turn right on Highland Ave. Follow signs to farm.
This field day is free, and everybody is welcome.
Sponsored by the Iowa Heartland Resource Conservation and Development Program and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Natural Resource Based Business Opportunities Grant Program.
Sustaining sponsors for Practical Farmers of Iowa field days are the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa State University Extension, American Natural Soy, the Wallace Chair for Sustainable Agriculture, Albert Lea Seed House, Seed Savers Exchange, and the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES). Major sponsors are the Center for Energy and Environmental Education, Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, ATTRA National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, Organic Valley and Organic Prairie Family of Farms CROPP Cooperative, Iowa Forage and Grassland Council, and King Corn.
Practical Farmers of Iowa includes a diverse group of farmers and nonfarmers. Corn, soybeans, beef cattle, and hay are the top enterprises for PFI farmers, although many have a variety of other operations, including fruits and vegetables. PFI’s programming stresses farmer-to-farmer networking through research and demonstration, field days, conferences, and more. For more information, call 515-232-5661 or visit www.practicalfarmers.org.
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