News: Abbotsford – Ruesch Family Hosts Dairy Breakfast (2021)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Ruesch

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 02 Jun 2021

In a sign that things are slowly getting back to normal, the 32nd running of the Abbotsford FFA Alumni Dairy Breakfast is good to go this weekend.

June is Dairy Month in Wisconsin, and for over 30 years, the Abbotsford FFA Alumni, in conjunction with local families, has celebrated Wisconsin’s agrarian pride with an annual dairy breakfast.

Last year saw a hold put in place on the annual event, with COVID-19 forcing cancellations across the state. But, with cases decreasing by the day, the summer tradition is back on track.

The Ruesch family — Dave, Becky and children Logan, Mya and Calley — are ready to welcome hundreds to the Circle R Dairy for the annual event.

The Rueschs are happy to be hosting this year’s event, which takes place this Sunday, June 6, from 7 a.m. until noon.

“We talked about it, and you know, I didn’t feel right if we asked other people to host it if we didn’t host it,” Dave said. “Since there’s less farms in the county now, and less people to host it, it just felt like it was our turn.”

Thankfully, the Rueschs have had a year to prepare and get ready for the dairy breakfast. Dave and Becky both say they’ve been able to use that extra time to set things up for a great return.

“It did give us a head start, moving things around, and we did a lot of cleaning up beforehand,” Becky said about the year-long hiatus. “So we were able to do some small things around the farm in this past year to get us ready for it.”

The Rueschs know a thing or two about preparation and planning, since Dave and his parents have run Circle R Dairy for years, “We took it over from my parents. I moved back in 1997, and [Becky and I] got married in 2001. We were in partnership with them until 2013, and then we bought it out. Since then we’ve been running it.”

Today, Dave milks over 150 cows, and has just one part-time employee.

“Otherwise it’s just family,” Dave says. “My dad still helps me out with field work.”

Circle R Dairy is located on 232288 Pickard Ave. Attendees need only drive two miles north on Hwy. 13, heading towards Dorchester. A right turn on Holton Road, followed by a left turn on Pickard Avenue is all it takes.

BRING YOUR APPETITE - Becky and Dave Ruesch — along with their children Logan, Mya and Callie — are ready to host the 32nd running of the Abbotsford FFA Alumni Dairy Breakfast at Circle R Dairy this Sunday, June 6. Food will be served from 7 a.m. until noon.

For those who can’t drive to the dairy breakfast, shuttle buses will be available to carry attendees to and from the Abbotsford School District’s south parking lot. Masks will be required to ride the bus, and with construction taking place on Fourth Avenue, drivers will need to enter the school parking from Hiline and Hemlock Street.

But while there will be some extra steps to take, the Rueschs are looking forward to seeing people, and to serving pancakes, maple syrup, sausage, cheese, juice, coffee and ice cream. Hosting, says Dave, is a privilege. It’s also a way to show that small farms are still a vital part of Wisconsin.

“We’ve always hosted the four-yearolds and kindergarten class, coming out to see the farm,” Dave says. “I mean, even in Abbotsford, people are so removed from a farm, they don’t really know what it is any more. Things have changed so much in 20 years that it’s just phenomenal. We’re 150 cows, and we’re considered a small farm now.”

The Rueschs expressed their regret that last year’s Abbotsford Dairy Breakfast could not take place, noting how beautiful the weather was, and that it came at a perfect time. They’re hoping Mother Nature once again cooperates.

“We’re hoping to have a good day and we’re looking forward to seeing everyone after everything that went on last year,” Dave said. “It feels good to see things getting back to normal. We just want to give people the opportunity to come out and see a farm, and go from there.”