The Illinois Extension’s Summer Twilight Series continued its tradition of connecting communities with local agriculture through a June tour of Weiler Enterprises Inc., a family-run dairy farm in Claremont, Illinois, that blends innovation with generations of tradition.
Now in its 10th year, the Summer Twilight Series offers a behind-the-scenes look at food production and agribusiness in southern Illinois. Participants include entrepreneurs, small business owners, and community members interested in learning about modern farming practices, marketing, and sustainability.
This month’s featured tour highlighted the operation of Travis and Erin Michels, who launched their dairy farm in 2012. The couple’s journey represents the continuation of a long-standing family tradition: Erin’s father, Bill Weiler, as well as her grandfather and great-grandfather, were all dairy farmers before her.
Starting with just 50 cows and two tractors, the Michels family originally milked by hand. In 2016, they moved to their current location and established Weiler Enterprises Inc., investing in two Lely A4 robotic milking systems. The farm now supports both beef and dairy cattle—raising angus cross cattle for beef and holstein cattle for milk—while also growing corn, soybeans, and wheat. Erin also teaches agriculture at Red Hill High School.
The operation runs 24/7 and is fueled by a combination of technology and sustainable practices. The milking barn houses cattle at various stages of the calving cycle. The cows wear transponders that track their movements, health, and breeding cycles, all linked to the robotic milkers. The barn is cleaned hourly by an automated water system. Manure is repurposed as field fertilizer, and water is recycled and reused for further cleaning—making the system nearly self-sufficient.
Cows visit the milking robots 2–6 times a day based on their lactation cycle. The system tracks milk quantity, milking time, temperature, and more. The farm currently produces about 22,000 pounds of milk every other day, which is stored on-site in a refrigerated tank until it’s picked up by Prairie Farms.
As the farm grows, so does the Michels family’s involvement. Their four children—August, Gentry, Willis, and Becket—all help with daily chores and animal care, continuing a legacy that spans four generations.
“It’s a labor of love; that’s what it has been,” Erin Michels said of their family’s commitment to the farm.
The Summer Twilight Series continues July 17 at the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center in Simpson, with the final tour scheduled for August 18 at Wild Child Flower Farm in Sumner.
For more information, visit go.illinois.edu/twilightseries
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