Home Ideas Culture On the job with: Sunset Farms Inc.

On the job with: Sunset Farms Inc.

By
Maredithe Meyer
-
Karen and Haley Hughes stand inside one of the barns at Sunset Farms. This is where the cows spend the most time, eating and resting in between milkings.
Karen and Haley Hughes stand inside one of the barns at Sunset Farms. This is where the cows spend the most time, eating and resting in between milkings.

A typical day for Karen Hughes starts at the crack of dawn. As herd manager at Sunset Farms Inc. in Washington County, she keeps a close eye on the health and activity of 1,150 dairy cows that together produce 12,800 gallons of milk daily. Sunset Farms supplies its milk to several processing plants across Wisconsin,

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Maredithe Meyer
Maredithe has covered retail, restaurants, entertainment and tourism since 2018. Her duties as associate editor include copy editing, page proofing and managing work flow. Meyer earned a degree in journalism from Marquette University and still enjoys attending men’s basketball games to cheer on the Golden Eagles. Also in her free time, Meyer coaches high school field hockey and loves trying out new restaurants in Milwaukee.
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A typical day for Karen Hughes starts at the crack of dawn. As herd manager at Sunset Farms Inc. in Washington County, she keeps a close eye on the health and activity of 1,150 dairy cows that together produce 12,800 gallons of milk daily.

Sunset Farms supplies its milk to several processing plants across Wisconsin, through the national Dairy Farmers of America cooperative, to be sold as liquid milk and used to make a range of products – from cottage cheese to RumChata. 

The 3,500-acre dairy farm is operated by 10 fifth- and sixth-generation owners and 15 other employees. Growing up around the farm, Hughes knew from a young age that she wanted to carry on her family’s legacy as part of the sixth generation. Working hands-on with the cows has always been her favorite part of the job, and now, 12-year-old Haley Hughes likes to lend a hand in hopes of one day following in her mom’s footsteps.

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