Roehl Acres and Rustic Occasions to host 2022 Clark Co. FTD show

After a long search, a Clark County farm has been chosen to host the 2022 Farm Technology Days Show.

The Roehl family of Loyal, Wis., has proudly upheld their traditional farm roots while also embracing outside endeavors in the agribusiness world to keep their family operations strong in a tumultuous landscape for agriculture.

Roehl Acres and Rustic Occasions of Loyal, Wis., will open the doors to their dairy farm and event barn ventures during the 2022 Clark County Farm Technology Days, July 12-14, 2022.

Owned by the Dennis and Suzie Roehl family, Roehl Acres is an over 500 registered dairy cattle farm, cropping 750 acres.

“In 1983, I went to my first Farm Progress Days Show. I was 14 years old and I thought it was the greatest thing I had ever been to. Now, 36 years later I will be the host farm for Farm Technology Days 2022," said Dennis Roehl. "In a way, I have been preparing for this all of my life.”

Roehl Acres registered dairy herd is milked daily in century old stanchion barn. While the barn may seem to some as being outdated, the Roehl family has maximized the operation to run at peak efficiency, with the family running three sets of cows through the milking barn twice a day.

The couple purchased the farm in 2005 from Dennis’ father, Lowell, who still helps with the fieldwork. Dennis and Suzie’s children make the third generation on the farm.

With small operating dairy farms fast becoming a lifestyle of the past, the Roehl family hit upon an agribusiness venture after a venue for a family member's wedding was unavailable.

The century old barn owned by Lowell's brother, Erlin and his wife, Bonnie Roehl, served as the site for their granddaughter's wedding reception after months of hard work.

According to Rustic Occasions Facebook page, Doug and Kim Roehl - who operate the venture today - decided to renovate the barn for their daughter's wedding. Cleaning out old hay, dust and debris and laying down a new flood and adding windows, the barn was transformed into a charming rustic venue.

That summer's job of cleaning turned into something more for the Roehl family.

“Small farms are becoming a thing of the past and people are looking for ways to convert their farms into other forms of income,” Erlin said.

With their commitment to Clark County and passion for agriculture, the Roehl families are excited to host Farm Technology Days in 2022.

Clark Co. 

“Clark County offers the traditional feel of agriculture, but has adapted to many of the new technologies available for use in agriculture,” Richard Halopka, Clark County’s extension crops and soils agent, said. “We are excited to host the show with our theme: ‘Where tradition and technology meet.’”

Clark County is located in the heart of Wisconsin with dairy farming serving as the major agricultural industry. On-farm production and milk sales account for $339.3 million. Processing milk into dairy products generates another $1.2 billion.

Sixteen plants process dairy products in Clark County. On-farm milk production accounts for 1,801 jobs, and dairy processing accounts for 3,097 jobs.

At the county level, each dairy cow generates $4,080 in on-farm sales to producers. At the state level, each dairy cow generates over $34,000 in total sales.

Wisconsin Farm Technology Days is the largest agricultural show in Wisconsin and one of the largest in the nation. The three-day outdoor event showcases the latest improvements in production agriculture, including many practical applications of recent research findings and technological developments.

The event allows visitors the opportunity to see and talk with more than 600 commercial and educational exhibitors.