Your Leedstone Lely Center

Reuter Dairy (Hastings, MN)

The Reuter family from Hastings, MN retrofitted their older barn with 2 Lely A5 milking robots in May of 2021. They had previously installed a
Lely Juno feed pusher and a Discovery 90SW slat scraper as a first step.

Kerfeld Dairy (St Rosa, MN)

The Ken Kerfeld family started their Lely experience in about 2013 with a Lely CALM calf feeder. Since that time, they've added a Collector barn cleaner, Juno feed pusher, and in 2023 they added a A5 Astronaut system with 2 robots!

Harms Farms (Jim Falls, WI)

Congratulations to the Harms family in Jim Falls, Wisconsin on their barn remodel! In July 2022, they retrofitted their barn for a Lely Juno automated feed pusher to add to the Lely Luna cattle brush and Discovery Collector 120 robotic manure cleaner they installed earlier!

Borgschatz Dairy (Plainview, MN)

In the Fall of 2021, Don Borgschatz from Plainview, MN installed a new Lely Juno feed pusher and 2 Lely Luna cow brushes in his barn. 

Shadybank Holsteins (Wegner/Holdvogt families)

In December of 2022, the Wegner/Holdvogt family at Shadybank Holsteins near Faribault, MN installed two Lely A5 milking robots, a Lely Juno Flex feed pusher, and DLS feed bins and flex augers.

Chris Middendorf (Melrose, MN)

Congratulations to the Chris Middendorf family in Melrose, MN! They recently installed 6 Lely A5 milking robots on their dairy. Their install was November of 2022.

Bremer's Pine Ridge Farm (Lake City, MN)

Congratulations to Bremer's Pine Ridge Farm on their new barn with additional robotic milkers, Vector feeding system with 2 MFRs, 5 Discovery 120 Collectors, and Luna cattle brushes! Their install was in June of 2022!

Heuer Family Farm (Lester Prairie, MN)

Congratulations to the Rick Heuer family of Lester Prairie MN! They installed robots in their converted existing tie-stall barn in May of 2022!

Creekside Farm LLC (Waverly, MN)

Congratulations to Creekside Farm LLC on their transition to automated milking in April of 2021! Dan, Mike, Bob and Dale Sawatzke (pictured) near Waverly, MN started using their 3 Lely A5 milking robots, 3 Luna brushes, and a Juno automated feed pusher this week! They decided to transition to robotics from their parlor with the hopes of saving labor and increasing milk production. The start-up went well and the cows are very much enjoying the tasty treats they get from the robot. Thank you to the Sawatzke family for working with Leedstone!

Funk's Midway Dairy (Melrose, MN)

Congratulations to Funk's Midway Dairy on the new robotic dairy systems installed in their secondary location in April, 2021! Jeff, Karl and Greg, along with their parents John and Dorothy Funk installed two Lely A5 robotic milkers, a Juno Flex feed pusher, 2 Discovery Collector 120 floor cleaners, 3 Luna brushes, Schaefer cross-ventilation fans, a feed bin and flex auger system and a 5,000-gallon Mueller milk tank where they now milk about 120 cows.

Silver Dust Dairy (Ottertail, MN)

Congratulations to organic farm, Silver Dust Dairy, on their brand new barn in March of 2021! Ken and Dori Larson, their son, Todd; daughter, Ellen; and their families started working with 1 new Lely A5 Astronaut robotic milker for their 55 cows, plus a Juno Flex feed pusher, Discover 120 manure collector, and a Luna cow brush! They also installed Schaefer fans, DCC waterbeds and a Lely Grazeway (double-gate grazing-management system). The 'formal' transition to robotics is started last week! Lots of transitions for this family, and we’re happy to be here to help it all go smoothly!

Capko Brothers (Swanville, MN)

In 2020, Jerry, Larry and Jared Capko were feeding their almost 80 calves with bottles and pails for the first 2 weeks, then transferring them to an auto-feeder. They decided to make a change because they were experiencing ventilation issues and the animals were starting to get overcrowded.

As of February 2021, they have a brand new calf barn with room for 100 calves, including Schaefer fans and ADC positive air tubes. They installed 2 Holm & Laue calf feeders to make feeding easier. Jared said, "We like that the H&L feeders have 2 mixing bowls, which mean both stations can be fed at the same time. The hygiene capabilities are top-of-the-line, and we feel that's important for our calves. Beyond that, the superior ventilation we now have in the barn is a big perk! It's great to have all our calves in one location to be able to give them the best care."

Schiffler Dairy (Albany, MN)

Schiffler family installed 4 Lely A5 robots, 3 Discovery Collecotrs, 1 Juno feed pusher, 4 Luna cow brushes, a 6700-gallon Mueller bulk tank, DCC waterbeds and a Schaefer cross-ventillation system in December of 2020!

Rolo Dairy (Kerkhoven, MN)

Rod & Naomi Lindquist and their family started their robotic milking system on October 27, 2020! Their freestall barn with 4 newly installed Lely A5 milking robots, 2 Discovery 120 manure Collectors and 4 Luna brushes are on the job, and the family and cows are adapting very well. And, an installation of a Lely a Juno Flex feed pusher is still in the works. Leedstone would like to congratulate the Lindquist family on keeping their family farm strong and moving forward! (Photo from left to right: Adam, Mackenzie, Kolby, Rod, Naomi holding Abel, Amanda, Brody, Korissa and Ty.)

Silver Spirit Dairy (Elgin, MN)

After a 9-year hiatus from active dairying, Silver Spirit Dairy (owned by Craig and Cathy Reiter and Sam and Brenda Fessenden) started with two new A5 Lely Robots in their new barn construction in October of 2020.The transition went smoothly as the families got acquainted with their new roles and new equipment! Congratulations Silver Spirit, and thank you for bringing Leedstone along on your journey!

Ahlgren Dairy (Darwin, MN)

Project Summary:  Family looking to the future of dairy

Ahlgren Dairy from Darwin, MN started using their automated milkers and equipment in June/July, 2020! They now have 3 Lely A5 milking robots, 2 Collector manure scrapers, a Vector automated feeding system, a Dealers Livestock feed bin and auger system, along with DCC waterbeds, Schaefer cross-ventilation and Luna cattle brushes for herd comfort. Thank you for taking us along on your new adventure!

Rohe Dairy (Freeport, MN)

Project Summary:  Making the most of 2020

Leedstone is happy to announce Rohe Dairy is now a Lely automated milking operation! With a June 5, 2020 start-up, the family is still very new to the world of automated milking, and everything is going smoothly and as planned for their start-up process. Congratulations to the Rohe family, and thank you for bringing us with you on your new endeavor!

Golden Sunrise Dairy (McIntosh, MN)

Project Summary:  First-of-its-kind barn in the USA

The Rolf family of McIntosh, Minnesota, built a first-of-its-kind in the USA, fully automated milking and feeding barn. What makes this barn so unique? It houses all dairy animals throughout their lifespan—birth, young-stock, milking, and dry-period stages. They started milking in March of 2020.

Dorrich Dairy / Vold Family (Glenwood, MN)

Project Summary:  Parlor renovation to robotic milking

Dorrich Dairy, owned by the Vold Family. In October of 2019, they started the conversion from parlor milking to robotic milking with 7 Lely A4 robots. The family is looking to automated milking for cow efficiency, labor savings, and long-term sustainability. The Volds are dedicated ambassadors to the dairy industry and Leedstone is honored to partner with them in their venture!

Nathe Dairy (Melrose, MN)

Project Summary: A multiphase approach

In April of 2019, Jeron & Brenda Nathe from Melrose, MN, transitioned part of their dairy to automated milking by installing 4 Lely A5 robots. Once their April phase was complete, construction began to retrofit part of the original barn for a 5th robot, a plan they had in place from the beginning. This new phase is now being finalized, and they'll begin milking with their 5th robot this week! Congratulations to Jeron & Brenda on their newly completed project. We are privileged to work with, and support the efforts of, such a great farm family.

Harms Farms (Jim Falls, WI)

In July of 2022, Harms Farms in Jim Falls, WI retrofitted their barn to add a Lely Juno automated feed pusher. The new addition was added to their previously installed Lely Luna cattle brush and Discovery Collector 120 robotic manure cleaner! Their remodel included a new feed bunk, floor and stalls for their existing free-stall barn. Learn more here!

Dieball Dairy (Green Isle, MN)

The Dieball family started milking in 1956, and in November, 2018, they converted to robotic milking with 3 Lely A4 Astronauts in their new barn.

Jim from Dieball Dairy said of these milking robots: “We've achieved everything we were hoping for, plus a lot more! And, the cows love them. If the robots leave the farm, the cows will be leaving right behind them."

Middendorf Dairy (Melrose, MN)

Project Summary:  New construction, family and cow approved

Congratulations to the Middendorf family! They started in a new barn complete with Lely automated milking equipment in May of 2018. We’re honored to be a part of your venture!

Roerick/Roerview Dairy (Swanville, MN)

Project Summary:  A Thanksgiving project

The Roerick family, of Swanville, Minnesota, started dairy farming in 1982 and grew their business throughout the years. They built a new barn with A4 Lely robots and started milking just after Thanksgiving in 2015.

Beckman Family Farm (Pennock, MN)

Project Summary:  Time for a change

In 2012, the Beckman family worked in a stall barn that was no longer functional for them. It was to the point they needed to build or stop milking. They built their new-barn construction with a wintery mix in play, and started using their robots on their 4th-generation farm in December of 2013.

Mursu Family Dairy (New York Mills, MN)

Project Summary: More than doubling the herd size

Mursu Dairy is a 3rd generation farm. From milking in a 100-year old barn, their new barn construction and milking system in 2012-2013 was an amazing transition.

Rein Dairy (Lanesboro, MN)

Ben and Amber Rein, from Lanesboro, MN, are long-standing equipment customers with Leedstone. Their first Lely A4 Robot was installed in 2013, the second, in 2015. Then a few years later, in 2018, they installed a Lely Vector feeding system! He said, "Dad spent many hours a day mixing feed. Now the Vector does it for us. Plus, I'm saving around $2,000 per month in fuel from tractor and skid loader usage!" In January 2020 we installed a Holm & Laue Calf Expert in a Calf Star Instant Calf Facility along with a Calf Star First Nurse Colostrum Pasteurizer for Rein Dairy. Thank you for such a great, continued relationship with us Ben and Amber!

Groetsch Family Dairy (Albany, MN)

Project Summary:  Pioneers in the robotic industry

Located in Albany, MN, this dairy is a 3-generation farm, with the promise of becoming 4-generation! An early pioneer in the robotic milking area, they began building a new barn in 2011 and started milking in January of 2012. Previous barn: Double 7 Herringbone (147 free-stall).