Hello Neighbor! Did you get our postcard? We have a message for you HERE.
Quick fun facts about Vlietstra Dairy Farm.
- We are a family farm celebrating 100 years of dairy farming in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
- You will find our 3rd and 4th generation owners in the barn every day working with the cows, cleaning pens and hauling manure, or doing the constant maintenance on buildings and equipment.
- We milk 300 cows twice a day.
- Our milk gets shipped many places and is sold in the form of milk, butter, cheese, yogurt and ice cream.
- We grow approximately 800 acres of crops each year. The majority of our crops are fed to our cows.
- We buy insurance locally and bank with area bankers. Local veterinarians help us care for our herd. We regularly purchase equipment, building supplies, seed and fuel from local venders. We hire local contractors for many projects.
- For many years and to this day neighborhood young people and Vlietstra grandchildren have had their first jobs feeding calves or milking cows at our farm.
- We have wonderful neighbors and friends.
- We love farming and plan to continue for years to come.
Here is how you can contact us. For current news and updates, follow us on Facebook.
Vlietstra cows enjoying the sunshine
Vlietstra Dairy Farm 
Hello ….to your family Vliestra’s!!! I’m Doc Russell’s daughter…your old neighbor! It is so good to get your post…..you are wonderful people. Happy New year and GodBless you all!
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Karen, I will make sure to tell Fred your message! So glad you found us. 🙂
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From Fred: Nice to hear from you. I still have your Dad’s UP2 sign in my garage at my house. I miss seeing your dad.
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I’m so glad you’ve set up this site! It’s beautiful, Karen, and your brother clearly shares your gift with words. It’s great to have facts about the farm and its history online so we can direct others here for information. And I had fun today reading about lots of things I didn’t know too!
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Thank you! I learned quite a lot myself reading putting this together. Appreciate your kind words.
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Very well done! Enjoyed viewing it.
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40 Plus years ago, I was one of those neighbors that had his first job milking cows, outside of our own small farm. The Vlietstra’s are a great family, great people to work for and with. Such good times that I’ll never forget. I love to follow you on Facebook, thanks for sharing your story!
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Thanks Garry! You are one of those good neighbors we’ve been blessed with! Thanks for your message!
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Are you spreading more manure than usual this Summer? We are noticing more than usual odor and flies.
The residents in Leisure Point on Drake are getting upset by the heavy odor, especially on the 4th of July.
We did receive postcard but doesn’t help when windows and outside activities are stopped.
Regards,
Linda & Paul Parks
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Hello Linda and Paul,
We are sorry the smell has bothered you. We are pretty much done hauling over there, as that field will be planted with sorghum very soon. In fact, we had hoped to plant it today but there was a delay due to the rain.
Sincerely,
Fred H.
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Hi wondering if u could steer me in the direction to where u could meet and pet a Cow and or a horse.
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I sent you an email.
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