Country Woman Close-up

Big on bovines. Monica and husband Brad continue a more than century-old farming tradition with their children, Zachary, Kylie and Isabel.

Bookkeeper Monica records the name of every registered calf, including young “Matches.”

A thoroughly modern milking program helps the Crandalls get peak production from their Holsteins.

Going with the Flow

Dairy farm keeps our cover gal on the moo-ve.

Why does Monica Crandall and her family enjoy country life? The reason is black and white and spread all over their Battle Creek, Michigan dairy.

“Brad’s family has raised Holsteins here for 75 years,” Monica notes from the centennial farm she and her husband own in partnership with his parents and younger brother. “We’re the fifth generation on the farm.”

Typically, their day dawns before the sun. Brad is off to feed and manage the cows while Monica balances the farm’s bookkeeping duties with raising three young children. The pace seldom slows. “Cows don’t understand about holidays,” she chuckles.

“Our 250 Holsteins are milked three times a day, 365 days a year and produce 7.5 million pounds of milk annually—that’s over 3,700 gallons per cow. We also plant and harvest 900 acres of alfalfa, corn and wheat—and in between, calves are being born and equipment needs fixing.”

Dairy-Go-Round

“Technology has changed things from the days Brad’s great-great grandfather milked by hand and plowed with horses. Computers tell us everything from what feed rations are most nutritious to how the cows are producing,” Monica says.

Thanks to their hardworking herd, the Crandalls have won several awards for milk quality and the title of Michigan Dairy Farm of the Year.

Their milk travels well beyond the state line, however. “It ends up in several popular brands of yogurt and ice cream, and in mozzarella cheese used by some of the country’s biggest pizza chains nationwide,” she notes.

Monica has fun showing off the lovely “ladies” who make these grade-A products possible. “I’m proud to show the cattle, barns and milking parlor to school groups and the MOMS Club (Moms Offering Moms Support) I’m involved with,” she says. “It’s important for people to know where their food comes from.

Plus, there’s nothing like a tiny, newborn calf or giant tractor to make a child smile.

“I give credit to my 4-H days for many of the things I know how to do—like quilting, sewing, cooking and canning,” says the born-and-raised farm girl. “One of my best memories as a teen was serving as Calhoun County Fair Queen. I wanted to share that worthwhile experience with others.”

Brad explains to his favorite half-pints how fast-growing cattle first get nutrition from a bottle and later from homegrown feed crops.

Not only did Monica manage and promote the annual queen contest, she introduced the title of fair king. “It’s great seeing both our local boys and girls win educational scholarships,” she adds.

Pulling Together

True to their roots, the Crandall kids—Zachary, 6, Kylie, 4, and Isabel, 2—eagerly embrace every square acre of farm life. “I couldn’t find more excited volunteers when it’s time to deliver meals to their dad in the field or bottle-feed calves,” says Monica.

This dairy household is quite cozy in the country-style home she decorated. “Zach’s room is painted denim blue with John Deere stripes, and I made my office curtains out of fabric with a milk can print,” Monica says.

Of course, the milk theme’s most prominent in the kitchen. “There are usually 4 gallons in our fridge at a time—and we eat a lot of cheese and
real butter,” she says.

“Yogurt, pudding and smoothies are among our kids’ favorite foods.”

Yet, no matter how delicious Monica’s dairy-fresh recipes are, she doesn’t always get the credit.

“Isabel, our youngest, is convinced that chocolate milk comes straight from our unusual brown-and-white Holstein,” she says, laughing.