Farm stops continue with a visit to County Road EE in Freedom at J-Springs Dairy Farm.

The century farm is currently owned and operated by Judy Springstroh after the passing of her husband John in 1980. Since they began farming in 1965, it’s undergone some major changes, Judy says.

“The farm has improved big time since we took it over in 1965, like 12 by 40 concrete silos were knocked over and replaced with harvesters,” Judy said. “John just made so many improvements on the land and the buildings.”

Other improvements were made to the barn, milk house and a free stall shed. J-Springs dairy currently have about 50 head of milk cows and close to 50 young stock.

Judy says when it comes to running things on the farm, she gets plenty of help from the family.

My son in-law helps when he can, he drives semi,” she explained. “My grandson who is 17 has been taking a big interest in this farm right now, probably with the hopes that he’ll someday take over. Then I have a granddaughter, Gracie that’s 13, that just loves it also. She tames every calf around here, everything is tame.”

For the most part, the farm has a heavy influence of women on the farm, which Judy says is really no different than a farm run predominantly by men

“It’s probably not much different than a man-run dairy farm, except that we don’t quite have the muscles sometimes. Like if we have a down cow or something you have to wait for someone to come and help you push it on a board so you can take it out, but everything else we pretty much handle.”