Danen family hosts Perth County Holstein Club twilight meeting

Members and directors of the Perth County Holstein Club presented the Danen family with a personalized custom metal "Danzel Holsteins" sign during last Thursday's Twilight Meeting. From left are former Perth County Holstein Club president Sjoerd Kemmere, Emily and Cody Cretier, Julie and Ed Danen, and Perth County Holstein Breeders Association president Luis Velazquez. Missing from the photo is club secretary-treasurer Emma Payne Childerly. Gary West photo

By Gary West

Hundreds of Holstein breeders, dairy producers and neighbours gathered at the Ed and Julie Danen family farm near Punkeydoodles Corners last Thursday for the Perth County Holstein Club's annual Twilight Meeting.

The Danen family welcomed visitors to their South Easthope dairy farm on Perth-Oxford Road, where they milk 140 purebred Holstein cows in a modern milking parlour and free-stall barn. The family also raises a similar number of calves and replacement heifers.

Both Ed and Julie Danen come from well-known dairy-farming families. Ed Danen was raised by Bart and Gerry Danen near Tavistock, while Julie Danen grew up on her parents' farm, Ken and Sharon Weitzel, near Stratford.

Both families were respected Holstein breeders for many years, and today they take pride in seeing the next generation continue that tradition with a successful, high-producing dairy herd.

Ed and Julie Danen first met through 4-H and Junior Farmers before establishing their own dairy operation on what was formerly the Baechler farm, just a few kilometres from the Danen family homestead.

Like many young farm families, they started with a modest operation and have steadily expanded both their land base and herd over the years

Today, their daughter, Emily, and her husband, Cody Cretier, play an integral role in the business. The couple lives on one of the family's farms where replacement heifers are raised and helps manage the operation's annual rotation of alfalfa, corn, soybeans and wheat.

The Danens also work closely with Ed Danen's siblings, Jack and Jane Danen, and their families, sharing equipment while each operates their own Holstein dairy enterprise.

Beyond their own farm, Ed and Julie Danen have contributed significantly to agriculture through volunteer leadership. Both are past presidents of the Perth County Federation of Agriculture, while Ed Danen currently serves on the board of directors for Gay Lea Foods Co-operative.

The annual Twilight Meeting gave local producers an opportunity to tour the operation, exchange ideas and celebrate excellence in the dairy industry.