Mother and daughter help lead modern dairy operation in South Easthope

Pictured right, Linda Danen and daughter Isabelle Danen, along with the farm’s mascot, Nova, stand in front of their Holstein dairy herd on Sebastopol Road (Perth Line 29) west of Tavistock. The farm’s four robotic milking units milk more than 200 cows three times daily. Gary West photo

By Gary West

International Women’s Day recently offered an opportunity to recognize the important contributions women continue to make in agriculture, including two local dairy farmers from South Easthope Township who are helping lead a modern, family-run operation in Perth County.

Linda Danen, a University of Guelph graduate, and her daughter, Isabelle, a graduate of Ridgetown College, are proud to be part of the next generation producing Grade A milk at Danendale Farms on Sebastopol Road west of Tavistock.

Together with Linda Danen’s husband, Rob Danen, a Centralia College graduate, the family has steadily expanded and modernized their dairy operation over the years. The Danens first milked cows in a tie-stall barn on Sebastopol Road before moving to a free-stall barn with a parlour system. More recently, the family constructed a modern dairy facility featuring four milking robots and sand-bedded free stalls for their Holstein herd.

Dairy farming has deep roots in the family. Linda Danen was raised on a dairy farm north of Mitchell by her parents, Robert and Maria Baes, while Rob Danen was raised near Tavistock by his parents, Tony and Jane Danen. The original Danen home farm remains in the family today and continues to serve as the base of their operation.

Like many dairy families in Perth County, the Danens’ farming background traces back to Europe. Rob Danen’s parents milked cows in the Netherlands before coming to Canada, while Linda Danen’s family immigrated from Izenberge, Belgium in the early 1950s and settled in Logan Township.

Linda and Isabelle Danen also acknowledge the contributions of others who have helped support the busy dairy operation over the years. Meagan Weitzel, who lives nearby, has assisted with farm work, while neighbour Ben DeWeerd provided valuable help for many years, particularly during busy harvest seasons. The family credits the support of hardworking students and neighbours for helping manage the daily workload on the farm.

The future continues to look bright for the Danen family. Daughter Justine is now married to Mike Bellingham and living in Guelph, while son Andrew, a Ridgetown College graduate, lives with his wife, Alexis, and their young son, Otto. Isabelle Danen recently married Dillon Ostendryver, who also assists on the farm when available alongside his work with his family’s livestock trucking business.