Making it to the Minnesota State Fair with your family in tow can be a feat in and of itself. Imagine bringing along your family, 15 cows and two calves to stay for the full 12 days of the fair, plus two extra days in preparation of the start of the Great Get Together.

That was the task Kristen Reiman Duden was up for and one she called an honor Thursday, on the first day of the fair. Reiman Duden was standing out in front of her cattle answering questions of the public in the cattle barn and took a few moments to chat with Agweek between having cows cycled through the milking parlor where each cow is milked in front of bleachers full of people on the other side of giant glass windows.

Reiman Duden shared that she’s a fourth-generation part of the farm, which is part of Brickton Genetics, where she and her husband Thomas own 40 registered Jersey and Holstein cattle near Princeton, Minn.

Kristen Reiman Duden of Brickton Genetics describes her work schedule Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, at the Minnesota State Fair. (Michael Johnson / Agweek)

Every year, the Minnesota State Fair showcases a different breed as part of the parlor herd. This year the featured breed was Jersey. The Minnesota Jersey Cattle Association asked if anyone would like to be featured, and Reiman Duden stepped up to the plate.

“I always thought it would be cool that someday maybe we’d be able to feature our herd here,” Reiman Duden said.

To be featured at one of the biggest celebrations of dairy in the world is a rare opportunity.

“I love the Minnesota State Fair … I’m just really proud to be here and to showcase our cattle,” she said.

They brought 15 milk cows and two calves. A few of the cows they brought were from other nearby farms. They stretch out in front of the milking parlor area where hundreds of cows will be milked daily during the fair. On Thursday, that included more than 50 4-H cattle.

Reiman Duden said their cows come from their 40 milk cows that make up the Princeton farm that are part of Brickton Genetics. The business gets its name from the old town of Brickton, Minnesota, where bricks were once made from the clay-filled ground there. The farm has been operating since 1933.

Being on display for more than a million people during the fair can be a lot of pressure. It takes a group of cows that’s calm and used to the crowds.

“The fun thing is is most of these animals have all been shown by 4-Hers or FFA kids. So they’ve been leashed, they’ve been walked, they’ve been worked with. So that’s what we really pride ourselves that we have a really calm set of cattle.”

Brickton Genetics has the showcase herd at the Minnesota State Fair and the cattle are on display inside the Cattle Barn each day of the fair. They are also milked daily in front of the public, viewable through large glass windows. (Michael Johnson / Agweek)

They are milked at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. daily. They will likely have other special appearances throughout the fair.

While the cows need to be pleasant and handle the milking schedule, Reiman Duden said the team of people caring for these animals are working around the clock to make sure they all look clean and orderly. They’ll be working here until the final milking on Labor Day at 4 p.m.

“It’s a huge honor, it’s a lot of work, but it is a labor of love,” Reiman Duden said.

She thanked friends and family for helping them get here and she thanked the many hands that were helping to make sure people’s questions were being answered around the clock about their herd and their passion.

Every ounce matters

The Jersey cows on display are known for their quality milk often used for making cheese. It just so happens that’s where all the milk coming out of the state fair is going this year, to First District Association in Litchfield, Minnesota.

Making sure it gets there was Chuck Godding, of Advanced Dairy LLC. Advanced Dairy is contracted to supply service and supplies necessary to keep the milk parlor operating each day of the fair. They took full responsibility of this service last year. He said the calibration of equipment and cleanliness are key as the Minnesota State Fair is a qualifying event for the World Dairy Expo.

“We do that as a dealership just because it looks better on their books to have it done by an authorized dealer, if anyone would complain about anything,” Godding, a voluntary milking systems specialist said. Every ounce of milk matters in this setting so precise milking matters.

The milking parlor at the Minnesota State Fair is viewable from inside the Cattle Barn where all lactating dairy being shown are milked. (Michael Johnson / Agweek)

Godding was at the fair on Thursday to watch his grandchildren show beef cattle and will return again next week to be on call as part of the DeLaval staff that handle any parlor issues that arise. He said the opportunity to have dairy cattle on display in front of such big crowds was a privilege that herdsmen should be proud of. The setting, literally surrounded by thousands of people at all hours of the day, is far from a rural setting most are used to. But bringing the agriculture to the crowds matters, Godding explained.

“I do like what you see in this barn here,” Godding said standing in front of the cattle barn. “This barn does a really good job of representing agriculture to the non-agricultural Minnesotan.”

As he sat with his grandkids and their cattle he watched them walk up to people and ask if they would like to pet the cattle or answer any questions.

“I think those little things are really important so that agriculture can be in a positive light. Because these kids that are involved in agriculture, they work hard,” Godding said.

With many kids starting the day at 5 a.m. and continuing until the fair closes at night, their work is on full display. From catching cow manure with buckets to maintaining a clean setting to answering questions that run the gamut.

Visitors walk by dairy cattle on display at the Minnesota State Fair on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. (Michael Johnson / Agweek)

During the fair there will be upwards of 400 dairy cows milked. Godding estimated numbers were down somewhat due to the H5N1 virus. There have been up to 650 cows milked during the fair.

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