The Peterson Family Dairy will host this year’s Pierce County Dairy Breakfast, with the goal of welcoming everyone and giving them an idea of where their food comes from.

The breakfast has been an annual event in the county since its inception in 2009. With pancakes, sausage, Ellsworth cheese curds, Culver's custard and Kwik Trip milk, the event allows people to enjoy a meal while seeing a farm in action and receiving educational opportunities. People from all over the area attend the breakfasts, some who have never experienced what the farm life is like.

“It’s a good way to get the community to come see a dairy farm, walk through, ask questions,” Michelle Reuter, who grew up on the Peterson Farm, said. “People don’t have family members now that are farming. Back, even when we were little, it seemed like everybody had some sort of connection to a farm.”

This year the Peterson family will host for the third time on their farm at W10322 State Road 29, River Falls from 7:30-11 a.m. June 14. The family is in its fourth generation of owners, as Michelle’s great grandfather Oscar passed it to her grandfather Leroy, who then passed it to the third generation, Roger and Bev. Now, siblings Michelle, Brad and Kevin run the show. In 2009, the farm increased from 80 cows to just under 300, allowing the trio to put their full focus into the farm.

“In order to bring the family back, you have to add more animals,” Michelle said. “My grandpa, he’s 98 years old and he still likes to know what’s going on in the farm. My husband goes ‘It must be in the blood,’ and I’m like farming is in the blood I think.”

Michelle said sometimes it does not even feel like going to work because it has been ingrained in the family for so long.

“It’s fun to see how much it evolved,” Michelle said. “My grandpa goes ‘I remember farming with horses and now we’re farming with tractors that drive themselves.’”

Michelle’s priority is showing people how much the family cares about the farm as well as the products that come out of it.

“It’s just a lifestyle. It’s just caring about the animals and caring about the land,” Michelle said. “Making sure that you’re producing the best quality milk and meat for the market.”

Her favorite part of hosting the event after doing it twice already is seeing the smiles and excitement on people’s faces.

“Adults, just as much as children, enjoy their time coming to the Dairy Breakfast,” Michelle said. “I feel like they all leave having learned something.”

All are welcome to the breakfast, and a freewill donation will be offered to support Pierce County Dairy Promotion.

“Now, more than ever, dairy farmers understand the importance of showcasing the dedication and hard work that goes into every glass of milk, cheese curd or slice of cheese that consumers eat. People want to know more about where their food comes from. It is also true that there are many misconceptions out there, and we hope the public will see, firsthand, the care we take of our livestock, land, water, and natural resources. For this reason, the dairy breakfast continues with the hope that especially those without a farm background will come and learn about the job we do as well as enjoy the dairy deliciousness of breakfast on the farm,” Pierce County Dairy Promotion Committee Spokesperson Mary Brand stated.