HANOVER, Wis. – Korey Statton of Early Rise Acres Registered Dairy Goats maintains a simple and straightforward farm philosophy – take good care of his Alpine, Toggenburg, Oberhasli and Saanen goats, and they will take good care of his family. He believes in doing the best possible job of caring for his 180-head herd with good management practices. The kids in the herd receive extra care because they are the future.
Dreams and determination drive dairy
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Korey, Bobbi Jo and Ellsie Statton of Hanover, Wisconsin, say they're proud of their farm sign and the quality it symbolizes on their farm, Early Rise Acres Registered Dairy Goats. They milk 80 show-quality goats that have won several local and national awards.
The goats at Early Rise Acres, like this young doe, have plenty of freedom and wide-open space. Korey Statton, who owns, milks and shows the goats with his wife, Bobbi Jo, says he enjoys their colorful, fun personalities.
Goat kids peek out of a barn window at Early Rise Acres of Hanover.
Ellsie Statton, 2, of Early Rise Acres herds a goat in the barnyard while other goats, and one of her favorite cats, look on. Ellsie has fun helping her parents around the farm.
A show sign hand-painted by Lauren Mills hangs in the stall at local and national shows when the Statton family travels for goat shows. Since recently expanding, Saanen goats have been added to the herd.
Goats at Early Rise Acres of Hanover, Wisconsin, are part of an ever-growing herd of Alpines, Toggenburgs, Oberhaslis and Saanens; owners Korey and Bobbi Jo Statton are expanding the herd in order for Korey Statton to run the farm full-time.
Does that produce plenty of high-quality milk, like this one at Early Rise Acres of Hanover, Wisconsin, contribute to an ever-growing health trend around the world. Goat milk is considered healthier for humans to consume than cow milk. Goat milk is rich in calcium for bone growth just like cow milk; it helps soothe gut inflammation and is processed in the human body more efficiently. It's more nutrient-dense than cow milk so humans don't need to consume as much to have the same nutrient intake. There are twice as many beneficial fatty acids in goat milk, which help balance cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes and other coronary issues. It's also high in protein.
Doe kids play in the grass near the barn at Early Rise Acres. During kidding season this year, owners Korey and Bobbi Jo Statton had 168 kids born.
Does walk into the parlor to be milked at Early Rise Acres.
Goat kids enjoy the freedom of running through the grass near the barn at Early Rise Acres. Korey Statton prefers to let his goats out to pasture rather than keeping them confined. He says he believes in high-quality goat kid care because they are the future of his herd.
Korey and Bobbi Jo Statton lead a dairy goat as their daughter, Ellsie, 2, poses in front of them. Ellsie's parents want her to be raised on a farm to have the joy of experiencing farm life firsthand. Korey Statton grew up in the country near Clinton, Wisconsin, while Bobbi grew up on a dairy farm outside Orfordville, Wisconsin. “I always say that when we got married, Bobbi didn’t only get me, she also got a herd of about 40 goats,” he says. The couple has been married for just more than three years.
Ellsie Statton, 2, is comfortable around her parents' herd of goats.
This Farmall H makes life just a little easier around the farm for the Statton family at Early Rise Acres of Hanover, Wisconsin.
Korey and Bobbi Jo Statton have won several local and national awards with their dairy goats. They register their goats with the American Dairy Goat Association in order to have accurate, updated records for each animal.
Korey, Bobbi Jo and Ellsie Statton proudly show one of their show dairy goats at their farm near Hanover, Wisconsin. Good management practices keep the goats healthy and happy while also producing plenty of milk. The family puts apple cider vinegar in the water tanks to improve the goats' immune systems and cell counts.
Korey Statton puts milking machines on goats in his parlor. While he says there is really nothing easy about milking goats, he's also not surprised by anything happening on the farm. He has an efficient routine and works hard on good goat care every day.
Does enjoy their feed as they're milked in the parlor at Early Rise Acres.
Korey Statton puts a milking machine on a goat in his double-eight parlor.
Gladys the goat poses while being milked at Early Rise Acres.
This pregnant doe at Early Rise Acres will contribute to owners Korey and Bobbi Jo Statton's improved genetics when she kids, which will be soon. The Stattons' goal is to always work to improve the breeds in their herd, which involves selecting the best bucks possible. Better genetics help improve milk production and the physical structure of the goats, they say.
Telschow Trucking hauls milk from Early Rise Acres to Kolb-Lena Cheese Company of Lena, Illinois.
Evie the goat peeks around her milking stanchion in the parlor at Early Rise Acres.
Korey Statton helps some does out of the parlor after they've been milked.
Photogenic kids at Early Rise Acres reflect that owners Korey and Bobbi Jo Statton continuously work to improve their herd's genetics.
