Bob Kettelkamp is an Iowa dairy farmer who milks around 160 Holstein cows twice a day, 365 days a year. You might say it’s a labor of love. Bob has been in the dairy business with his twin brother Bill since 1987. They began with ten cows and have never looked back. Today their herd consists of 190 head of milk cows plus another 100 heifers.
Today with the challenge of finding qualified labor, Bob’s wife Cindy has been helping with the twice-a-day milking duties. This is what real love looks like - showing up faithfully day after day to serve the one you love. And this is also what dairy farmers do every day out of the love for their animals.
Bob breeds and raises his own Holsteins. He used to name each one until the numbers became too large. Now he doesn’t give them names but he still knows each individual cow along with its unique personality and preferences. It’s Bob’s love for his cows that motivates him and keeps him going. It’s the thing he loves most about the dairy business and probably the thing he will miss the most when he finally retires.
At the end of the day, the dairy business isn’t just about cows but about milk. And these Holstein’s really produce! During their peak production, each cow produces 100 pounds or about 12 gallons of milk per day. Bob’s herd produces approximately 10,000 pounds of milk per day.
Bob’s Dutch Girl Dairy is classified as a Grade A dairy, receiving unannounced inspections by the Department of Agriculture every five months. In addition, his milk is tested each time it’s picked up and delivered to Wapsie Valley Creamery. The milk samples are tested for antibiotic and bacterial levels as well as butter fat and protein content.
This Artisan project has focused on people who produce something of value in limited quantity with their hands. Bob is a true artisan! Some may call him a dairy farmer who does manual labor with stinky animals. I call Bob a consummate artisan who is driven by his passion for his animals and producing a quality product that others can enjoy. An artisan in deed!
