Farm to table: Ozaukee County hosts 31st annual Breakfast on the Farm

OZAUKEE COUNTY  -- How does breakfast with 4,000 of your friends sound? The 31st annual Breakfast on the Farm was held in Ozaukee County Saturday morning, June 25th.

Breakfast on the Farm

The road from farm to table begins at Roden Echo Valley, and so many other farms like it in Ozaukee County.

"We're expecting about 4,000 people. We are volunteering to have everybody come to our farm," said Patti Roden, host farm.

Patti Roden is a member of the host family. Each year, a different farm welcomes thousands of visitors as a way to celebrate the county's agricultural heritage.

Breakfast on the Farm

"There is a lot of farms that are dying in the area and people still need to realize how milk gets to their table from a facility like this," said Breakfast Chair, Jean Opitz.

Breakfast on the Farm

The same goes for farm fresh eggs, or any other home grown commodity.

Families are free to roam the farm for a hands-on experience.

The Zarlings brought their two young children.

"I think that it's very important and I am a teacher to education is very important to me, especially to learn about this which isn't as popular anymore," said Jenny Zarling, lives in Newburg.

Breakfast on the Farm

Because of the declining number of family farms across the Midwest, the Roden family and volunteers are encouraged by how many people attend each year.

Breakfast on the Farm

"We keep coming back to host because we think it's very important to promote the dairy industry in Ozaukee County, and the state of Wisconsin -- especially for June Dairy Month," said Roden.

The annual event takes months of planning and thousands of volunteer hours to make Breakfast on the Farm possible, but the Rodens say it's well worth it for them to host, now for the fourth time.