50 Years of MSU Extension’s TelFarm Program
Print
EmailThe Wardin family farm in Hemlock, Michigan has worked with the TelFarm Program for decades.
In 1974, Wilfred and Paul Wardin were the first to enroll in the TelFarm program. They recorded their transactions on paper journals and mailed records to be reviewed. At that time, they operated a dairy farm, Wardin Brothers Dairy, which dates to 1893 when the current owners’ great-grandparents came from Germany and started the farm in Saginaw County.
Wardin Brothers Dairy was an award-winning, registered Holstein dairy farm and the first in the county to have power milkers. In 1968, a new barn and milk parlor were built to handle their 200 cows. However, dairy industry changes and milk substitute competition, along with nearing retirement, influenced the decision to focus on crop farming. In 2019, the dairy was discontinued, relocating 125 cows to a dairy in Wisconsin. After the cows left the farm in 2020, the free stall barn that held the cows was heavily damaged due to a sheer force windstorm.
The fourth-generation brothers, Joel and Matt Wardin, currently operate the Wardin Brothers farm of 1,200 acres of no-till corn, wheat and specialty non-gmo soybeans in addition to a 30-head cow-calf operation. According to Joel Wardin, no-till has been their practice for over 50 years, adopted to save the time of working ground that could be instead devoted to the dairy operations. He added that once no-till planting is adopted, it is hard to go back to working ground. A third brother, Mike, has retired to Texas but still returns to check in on the family farm from time to time. Matt’s son Sam is the primary beef operator, while Joel’s son Matthew also works on the farm. Carol Wardin, Wilfred’s wife, age 92, still lives at the farmhouse and is a partner in the original business.
Barb Wardin, Matt’s wife, has been the bookkeeper for the last 35 years and currently uses PC Mars supported by TelFarm. She has worked with Michigan State University Extension staff Bill Hamilton, Dennis Stein (for over 25 years), Corey Clark and now Cheri Burk. Dennis and Cheri met with Joel and Barb at the farm recently where their 25-years of TelFarm enrollment certificate remained on display in their office. When asked why they value the program, Barb commented that she appreciates the knowledge and great customer service of TelFarm staff John Jones, Stephanie Lelo and others throughout the years.
Michigan State University Extension’s TelFarm program provides financial record keeping and educational services, including a complete business analysis as well as balance sheets, income statements and enterprise analysis. Benchmarking analysis can be performed to compare to similar farm businesses using customized software programs. Farm business management educators and specialists provide consulting and support. See https://www.canr.msu.edu/telfarm/ for more information.
Photo courtesy of MLive, not to be reproduced without permission of MLive.
