Tell Your Story

Everyone has a story. And it is becoming more important for farmers to tell their story before an activist does it for them. At Charleston|Orwig we try to help farmers do that. So a few weeks ago I participated in the Missouri Photo Workshop to sharpen my visual storytelling skills.

I spent seven days with 39 other eager photographers from around the world with two goals to accomplish. The first was to soak up as much knowledge as we could from each other and the 10 world-renowned photojournalists who were serving as our faculty throughout the week. The second was to help in a 62-year-long quest to document life in small-town Missouri.

This year’s workshop was held in Macon, Mo., and I chose to do a story on one of the local family farms. After talking with the vet, John Deere dealer and ag loan officer, I was introduced to the Thrasher family—a family with a progressive hog, cattle and crop operation and a great story to tell. Watch the video below to see how my week went.

And then look through the picture story to see how I helped one rural Missouri farmer tell his story.


Now, go forth and prosper! No really, go tell your story before someone else does.

World Dairy Diary at World Dairy Expo

For the past three years we have sponsored the World Dairy Diary coverage of World Dairy Expo. It's a great way for us to provide an opportunity for our clients and friends to tell their story about what they do. Sometimes we get a chance to talk about what we do, too.

In this interview Mark Gale talks about the passion we have for dairy, and how we turn that passion into great client work. Scroll through the blog to see what's going on at Expo with our clients and others at the show.

First Time on the Colored Shavings

World Dairy Expo is always a big week for the team at CharlestonOrwig. We busily plan meetings, host clients from out-of-town and participate in all that is dairy for a whole week. This year I was able to take my involvement one step further: right into the show ring.

On Tuesday morning I showed my Ayrshire calf, Pamela, in the 2010 International Ayrshire Show. This was my first time showing at World Dairy Expo, so I was nervous to say the least.

It was, however, a great experience! Pamela placed 5th out of a class of 23. It was a great way to start the 2010 World Dairy Expo and a lifelong dream come true.

50 Years Down, 50 More to Come

Last night a group of us had the pleasure of witnessing a historic moment at an event celebrating 50 years of Orion Samuelson on WGN Radio. The audience included dignitaries from WGN Radio, Mr. Samuelson's family, and associates who worked with the radio legend throughout his career. We were there along with our friends and client, Dairyland Seed, which sponsored the event.

Orion received congratulations, via video, from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. His long-time radio colleague Max Armstrong talked about that booming voice, a voice that has been the voice of agriculture for more than 50 years. Radio host John Williams sat down with Orion for a "fireside chat" that spanned Orion's childhood years from a dairy farm in Wisconsin's Kickapoo Valley, to his days on the radio in Green Bay and his first day at WGN on September 26, 1960.

He spoke of visiting with then Senator John F. Kennedy, and three years later having to tell his audience of that tragic day on November 22, 1963. He talked about how he, save for his physician's advice to the contrary, almost ran against Barack Obama in the Illinois Senate race. He spoke highly of his parents and family, and glowingly of his wife, children and grandchildren.

What is certain is that Orion Samuelson is, and has been, agriculture's largest voice. And he's equally as great a man.

Congratulations, Orion. Here's to another 50.

Husker Harvest Hospitality

The state of Nebraska rolled out the red carpet for ag folks around the country for the 33rd annual Husker Harvest Days outdoor tradeshow. One of the largest tradeshows, the event takes place in Grand Island, Nebraska, and has everything from machinery and seed to arts and crafts and excellent food.

This year’s event truly rolled out the Nebraska Hospitality when Mother Nature herself showed up. On my drive back to Omaha on Wednesday evening, this photo was taken of the storms rolling in. Thunderstorms with high winds and hail were just on the horizon. Thankfully I made it to the hotel right as the storm reached Omaha.

The trip to Nebraska was a great learning experience! Besides the weather, it was fascinating to learn about farming in Nebraska and talk with farmers from the state.

Cows Milked by an Astronaut

by Ashley Boydstun, PR Writer

This week a group of us at the agency had the opportunity to tour the Knigge Dairy Farm in Omro, Wis., for a special event dedicated to celebrating 10 years of robotic milking. It's actually the home farm of Krista Knigge, one our colleagues who works on our account service team.

The 120-cow free stall barn looks like most free-style barns, with two added features—robotic milking machines - Lely Astronaut A3's to be exact. The machines eliminated the need of a separate milking parlor.

Here’s how they work. When a cow is ready to be milked, she enters the milking stall. Once the cow is in the stall, the robot identifies the cow based on an individual RFID collars. The machine then uses a robotic arm to wipe and clean the cow’s teats. Lasers then find the cows teats and attach the units. When the cow is done, she exits the stall to the feed area and it’s ready for the next cow.

I spoke with Charlie Knigge, co-owner of Knigge Farms. He said his cows average just under three milkings a day, and his top producing cows milk around 140 pounds each day. The Knigge Dairy Farm has increased efficiency, mostly by eliminating added labor. The farm is primarily run by Charlie and his father.

A dairy farm, George Jetson style

by Mike Oelhafen, Director of Media


Yesterday I had my first Field Assignment since joining CO…and it didn’t even take me to a field! It did, however, take me to the Knigge Family dairy farm located outside of Omro, WI.

This trip wasn’t my first trip out behind the barn - my Mom grew up on a dairy farm outside of Hartford, WI and I remember helping out with chores during planting and harvesting. I can remember my uncle and cousins needing to head back home for the evening milking, and I remember that the actual milking took quite a bit of time.

Fast forward almost 40 years and I felt like Fred Flintstone visiting George Jetson on the farm. Watching the new Lely Astronaut robotic milking system in action caused my jaw to almost hit the spotless barn floor (was that really a barn?). When ready for milking, cows voluntarily - like people at the grocery check-out line - waited for their turn to enter the milking stall. They enjoyed a scrumptious snack. Then, they gracefully exited the milking area when done….simply to allow the next cow to begin the “check-out” process.

Well, this city boy is now perplexed. Years ago I told myself I was content if I NEVER went to a farm again. After yesterday, rather than say I was wrong (men hate that), I can just say I might need to update my opinion.

Thank you to the Knigge’s. I really do feel like I saw George Jetson’s farm…but please, no talking dogs on a levitating treadmill.