Wagner Farms Inc.

Call Directions Contact the business

Wagner Farms Inc. We are a dairy farm that produces high quality dairy products! We love showing others what farming is about! They cleared the land and got it ready for farming.

We love what we do, take care of the animals and environment, and we enjoy the people we work with! Wagner Farms started way back in 1896 where it was purchased from a lumber company and all wooded at the time. In 1956 Hank's dad Tony took over the farm with 15 cows. Hank and Pam took over the farm in 1987 with 70 cows. Wagner Farms is a fifth generation dairy farm with 650 cows. At our farm people, animals, and our environment are very important to us! We are a family farm that is owned by Hank and Pam Wagner, along with their children Shawn and Crystal Wagner and Laura and Tyler Raatz. Hank is the CEO and manager of the farm and Pam keeps the farm looking nice and clean by cutting grass and cleaning on a daily basis. She also helps out taking care of the milking cows. Shawn is the crops manager and machinery manager. Shawn's wife works off the farm and also has a son Jackson and daughter Brinley. Laura is the calf and herds manager, where she takes care of babies from first born all the way through the cows. Laura's husband,Tyler, works on the farm and is our feed manager and employee manager. We love what we do, but most of all, we value people animals, and our environment!!

There’s something pretty special about this picture when you stop and think about it.When I was little, I remember watch...
09/15/2026

There’s something pretty special about this picture when you stop and think about it.

When I was little, I remember watching our hoof trimmer come to the farm to care for our cows. Today, he’s trimming fewer cows, and his son has taken over much of the work for us. Just so happened we had them both here with us today!

At the same time, another generation has been taking over more responsibility on our side of the chute, too.

Two generations of families. Two generations caring for the same herd. And a shared passion that has been passed down along the way.

That’s one of the things I love most about agriculture. Our industry continues to evolve. We learn more, find better ways to do things, use new technology and constantly work to provide better care for our animals. But behind so much of that progress are families who have been doing this work for generations.

And it goes far beyond the families who own the farm. It’s our hoof trimmers, veterinarians, nutritionists, milk haulers, crop partners and so many others whose families grow right alongside ours.

A lot has changed since I was that little girl watching cows get their hooves trimmed. Our farm has grown. The way we care for cows has evolved. The people doing the jobs have changed.

But one thing hasn’t.

No matter how many cows we have, this will always be a family business.

And I think it’s pretty incredible when the families who help us care for them can say the same.

🐄 Ask a Farmer: Why are calves cared for separately from their moms?This is one of the most common questions we get, and...
09/14/2026

🐄 Ask a Farmer: Why are calves cared for separately from their moms?

This is one of the most common questions we get, and we understand why people ask it.

From the outside looking in, it can be hard to understand. But on our farm, calves are cared for separately because our goal is to give each calf the safest, healthiest start possible — while also making sure mom gets the care and comfort she needs after labor.

When a calf is born, the first few hours are incredibly important. One of our biggest priorities is making sure she gets clean, high-quality colostrum quickly. Colostrum is the first milk, and it helps give the calf the immunity she needs to start life strong.
At the same time, we are also watching mom closely. Calving is a big event, and we want to make sure she is comfortable, healthy, and able to get back to fresh water, the right feed, and her group.

By caring for calves separately, we can closely monitor each one.
We know how much she drinks.
We know if she is warm and dry.
We know if she is acting normal.
We know if she needs extra attention.

It also helps keep her safe from being stepped on, pushed away, or exposed to more germs when she is brand new and vulnerable.

On our farm, calves are also raised with a buddy from the beginning. They eat together, rest together, play together, and start learning life with a friend by their side.

So while this question can feel emotional, for us it comes down to care.
Care for the calf.
Care for mom.
And giving both the best start to this next stage. ❤️

🌾 Ask a Farmer: What changes when a heifer becomes a cow?Earlier this week, we talked about the life cycle of a dairy co...
09/10/2026

🌾 Ask a Farmer: What changes when a heifer becomes a cow?

Earlier this week, we talked about the life cycle of a dairy cow — from calf, to heifer, to cow.

But what actually changes when she becomes a cow?
A heifer becomes a cow after she has her first calf. Like all mammals, cows produce milk after having a baby. That is when she begins a new stage of life and joins the milking herd.

This is a big transition.
Her body has different needs.
Her diet changes.
Her daily routine changes.
Her care changes.
And she begins a new role on the farm.

Once she is in the milking herd, her day is built around what keeps her healthy and comfortable. She spends her time eating, drinking, resting, chewing her cud, being milked, and being cared for by our team. She's living at an all inclusive resort at Wagner Farms!

A cow’s nutrition is also very important. Just like people have different nutritional needs during different stages of life, cows do too. A growing heifer needs a diet that supports growth and development. A milking cow needs a carefully balanced diet that supports her health, energy, milk production, and overall comfort.

Her routine becomes a big part of her life. Cows like consistency. They like knowing when they will eat, where they will rest, when they will be milked, and what to expect each day.

Later, before she has another calf, she receives a rest period called a dry period. During this time, she is not milked. This gives her body time to rest, recover, and prepare for her next calf and next lactation.

So becoming a cow is not just about producing milk.
It is a whole new stage of life.
It is motherhood, maturity, routine, nutrition, rest, and care all working together.

Dairy farming is about caring for her through every one of those stages — not just when she is milking.

Healthy calves become healthy heifers.
Healthy heifers become healthy cows.
Healthy cows help build a healthy herd.

It is all connected. ❤️

🐄 Ask a Farmer: What does the life cycle of a dairy cow look like?Last week, we talked about the difference between a ca...
09/07/2026

🐄 Ask a Farmer: What does the life cycle of a dairy cow look like?

Last week, we talked about the difference between a calf, heifer, and cow. This week, we’re putting those stages together.

A dairy animal starts life as a calf.
As she grows, she becomes a heifer, which means she is a young female that has not had her first calf yet.
When she is old enough and ready, she will have her first calf. After that, she becomes a cow and joins the milking herd.

One way we like to explain it is that their life stages are a lot like ours.

The calf stage is like grade school — they are meeting friends, learning how life works, and figuring out the world around them.

The calf barn is like middle school — they are learning more social skills, figuring out how to fit into a group, growing, changing, and learning the routine of life with others.

The heifer barn is like high school and college — they are growing faster, becoming more independent, maturing, and really starting to develop as individuals.

Then they become a cow.

At that stage, they have their first calf, begin producing milk, settle into stronger routines, and have different nutritional and care needs.

In a lot of ways, their life cycle is much like ours. Each stage builds on the one before it, and our job is to care for them well through every season of life. ❤️

09/04/2026

🇵🇱 What an incredible week in Poland!

A huge thank you to Milk Bar and Agri-Plastics for inviting me to travel to Poland and share the story of Wagner Farms with an amazing group representing 15 different countries!

I went into this week excited for the opportunity to share some of what we’ve learned over the years about raising calves, the changes we’ve made, the challenges we’ve worked through, and the “why” behind the way we do things on our farm.

But one of my favorite things about agriculture is that no matter how much you know, there is always something more to learn.

I’m coming home with a long list of ideas, questions, and opportunities to look at within our own calf program. Some may work for us, some may not — but being able to learn from producers and industry professionals from around the world gives us another opportunity to keep evolving and getting better.

And maybe the best part of the entire week was the people. So many conversations, so many laughs, so many wonderful people, and some great new friendships made along the way.

It’s pretty incredible to think that a story that starts on a dairy farm in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin can be shared halfway around the world — and that we can bring a little piece of the world back home with us, too.

Thank you again to Milk Bar and Agri-Plastics for the invitation, the hospitality, and an experience I won’t soon forget.

People. Animals. Environment. — and always finding ways to be better. 🐄🌎

🌾 Ask a Farmer: The Why Behind ItEarlier this week, we answered the question:What’s the difference between a cow, heifer...
09/03/2026

🌾 Ask a Farmer: The Why Behind It

Earlier this week, we answered the question:
What’s the difference between a cow, heifer, and calf?

The deeper answer is that these words help us understand where an animal is in her life and what kind of care she needs.

A calf is just starting out. Those first hours, days, and weeks are incredibly important. We focus on making sure she gets colostrum, milk, warmth, clean bedding, and close attention so she can grow strong and healthy.

As she grows, she becomes a heifer. During this stage, she is not producing milk yet. She is growing, developing, learning, and preparing for her future role in the herd. Heifer care is all about nutrition, health, growth, and helping her become a strong, healthy cow one day.

After a heifer has her first calf, she becomes a cow. This is when she joins the milking herd and begins producing milk.

So while it may seem like a simple vocabulary lesson, these words matter because each stage of life is cared for differently.

Healthy calves become healthy heifers.
Healthy heifers become healthy cows.
Healthy cows help create a healthy herd.
It is all connected.

🐄 Ask a Farmer: What’s the difference between a cow, heifer, and calf?This is one of those questions a lot of people won...
08/31/2026

🐄 Ask a Farmer: What’s the difference between a cow, heifer, and calf?

This is one of those questions a lot of people wonder but may not always ask!
The simple answer is that each word describes a different stage of life.

A calf is a baby.
A heifer is a young female that has not had her first calf yet.
A cow is a female that has had a calf.

So even though people often call all of them “cows,” farmers use different names depending on the animal’s age and stage of life.

Each stage also comes with different care needs.

A calf needs milk, warmth, clean bedding, and a strong start.
A heifer is growing and preparing for the future.
A cow is part of the milking herd after she has had her first calf.

Every stage matters, and each one plays an important role in the future of the herd.

🌾 Ask a Farmer: The Why Behind ItEarlier this week, we answered the question:Do all cows have names?The answer is that s...
08/27/2026

🌾 Ask a Farmer: The Why Behind It

Earlier this week, we answered the question:
Do all cows have names?

The answer is that some do, but every cow has something just as important: an identification number.

On a dairy farm, accurate identification is a huge part of animal care. Each cow’s number connects to her records, kind of like a medical chart, family history, and daily care notes all in one place.

Think about going to the doctor. They don’t just guess what you need based on looking at you. They look up your information, your history, past treatments, important dates, and anything else that helps them take better care of you.

That is what our identification system helps us do for each cow.

It helps us know things like:
When she was born.
Who her mother was.
If she has ever been treated for anything.
When she is due to have a calf.
How much milk she gives.
What group she is in.
If anything changes in her normal routine.

With a large herd, this system helps us care for each cow as an individual instead of guessing or relying only on memory.

But farmers still know their cows in a much deeper way than just a number.

We learn their personalities. We notice who is calm, who is curious, who is shy, who likes attention, and who thinks she is in charge of the whole barn.

Some cows naturally become favorites because they have a big personality, unique markings, or a special story.

So no, not every cow has a name like a pet might.
But every cow has an identity.
Every cow has a record.
Every cow has a place in the herd.
And every cow matters.

🐄 Ask a Farmer: Do all cows have names?The simple answer is: some do, but not every cow has a name.On our farm, every co...
08/24/2026

🐄 Ask a Farmer: Do all cows have names?

The simple answer is: some do, but not every cow has a name.

On our farm, every cow has an identification number. That number helps us keep track of her health, age, family history, milk production, breeding information, and anything else we need to know to care for her well.

Think of it kind of like when you go to the doctor. They look you up by name or date of birth, and from there they can see your records, history, and important information so they can make the best decisions for your specific needs.

Our cows’ identification numbers help us do the same thing for them.
But that doesn’t mean our cows are “just a number.”

Some cows earn names or nicknames because of their personality, markings, family line, or something memorable about them. Some are extra friendly. Some are bossy. Some are curious. Some just have a way of standing out.

The number helps us stay organized.
The relationship helps us care.

Every cow may not have a name, but every cow is known, watched, and cared for as an individual.

We’ve got a little entrepreneur in the making!Tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM, you’ll find a very cute little businesswoman...
08/24/2026

We’ve got a little entrepreneur in the making!

Tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM, you’ll find a very cute little businesswoman set up at the end of the farm driveway selling:

🍋 Lemonade — 50¢
🍪 Cookies — 50¢
🤎 Brownies — 50¢

If you’re in the area, stop by, say hi, and help support her very first business adventure!

Business hours: 10:00 AM until… well… whenever this very active little girl decides she’s had enough of sitting at her stand.

We can’t make any promises on how long the inventory or the entrepreneur will last, so come early! 😉

We’d love to have you stop by and help encourage our littlest entrepreneur as she kicks off what we’re sure will be the first of many future adventures.

Who knows… today lemonade, tomorrow she might be running the farm! 🐄🍋😂

Address

N6928 County Road BB
Oconto Falls, WI
54154

Telephone

+17158538140

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Wagner Farms Inc. posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Wagner Farms Inc.:

Shortcuts

Share

Category