Kewaskum, Wi – The name on the sign says Iron Ridge Dairy, but the heart of the operation beats in Kewaskum, where brothers Shaun and Justin Volm will welcome thousands of visitors for the 2026 Washington County Breakfast on the Farm.
While the Volms are in Washington County, the name of their farm traces to a village in neighboring Dodge County. So, why Iron Ridge Dairy?
Shaun Volm said the answer tells the story of how the farm has grown, adapted, and stayed rooted in family.
About a decade ago, the Volm brothers purchased a farm in Iron Ridge and began milking cows there. “We were milking there for a number of years,” Shaun said. “Then about two years ago, we brought the cows back home here, put up a new milking parlor, and brought everything back to Kewaskum.”
Rather than rebrand or erase the past, the brothers kept the name Iron Ridge Dairy. Today, the Iron Ridge site still plays a vital role, serving as the farm’s heifer-raising facility, while the main milking operation hums along closer to home.
“Everyone asks why it’s called Iron Ridge Dairy,” Shaun said. “So there’s a little bit of a story behind that.”
That story includes a lot of miles on the odometer. “We put lots of miles on, unfortunately,” Shaun said. “But that’s part of it.”
The footprint of the farm on Sunset Drive is sizable: about 700 cows are milked, and when heifers and steers are counted, the total herd reaches roughly 1,200 animals.
The Volms operate an automated milking parlor, and the farm ships about 58,000 pounds of milk. Each month, roughly 30 to 40 fresh cows join the rotation, keeping the cycle steady and the days anything but predictable.
“Something different every day,” Shaun said. “It’s never the same thing from day to day, that’s for sure.”
The brothers divide responsibilities in a way that feels natural and time-tested. Shaun, 45, focuses on the cattle and the milking operation.
Justin, 43, handles the crop side, managing planting and fieldwork. “We don’t always agree on everything,” Shaun said, “but we get along really good.”
Corn, soybeans, wheat, and alfalfa stretch across their fields, tying livestock and land together.
Hosting Breakfast on the Farm feels like an extension of that rhythm.
Shaun knows the event draws visitors from across the region, and beyond. “I’ve heard Washington County is one of the world’s biggest ones,” he said. “People make the rounds.”
On June 13, 2026, Iron Ridge Dairy will open its barn doors, offering visitors more than breakfast. It will offer a look at a family farm that spans two communities, balances tradition with technology, and carries a name that reflects where it has been as much as where it is now.
On a side note:
– As of January 17, 2026, Dodge County had its breakfast tentatively schdeulded for June 7, 2026. The Dodge Co. Dairy Promotion Committee was still searching for a host.
- Sheboygan County Breakfast on the Farm is June 20, 2026 at Majestic Crossing Dairy on Meadowlark Road in Sheboygan Falls, Wi.
- Fond du Lac County Breakfast on the Farm is June 28, 2026, at Tower View Acres in Mt. Calvary, WI.
Kewaskum, Wi – Here’s a well-needed injection of summer. The Washington County Dairy Promotions Committee has announced details on the 2026 Washington County Breakfast on the Farm.
Planning for the longtime summer tradition is already well underway for the 2026 Washington County Breakfast on the Farm.
What’s your favorite part of
Breakfast on the Farm?
The Washington County Dairy Promotions Committee announced the 38th annual event will be Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 7 a.m. to noon, hosted by the Volm family at Iron Ridge Dairy LLC, 5385 Sunset Drive in Kewaskum.
The farm is just north of CTH D and west of Townline Road.
Iron Ridge Dairy is operated by brothers Justin Volm and his wife Richelle, and Shaun Volm and his wife Sandra. While the family is new to hosting Breakfast on the Farm, committee members say their enthusiasm made the decision an easy one.
“They kind of stepped up,” said Mike Strupp, chair of the Washington County Dairy Promotions Committee.
Strupp said the opportunity came about through a casual conversation at the Farm Service Agency office in West Bend.
“Justin came in one day, and Barb Schultz Cleaver just threw it out there, asked if they’d ever think about hosting. He said he’d think it over, and later that same day he called back and said, ‘Yeah, we’ll do it.’”
The 2026 event will mark the first time the Volm family has hosted Breakfast on the Farm.
Despite the name, Iron Ridge Dairy is located in Kewaskum, a detail that often sparks curiosity. Strupp said the farm’s history traces to a previous property near Iron Ridge in neighboring Dodge County.
“They had purchased a farm over near Iron Ridge on Highway S,” he said. “That’s where the name came from. That farm needed major rebuilding, so they constructed a new parlor at their current location. They already owned the Kewaskum farm, and that’s where Iron Ridge Dairy really took shape.”
Organizers are currently gathering photos and historical background from the Volm family to share with the public as the event approaches.
While the format of the breakfast will remain familiar, there will be a few updates heading into 2026. Strupp said pricing will shift to a flat $13 per person, eliminating advance ticket pricing.
“It’s a challenging event financially,” Strupp said. “Last year we lost some money, partly because people don’t like getting bused in to the host farm for breakfast. They want to park in the field and walk up to the barns. We learned that experience matters.”
Sponsorships continue to play a key role in supporting the event, which showcases Washington County agriculture and gives the public a firsthand look at modern dairy farming.
Breakfast favorites will return, including pancakes, sausage, cheese curds, and of course dairy favorites like chocolate milk. Serving will run continuously from 7 a.m. until noon.
“Everybody likes to see Breakfast on the Farm,” Strupp said. “It’s a good thing for agriculture and the community.”
More details, including menus and farm history, are expected to be released in the coming months.
