El-Na Farms LLC to host Kewaunee County annual Breakfast on the Farm

KEWAUNEE – The annual Kewaunee County Breakfast on the Farm, organized by the Kewaunee County Dairy Promotion Committee, will be held on Father’s Day, June 15 — starting at 7 a.m. with a church service, followed by breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon — at El-Na Farms LLC in Algoma. The event will feature a farm tour, educational area, equipment displays and a petting zoo.

“We are very excited here at El-Na Farms to be hosting Kewaunee County Breakfast on the Farm,” said Lonnie Fenendael, a partner in the farm. “We last had [Breakfast on the Farm] in 2008, so it’s been a little while and a lot has changed at this facility.”

El-Na Farms, currently owned and operated by the sixth generation of the Fenendael family, has a rich history dating back to 1850. That year, the Fenendael family emigrated from Belgium, and by 1858, their ancestors had purchased the current homestead from the State of Wisconsin. The farm was purchased by the fifth generation of the Fenendaels in 1969, by Eli and Nancy Fenendael. They combined the first two letters of their names to create the farm’s current name, El-Na Farms. In 2000, Eli and Nancy sold the farm to their three sons and it became an LLC. At the time of purchase, the farm had 100 cows and 240 acres.

The farm has expanded significantly over the past 25 years, and now encompasses 7,500 acres and 2,500 cows. This growth has been made possible, in part, because El-Na Farms recognized the positive influence technology could have on agriculture early on. They have incorporated technology in many ways to make the farm more productive and more efficient, including prioritizing cow health and comfort with cow collars for proactive herd health monitoring and precision planting for optimal crop yield and soil health.

The farm also transitioned to sand bedding from sawdust in 2016 by constructing a sand-separation building, aiming to enhance the herd’s well-being and production. El-Na manages its own planting, harvesting and spraying to guarantee top feed quality, and further upgraded its feed storage with a new feed center in 2022.

Some of the farm’s most noteworthy achievements include the addition of a 40-stall rotary parlor, installed in 2008 (The first rotary built in Kewaunee County), and their purchase of another farm, Sand Bay Dairy, in Sturgeon Bay. Their latest expansion, a grain facility, is set to be completed this year.

Unfortunately, El-Na Farm’s growth has not come without setbacks. In 2012, parts of the original homestead barn and parlor were partially destroyed by a fire in 2010, but the family was able to rebuild and move forward.

In 2022, the Fenendael family suffered their greatest tragedy: The loss of their beloved wife and mother, Nancy, a true matriarch of the family. She, alongside Eli, continued to help on the farm years after their sons took ownership, feeding calves and cutting the lawn. Nancy was the true foundation of the family and farm, loved by all, and will forever be dearly missed.

While El-Na Farms takes great pride in their past accomplishments, they also look eagerly to the future, with Lonnie’s son Kurtis and Shane’s son Jordan preparing to become the seventh generation to take over the farm.

Although the farm has grown and adapted throughout the years, their priorities of family, herd and environmental health and food safety remain the same. Looking ahead, their goals are to embrace technological advancements and environmental sustainability to produce the highest quality product, maintain optimal cow health and ensure the farm continues to thrive for generations to come.

About Kewaunee County Dairy Promotion

The Kewaunee County Dairy Promotion is a non-profit organization of agriculture professionals and dedicated dairy farm families in Kewaunee County. The organization partners with Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin to positively promote the dairy industry and products through events like Breakfast on the Farm. Dairy Promotion also supports dairy tours, the Dairy Ambassador educational program, and supplies milk, ice cream, and cheese for various activities and events throughout the county. Learn more at www.DairyPromo.com.