Father’s Day Breakfast on the Farm

ALGOMA – The Kewaunee County Dairy Promotion Committee’s annual Breakfast on the Farm will take place on Father’s Day, June 15, at El-Na Farms LLC in Algoma. Festivities begin at 7 a.m. with a church service, followed by breakfast served from 8 a.m. to noon. This year’s event features a dairy brunch, wagon rides, a petting zoo, kids’ tent, bounce house, entertainment, live music, ice cream, farm tours, games, and an antique tractor show.

El-Na Farms, owned and operated by the sixth generation of the Fenendael family since 2000, last hosted Breakfast on the Farm in 2008. Lonnie Fenendael, a partner in the farm, expressed the farm’s excitement to host again.

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

The farm’s history dates back to 1850 when the Fenendael family emigrated from Belgium, acquiring the current homestead in 1858.

Initially, the farm had 100 cows and 240 acres, but it has since expanded to 7,500 acres and 2,500 cows over the past 25 years.

This growth is attributed to the early adoption of technology, enhancing productivity and efficiency through cow collars for herd health monitoring and precision planting. In 2016, a sand-separation building was constructed to transition to sand bedding, improving herd well-being. The farm also manages its own planting, harvesting and spraying, and upgraded its feed storage in 2022.

Some of the farm’s most notable achievements include the addition of a 40-stall rotary parlor in 2008, the first in Kewaunee County, and the purchase of Sand Bay Dairy in Sturgeon Bay. A new grain facility is set for completion this year. Despite a 2010 fire that partially destroyed parts of the homestead, the family rebuilt and moved forward. In 2022, the family mourned the loss of Nancy Fenendael, a matriarch who remained actively involved in the farm.

Looking ahead, the seventh generation — Kurtis and Jordan Fenendael — are preparing to take over. El-Na Farms said they prioritize family, herd and environmental health and food safety, aiming to leverage technology and environmental sustainability for continued success.

About Kewaunee County Dairy Promotion

The Kewaunee County Dairy Promotion is a non-profit organization of agriculture professionals and dairy farm families that partners with Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin to promote the dairy industry. They support a variety of events, tours and educational programs. More information is available at www.DairyPromo.com.