When John Judd began farming with his father in January 1969, friends and neighbors told them they wouldn't be able to make a go of it on their rolling 221-acre dairy farm in southwestern Dane County.

John recalls comments more than 52 years ago in which people said cattle would starve on this farm. "I said that to Dad at milking time that night, and he said to me, 'We'll just have to prove them wrong.' End of subject. Not another word was said. We're still trying to prove 'em wrong."

Being Innovative

The Judd farm has been successful all these years because of the family's willingness...