TWO RECEIVE PIONEER DAIRYMAN AWARD

Karlton Eberling, of Postville, has been a dairy farmer for the past 50 years, having started in 1950.

>He and his son Kevin have a rolling herd average of 23,022 pounds of milk, 797 pounds of protein and 922 pounds of fat with their Brown Swiss herd.

Karlton is a past 4-H leader of 18 years, church council member, Allamakee Extension Council, Farm Service Board, Frankville Cheese Board, Dairy Promotion Board, Township Trustee, Farm Bureau, 'Tri-State Director and Vice President of Big-4 Coop.

He has received the Top Brown Swiss Herd Award, Quality Milk Awards, Distinguished Dairyman, Iowa Distinguished Dairy, Most Imporved Herd and Outstanding Young Dairyman, just to name a few.

Karlton and his wife, Shirley, have three cildren - Kevin and Mark both help on the family farm and Teresa who is an RN in Ossian.

Their family has exhibited at local, county, area and state shows; participated in state sales and exported to foreign cattle markets in Switzerland, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, Russia and Austria.

Dennis Byrnes and his wife, Judy, of Dorchester have been involved in dairy farming for 29 years, starting in 1967 and retiring from milking in 1996.

His herd has been on DHIA Test for 25 years. During that time, Dennis has served on the Calhoun Creamery Board for 10 years and received many high qualiity awards as weel as the County Century Conservation Family Farm Award.

One of the biggest contributions to the dairy industry Dennis has made is helping their two sons, Jeff and Matt, start up and operate successful dairy farms of their own.

With Jeff, Dennis and Judy purchased a diar farm, remodeled the facilities, and helped him start a dairy herd. After Jeff was established the farm was sold back to Jeff on contract with favorable terms, which allowed Jeff to develop his operation.

With Matt, Dennis and Judy rented him their dairy facilities and helped him get started in purchasing cattle. Today, Matt has a 21,500 pound herd average and is well under way to being a successful dairyman.

Dennis and Judy raise crops and sell the feed back to Matt. They also raise the heifer calves and buy the bull calves, from both Matt and Jeff. This keeps Dennis and Judy involved in farming, but more importantly assists Matt and Jeff with gaining high quality feed and heifers which allow them to cash flow their operation.

Dennis and Judy have worked hard to raise seven children. Besides Matt and Jeff, there is Wayne, of New Albin, who is a milk hauler; Karen Cooper of Waukon; Brad of Denver CO; Greg of Waukon; and Beth of Cedar Falls.