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Recording history

Posted by Katie Derksen on Sept. 30, 2008

Muskego, New Berlin

In last week's paper, we ran a story on two farmers with one common bond: Jack King, of Muskego, and Ray Saltzmann, of New Berlin, are the final two remaining dairy farmers left in their communities.

Nearly every day, I drive past Saltzmann's farm on the corner of Moorland Road and College Avenue. Oftentimes, as I'm stuck in the line of traffic approaching the corner's four-way stop, I look over to my left and see New Berlin's remaining "touch of country." I always wondered what type of family lived on the farm — the huge space of land amidst all the construction and city sprawl seemed to catch my eye every time.

I wondered how "that guy" felt about Muskego's upcoming Wal-Mart or traffic whizzing by on College Avenue. Soon enough, I'd find out.

Reporter John Schultz and I spent a little time with both Saltzmann and King. King's farm seemed to have an entirely different feel — possibly a bit more quiet, or unaffected, by the city life. (For now, at least.) And although Saltzmann intends to stay put for the time being, he has long-term plans of moving his dairy herd to Rock County.

The photos below are the types of pictures that tend to stay in the back of my mind for quite some time. The day I photographed Jack King cutting hay was a perfect, sunny, warm Wisconsin mid-summer day. Through these photos, I hoped to convey the peacefulness and independence a life of farming can bring. I wanted the photos to be simple and clean. I wanted these photos to record what the land was like for Muskego's last remaining dairy farmer. A few weeks later, when Ray called me and said one of his cows was about to give birth, I was there in a heartbeat: Saltzmann, whose farm has been in his family since 1867, says one of the things he enjoys most is witnessing the cycle of life. 

Nikon D2H, 17 mm, 200 ISO, f2.8, 1/4000, Manual
Jack King, who has been a farmer in Muskego for nearly 70 years, cuts some hay Wednesday, July 9, 2008, on one of his rented parcels, located just off of Parker Drive, Muskego.

Nikon D2H, 19 mm, 200 ISO, f2.8, 1/4000, Manual
Jack King, who has been a farmer in Muskego for nearly 70 years, climbs back onto his tractor to cut some hay Wednesday, July 9, 2008, on one of his rented parcels, located just off of Parker Drive, Muskego.

Nikon D2H, 17 mm, 500 ISO, f2.8, 1/6400, Manual
Jack King, who has been a farmer in Muskego for nearly 70 years, walks from his barn to his house Wednesday, July 30, 2008. King, who has help running the farm from both his children and grandchildren, is the last remaining dairy farmer in Muskego.

Nikon D2H, 200 mm, 200 ISO, f2.8, 1/2500, Manual
Jack King, who has been a farmer in Muskego for nearly 70 years, cuts some hay Wednesday, July 9, 2008, on one of his rented parcels, located just off of Parker Drive, Muskego.

Nikon D2H, 17 mm, 800 ISO, f2.8, 1/250, Manual, WITH FLASH
Ryan Brueggeman, an employee of Ray Saltzmann, helps deliver a calf Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008, on Saltzmann's New Berlin dairy farm, located on the corner of Moorland Road and College Avenue. The farm is the only working dairy farm left in New Berlin. The birth of the calf above went about as easy as it possibly could have, Saltzmann said.

Nikon D2H, 17 mm, 800 ISO, f2.8, 1/250, Manual, WITH FLASH
A mother cleans off her newborn calf just minutes after birth Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008, on Ray Saltzmann's New Berlin dairy farm, located on the corner of Moorland Road and College Avenue. The farm is the only working dairy farm left in New Berlin. The birth of the calf above went about as easy as it possibly could have, Saltzmann said.