George, Charles, Tom and Mark Crave Families
Charles, George, Thomas, and Mark Crave
Raised on a 40 cow dairy farm near Beloit, Wis., Charles and George started farming with partner Professor David Wieckert in 1978 after graduating from the UW-Madison Farm and Industry Short Course, renting a farm near Mount Horeb and buying 70 cows and young stock. Thomas, also a Short Course graduate, joined the partnership in 1980, and the brothers bought their current farm at Waterloo. Mark joined in 1988 after earning his BS degree at the University.
Over the years the brothers expanded to their current size of 900 Holstein cows and 700 young stock while growing corn, soybeans and alfalfa on 1,600 acres. The registered portion of their herd includes 6 EX, 45 VG and 36 GP cows and a breed average score of 107. The farm employs the latest technologies with an emphasis on conservation, while consideration is given to what is best for the environment, the cows and the consumer.
From the Dairy Farm to the Cheese Factory
In 1999, the Crave Family discussed how to grow their business and offer opportunities for future generations. Crave’s wanted to use their own high quality milk to produce specialty cheeses for the consumer. Their 6,000 square foot cheese factory was constructed in 2001.
In 2002 the brothers began producing specialty cheeses, piping fresh, high quality milk directly from the milking parlor to the cheese factory they built on their farm. Their award-winning Farmstead Classic cheeses include Les Frères, classic Mascarpone, Farmer’s Rope mozzarella string cheese and a full line of fresh Mozzarella. The cheese factory is integrated from crops to cows, milk to cheese.
Charles, Thomas, and Mark manage the dairy farm. Charles oversees the bookkeeping and feeding, Thomas manages the machinery and cropping, and Mark is in charge of the herd, young stock and milk quality. Charles’ wife, Joni assists with the farm's bookkeeping and employee management. A number of sons and daughters of the Crave Brothers work at the farm after school and in the summer. George manages the cheese factory. He is a licensed cheesemaker. George’s wife, Debbie manages the administrative, marketing and public relations activities for the cheese factory.
Charles’ son, Karl Crave manages the manure digester producing renewable energy and his wife, Beth organizes farm/factory tours, assists with cheesemaking and conducts in-store demonstrations for the cheese factory. In addition, their father, Bob Crave also helps on farm along with a group of dedicated employees who assist in the day to day operations.
Industry Influencers
The brothers have welcomed thousands of local, national and international visitors. The farm has hosted a variety of national and international groups. The brothers have cooperated with many UW-Extension educators and College researchers, allowing their operation to be used as a real-life laboratory. All four brothers serve on a variety of national and area dairy organizations and advisory committees, and all have traveled internationally to share their dairy expertise. Crave Brothers Dairy Farm has offered work experience for a number of international trainees.
Awards
The Crave Brothers Dairy Farm has won numerous awards including the Dairy Farm Family of the Year award in 1993 and the UW-Madison CALS Honorary Recognition Award in 2004. Crave Brothers Farm placed second nationally in the Farm Progress Magazine’s Best Managed Farms Contest in 1999. In addition, the Crave Brothers have earned many awards with their line of Farmstead Classic cheeses. Also, Crave Holsteins have won classes at three National Dairy Cattle Shows recently.
