Get ready!

Get ready because the Olmsted County Fair will be here before we know it! The AgStar Miracle of Birth Center planning committee has been hard at work making preparations for the Center's opening for the third year during the fair, which is located in the middle of Rochester, Minn. Now with the warm weather, we're really getting excited!

Each year the Birth Center has been open, the planning committee tries to make it even better for the next year. For 2013 we have added a new chicken exhibit. Here's a preview of what it will look like:

So until the fair arrives, check back for more updates about the new exhibit. We'll also be updating you about other details about the Birth Center as the fair approaches.

You can also follow us on Twitter @AgStarMOBC #AgBirthCenter or like AgStar Miracle of Birth Center on Facebook!

Stay tuned!

The first newborn calf of the fair!

The AgStar Miracle of Birth Center is open and people are coming to visit! We started off the morning with a newborn calf at 6:30. He is a bull (boy) calf whose name is Charlie! Come out to the fair to visit him!

A bull calf, Charlie, was born this morning at 6:30. 

Charlie got his name from people who are a part of the mobile club and texted in their choice. To be a part of this process and receive texts before and after animals give birth, text the word "birth" to 82942.

The afternoon kicked off with the second annual celebrity milking contest. Mayor Ardell Brede started off the competition.

Mayor Ardell Brede milking the artificial cow, Milkshake, in the 2012 celebrity milking contest. 

County Commissioner Ken Brown was the second person in the celebrity milking contest.

County Commissioner Ken Brown takes his turn to milk Milkshake during the 2012 celebrity milking contest.

After the "milk" was measured, Commissioner Brown won the contest! To try Try milking Milkshake for yourself! Come down to the AgStar Miracle of Birth Center in building 43 next to the dairy barn and across from the horse barn. 

The measuring of the "milk."

Jeannette Sheehan, AgStar Miracle of Birth Center planning committee member, stands with County Commissioner and winner of the 2012 celebrity milking contest, Ken Brown.

The two friendly rivals.

Ken Brown with Milkshake.

Schedule of events

Tomorrow is the grand opening of the AgStar Miracle of Birth! Come out to the Olmsted County FREE fair Tuesday through Saturday to view live births and have your picture taken with baby animals. As promised here is the schedule of events.

Tuesday July 26th

12:30 P.M. Ribbon Cutting

5 P.M. Calf Feeding (come see a baby calf being fed)

6 P.M. Pictures with baby calf

7 P.M Cow Milking Contest (Sign up due at 6:45 P.M.)

8 P.M. Pictures with Dairy Princess

Wednesday July 27th

1 P.M. Story time with cookies and milk

2 P.M. Pictures with dairy princess

3 P.M. Pictures with baby piglets

4 P.M. Pictures with Princess Kay of the Milky Way

5 P.M. Calf feeding

7 P.M. Pictures with baby chicks

Thursday July 28th

1 P.M. Story time with milk and cookies
2 P.M. Pictures with lamb

3 P.M. Scavenger hunt

4 P.M. Pictures with calf

5 P.M. Calf feeding

6 P.M. Pictures with dairy princess

7 P.M. Pictures with baby piglets

Friday July 29th

12 P.M. Pictures with baby calf

1 P.M. Story time with milk and cookies

2 P.M. Picture with lamb

5 P.M. Calf Feeding

6 P.M. Cow milking contest (sign up due at 5:45)

Saturday July 30th

1 P.M. Story time with cookies and milk

2 P.M. Pictures with baby chicks

3 P.M. Pictures with baby piglets

4 P.M. Pictures with dairy princess

5 P.M Calf feeding

6 P.M. Pictures with lamb

7 P.M. Pictures with baby calf

Throughout the day you can view live births of calves, piglets, and watch chicks hatch! Its all free so come on out and bring the family!

Gar-Lin Dairy: The people behind the cows!

It is less than a week away from the opening of the miracle of birth center and everything is coming together nicely. At the AgStar Miracle of Birth Center we will be having four cows giving birth. The cows are going to be coming from Gar-Lin Dairy and we are going to take this time to get to know them better.

Gar-Lin Dairy Farms started with Gary and Linda Allen in 1975 when they purchased the dairy and 40 cows from Gary’s parents. Over time, the farm expanded both in cow numbers and people to include son, Dean, and daughter, Dana. In 2006, the Allens partnered with another dairy family and over the last few years have expanded the herd to include 1,850 cows and farm 3,100 acres of alfalfa, corn, canning peas and rye grass. Currently, Gar-Lin Dairy’s management team includes Gary and Linda Allen, Dean Allen, Dr. Dana Allen and Carey Tweten.

The management team at Gar-Lin Dairy (from left to right) Carey Tweten, Dr. Dana, Gary, Linda and Dean.

At Gal-Lin Dairy they milk 1,650 cows three times a day. On average each of their cows produce 31,460 pounds of milk a year. That is approximately 3,700 gallons of milk! Every day on the farm they have an average of six cows giving birth. You will be able to see some of Gar-Lin Dairy's cows at the miracle of birth center starting July 26!

We are very thankful to Gar-Lin Dairy for their support of the AgStar Miracle of Birth Center!


The answer to the last blog was: Americans eat about 100 acres of pizza each day! That is a lot of cheese!

Question for the next blog: What is the schedule of events for the AgStar Miracle of Birth Center?

Check back tomorrow to find out what is happening everyday at the Miracle of Birth Center!

The doctor is in!

Animals need doctors, too. They’re called veterinarians.

Meet Dr. Gary Daniels!

Dr. Daniels is the veterinary manager for the AgStar Miracle of Birth Center and will be on site at the fair the five days the Center is open (July 26 – 30). He will be there to properly assist and deliver animals during births.

Dr. Daniels spent 40 years as a practicing veterinarian before retiring July 1, 2010, from the Chosen Valley Veterinary Clinic in Chatfield, Minn. As a large animal veterinarian, Dr. Daniels attended to dairy and beef cows, pigs and horses. About 50 percent of his practice was tending to dairy cows, 40 percent was to beef cows and the rest was helping pigs and horses.

Veterinarians like Dr. Daniels work closely with farmers to keep their animals healthy. Many farms have a scheduled day – usually every week or every other week – when their vet visits the farm for a regular check up.

Dr. Daniels said he worked with many farms over his 40 years in practice. “Some of these farms are now on their third generation of family members running the farm. As a veterinarian, you get very close to the families and the animals,” Dr. Daniels said

At the AgStar Miracle of Birth Center, Dr. Daniels will have help from about 10 other veterinarians from Rochester, Chatfield, Lewiston, Kasson and St. Charles. They will be volunteering to assist with the births and will be available to answer questions.

Stop by the AgStar Miracle of Birth Center during the Olmsted County FREE Fair to meet Dr. Daniels and other veterinarians from the area!

The answer to the last blog post question was about three thousand. Answer found here.

Post a comment with the answer to this question:

How many years of college does it take to become a veterinarian?

You'll find the answer in the next blog post!