Tour of Dairy Farm & Bicycle Museum of America

This is another Rare Opportunity :). I have a long time friend who has operated a dairy and grain farm in Auglaize County for most of his life. This farm has been in the Riethman family since 1851 (six generations) and is listed as one of Ohio’s Historical Farms.

This operation has 300 cows, about 230 of them that are producing milk at any point in time. The farm is a modern farm that uses significant computerization to operate, but there are still many manual facets. It is interesting in that most of the cows are milked by the computerized milkers, but because Jim enjoys conventional milking (where the milking machines are attached manually) there are a few cows milked this way. I promise you you will learn A LOT. What may surprise you is how much computerization there is and how this is an integral part of the operation. Seriously, like they know how many times each cow chews per hour! You will have the opportunity to bottle feed a baby calf and if we’re really lucky, we could see a calf born!

It is rare that farmers allow people to come onsite for tours and this is likely a one time tour. With that said, if you sign up, please be committed to going and make arrangements now to ensure you can be there.

The farm is outside of Minster, OH (90 minutes northwest of Dublin). The tour starts promptly at 10 am and you should plan on being there at least ten minutes early. If you wish to carpool indicate accordingly on your RSVP and plan on being at Costco in Plain City at 8:20 am (I know it’s early … it’s like you’ll be getting up with the cows!!!:)); Otherwise, plan on being at the Riethman farm by 9:50 a.m.

Lastly, I am asking for a donation for a gift card for the family on that day. They are doing this for us out of the goodness of their heart and I want them to know how much we appreciate it.
You can bring cash or Venmo me that day.

LUNCH
From there we’ll head to a local restaurant, 17 West, New Bremen, OH, which is ten minutes from the dairy farm. www.17west.com/

BICYCLE MUSEUM OF AMERICA
Next is the Bicycle Museum of America in New Bremen (right next to 17 West), home to one of the largest and most comprehensive bicycle collections in the world. There is a $2 admission for 60 and over and $3 for under 60. https://www.bicyclemuseum.com/.

And then it is homeward bound - likely heading home around 2:30 pm.

Addresses:
Costco: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Jh1goVo8b2UTrCTX6

Rethman Farm: 4974 Wuebker Rd., Minster OH https://maps.app.goo.gl/HcP93fmAKPGCQE6V7

17 West: https://maps.app.goo.gl/aJDM9ZxhUpHix7As8

Bicycle Museum of America: https://maps.app.goo.gl/tC5Frf9gxYPrVrZN7