ROCK RAPIDS, Iowa — It was a perfect night for an outdoor meal on a dairy farm.
More than 1,300 visitors came to the Multi-Rose Jersey Dairy Farm near Rock Rapids on June 26.
Multi-Rose Jersey Dairy has a carousel-style milking parlor. Fourty cows are milked at one time. The farm is owned by Marv and Joleen Metzger and sons Dana, Reed, Brett and Evan.
Jerseys have been the farm's breed since the 1920s. The operation includes 1,350 registered Jerseys.
Nine-year-old Tyler Rypkema, of George, had fun seeing where milk comes from.
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Bob Feauto milked cows growing up on a South Dakota farm 30 years ago. He hasn't been on a dairy farm since.
"The changes are amazing," he said. "I wish I could bring grandpa back to see how milking has progressed."
Over in the children's fun tent, brother and sister Zachary and Wendy Verschoor concentrated on making ice cream specialties.
"We are from Le Mars," said Zachary. "You know that is the Ice Cream Capital of the World, don't you?"
Jones Dairy brought along their petting zoo. A llama, baby doll sheep, miniature horse, fainting goats, potbelly pigs and poultry greeted young and old at the children's game tent.
Haley Jones cares for these animals on her family's farm, Jones Dairy, near Spencer.
The open house raised more than $500 for the Food Bank of Siouxland. The bank will use the money to purchase dairy products for their mobile pantries and feeding programs in northwest Iowa.
