Hapalson Jersey Farm

The Palmerton Family

For information on the cattle in the auction go to their web site.

http://www.hapalson.com

 

The Palmertons milk their 175 Jerseys in a double herringbone parlor.  To keep their rolling herd average up (May - 17,385Milk, 856 Fat, 628 Protein, -4.9%bf and 3.6%pr) the cows are fed haylage, high moisture shelled corn and extruded soybean three times daily in a total mix ration.  They are also feed some baled hay.  In order to better meet the needs of their cows, the herd is divided into 2 groups, a "high" group and a "low" group.

Like many top herds in the state, highly ranked AI sires are being used (Impuls, Jacinto, Sultan, Restore, Showtime, Juan and Blackstone).  Some of the sires of the cows in the herd are Beretta, Hallmark, Freedom, Paramount, Lemvig, Jace, Impuls, Blair and Bill.

How did the farm have its beginning?  You guessed it, a couple of 4-H calves.  In 1959 on a small farm of 12 acres the Palmertons were starting something big.  They moved to their present farm in 1965 with 17 cows.  Today, the family possesses 175 cows and 135 heifers (all homebred) and they are currently farming 600 acres.

About the time the family moved to the farm, a 3-way partnership was formed.  Father and two sons started "Hapalson" Jersey Farm.  H - for Hugh (Dad), A for Adeline (Mom), PAL - from Palmerton - SON - for Claude and Francis.  Thus Palmerton - Hapalson.  The boys bought their dad out in 1977 and remain partners thirty years later.

While milking is their business, the family does grow some crops (alfalfa, corn and soybeans).  They currently are Equity Investors and are on DHIR.  The family received the Michigan Distinguished Service Award in 1985 and Distinguished Breeder Award in 2002 and has many Hall of Fame Awards.  They have consigned cattle in many National sales and have exported cattle around the world.  They usually have several cows on the AJCA Top JPI report.  The herd has ranked in the top ten in the nation in their herd size several times.

Claude has been on the county SCS committee and county Farm Bureau.  Francis is Chairman of the township planning commission and Secretary of the Zoning Board of Appeals.  Patricia does custom sewing when she can.

Francis and Patricia have 2 children, Jennifer 33, and William, 32.  Jennifer is married and teaches math.  She lives in North Carolina.  William works with computers and helps on the farm.  They have one grandson, Zachery who is 3 years old.

This is a true family farm.  All the work is done by family.  Francis and Patty do the milking and Claude does the feeding and mechanic work.  Everyone helps with crops. The three family members make farm decisions.  Very little outside labor for cattle or machinery repair work has ever been done by anyone outside the family.  The children worked on the farm when they were growing up and William still helps as much as he can and still do his outside job.

The Palmerton family has always been very supportive of all Michigan Jersey activities.  They have hosted the State Picnic several times and when the National Meeting was in Michigan in 1992 their farm was one of three that hosted a farm tour.

Francis has been a State Jersey Director for over 20 years and he has also been the Chairman of the Production and Awards committee for all these years.  Patricia has also served on this committee for all these years.  Jennifer was the Michigan Jersey Queen for 2 years and represented Michigan at the National contest.  Both children were in 4-H and had cows in the herd that they sold for their college education.

They are always the first to have their pedigrees in for the State Sale and they have consigned the animal that topped the sale many times.  Hapalson Freedom 1858, a bred heifer due in July and bred to Gaby's Hallmark Showtime topped the sale this year. Sam Bok of Defiance Ohio was the buyer for $3000.  They sell the type of cows that give milk and make their new owners very happy with the money it puts in their pocket.

They have worked hard to achieve their goal of a top Jersey herd and to promote the Jersey breed.  As you can see by the pictures they have a very neat, nice farm and it has all been paid for from farm income and no outside income.  This shows their dedication and the type of cows they raise to milk and sell.

They will be selling cows and bred heifers at the farm September 6, 2008.  There will be about 185 cows and 20 springer heifers.

The Michigan Jersey Cattle Club would encourage anyone who is interested in starting or expanding their Jersey herd to attend the Palmerton's auction sale and take home some of the Hapalson brand of milk-making Jerseys.