Black and White by Brooks Farms

Hi there! We are Sydney and Zoey of Black & White by Brooks Farms. We’re sisters, business partners and farmers caring for our herd in Waupaca, Wis. We believe knowing where your beef comes from should be Black & White, a simple choice.

Brooks Farms is a sixth-generation dairy farm. Our family farm’s responsibility is to provide the highest quality care, allowing our cows to do it all. Established in 1855, we have over 165 years of experience fueling our passion. The current owners and operators of Brooks Farms are a father-daughter duo Ron Brooks and Zoey Nelson.

We are a dairy farm. So, what’s the beef? 🥩 The duality of a dairy cow provides it all – milk, cheese, meat and more. In fact, more than 20% of the nation's beef is sourced from dairy cattle. As a nod to the sustainable black & white Holstein cow, dairy beef honors the abundant lifecycle of a dairy cow and all the food she is able to produce. Together, we are grateful to be fueling our community and beyond with nutrient-packed beef! 

At Brooks Farms, we milk 600 Holstein cows twice a day in a double 16 parlor. Cow comfort is always top of mind for us. Our cows have fresh sand bedding, self-grooming brushes, and a daily buffet of TMR (total mixed ration). Their mixed ration is composed of haylage, corn silage, protein mix, vitamins, and minerals for a well-balanced diet. In Wisconsin, the weather can be unpredictable. To keep our cows warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and overall safe from the ever-changing climate; our barns are temperature-controlled and consistently comfortable. 

We have been farming the same land as our ancestors for more than 165 years. To leave a legacy and not a liability, our plan is to leave the land better than we found it. Currently, we operate 1,600 acres that rotate corn, alfalfa hay, and wheat. Our roots run deep for sustainable, regenerative agriculture. We use cover crops on our fields in between seasons of growing feed for our cows. Cover crops are planted to cover the soil to manage soil erosion, soil fertility, soil quality, water, weeds, pests, diseases, biodiversity and wildlife. In addition, we reduce our carbon footprint and leave the soil integrity with our farmland being “no-till.” No-till farming decreases the amount of soil erosion tillage would cause in certain soils, especially in sandy and dry soils. In fact, Brooks Farms’ land is protected – forever. Our land will be farmland forever under the Protection of Agriculture Conservation Easements (PACE Program). In turn, the land cannot be purchased for commercial, residential or industrial development.