Mr. & Mrs. Chalmer N. Voelker, Perryville, MO
Chalmer H. Voelker, Voelker’s Swiss Farm, Perryville, born March 13, 1919, has been a life-long resident of Perry County, Missouri. After returning from more than three years of military service in November 1945, Mr. Voelker began farming with a few cows his father had kept for him while he was in the service. More cattle were added to the herd, and in 1950 when he decided to go all Brown Swiss, he purchased additional breeding stock at a dispersal sale and from his uncle.
Chalmer, with his wife Evelyn, whom he married on March 22, 1944, continued to build and improve their registered Brown Swiss herd through the use of carefully selected young bulls. Evelyn has been active in the herd building and management program and has done most of the record keeping. As soon as artificial breeding became available, they began using all A.I. sires, a practice maintained through the years. The herd numbers 125 head of all ages. The herd has been on test for 25 years and classified regularly during the past 15 years. During the past 10 years the herd has ranged from 44 to 60 head, an average of 52, and it has averaged from 12,918 to 16,229 lbs. milk and from 557 to 669 lbs. butterfat, with a ten year average of 14,500 lbs. milk and 608 lbs. butterfat with a 4.2% test.
When Mr. Voelker completed the eighth grade, he remained on the farm to assist his father with farm work. After returning from service during World War II, he took advantage of on-the-job training for one year and attended G.I. schooling in agriculture for another four years. He was active in Canton and State breed association programs over the years and served on committees and as an officer of the Canton as long as the districts remained active. This also included exhibiting at the Canton shows. He was active in the Farm Bureau, UMC Extension Council, VFW, American Legion, Knights of Columbus and other community affairs. The Voelkers are members of Christ the Savior Parish Brever.
The Voelkers have continually worked to improve the efficiency, production and type of their herd. Twenty cows bred by the family have produced 100,000 lbs. milk and/or 4,000 lbs. fat; eight have produced over 200,000 lbs. milk and/or 8,000 lbs. fat. Sixty-five percent of the current herd is above breed average for production; 50% are above breed average in type classification. More than 30% of the cows in the milking herd have USDA cow indexes above 500 lbs. milk. The average Predicted Difference for milk for the sires of the uncalved females in the +837. A complete herd health program has been followed all the years and herd mortality has been kept to a minimum.
The Voelker’s 250 acre farm has 208 acres in crops, including alfalfa, wheat, corn and corn silage. Seventy-five percent of the income is derived from the sale of milk, 15% from breeding stock and 10% from cull cows. A computerized feeding system is used. The Voelkers have participated in the University of Missouri’s mail in record program for 25 years, and they were awarded the University’s Farm Management Award in 1978.
The Voelkers have three children. The youngest, Charles farmed with Chalmer and Evelyn until January 1, 1983, when they sold their interest in the herd and the operation to him. Charles has carried on the improvement of the herd in an excellent manner. The average production the past two years is as follows: 59 cows, 15,987 lbs. milk, 4.12% 659 lbs. fat. Cattle sold in the “Show Me,” Heart of America, Show Window and National Brown Swiss Sales and for export have also brought excellent prices. Although retired, Chalmer and Evelyn, who live nearby, have a continuing interest in Brown Swiss and can be found assisting whenever needed.