Former World Dairy Expo president\, well-known dairy farmer to retire\, sell all cattle this weekend

Trips daily.

A local farmer whose name and products are known around the world - is saying goodbye to the dairy industry.

Jamie perez shares his story and how he's made an impact for dairy farmers around the world.

Just off us highway 12 lies an iconic yellow barn... the welcome mat to baraboo it's a farm known around the world... more than 30 countries, in fact, have bought cattle from this very farm.

"i've been involved with cattle for as long as i can remember" this is mike holschbach's farm.

He's the former president of the world dairy expo.

And a very decorated farmer at that.

"for decades, it's been up before 3 o'clock in the morning and milking cows and caring for them until 7 at night."

This farm has been his life for years... and it's got a long span of family history... "my in-laws came here in 1961, and they operated the farm til about 1984 when we bought it" but the next few days will be mike's last time with the cattle he's raised for generations... "i've tried to prevent myself from even thinking about it" mike is retiring from the dairy farming industry.

A choice that won't be easy, but he knows it's time.

"empty.

I think that is going to be the word of the day for a while.

It's just going to be an empty feeling" the cattle have become his family "there's an emotional tie.

There is no question."

He's seen generations of cattle and cared for them all...and to make the bond that much stronger... all of them have names..

"her name is glitter" he's selling all 230 cattle on his farm this saturday.

Watching that last cattle leave will be the hardest part.

"it's like being part of a family.

It's like seeing your daughter go off to college" after years of milking and bathing and all the other glamourous parts of the job, his last hope is that the next owners love them as much as he does.

That's the way i would like to leave a legacy is for our cattle to go to the next farm and be profitable, and make those people happy that they came and purchased our cattle in baraboo, jamie perez, news 3 now.

Mike is selling all of his cattle this saturday on his farm.

If you would like to go, a link to the event is on our website... channel 3000 dot com.

When we come back... dana fulton rejoins us.... she'll lets us know how much longer this wintery mix will last-- but first, milwaukee's going green for the bucks..

The story is next.

Stay with us.

A new library on wheels is making its way around madison.

Perez, news 3 now.

Mike is selling all of his mike is selling all of his cattle this saturday on his farm.

You would like to go, a link to the event is on our website...