The hosts for the 2026 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, No Joke Dairy in Stratford, are examples of what a partnership with Focus on Energy can accomplish.

Pam Jahnke visits with Matt Redetzke, one of the brothers farming, about their fifth-generation family farm in Marathon County.  Through careful planning with Focus on Energy, the farm has achieved considerable savings on several projects around the farm. Focus on Energy Advisor, Kevin Weiler, explains the amount of energy saved - and the money that was kept in the farm families pocket!

Energy Efficiency Upgrades with Focus on Energy

No Joke Dairy has implemented a series of energy-saving improvements in partnership with Focus
on Energy:
• Livestock Waterers (Installed in 2022 and 2023)
o Installed new waterers that use less electricity and keep water from freezing in winter.
The cows always have clean water to drink, even during the colder months. These
waterers save money on energy bills and keep the animals comfortable.

• LED Exterior Lighting (2023)
o Replaced exterior lights with LED lights. LEDs make outdoor areas safer for everyone
and last longer, reducing the need to replace them as often.
• Refrigeration Heat Recovery (RHR) System (2020)
o Installed an RHR system that takes heat from the milk-cooling process and uses it to
warm water for the farm. The farm needs less electricity or fuel to make hot water
for cleaning.

• Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) Vacuum Pump (2019)
o Upgraded to a vacuum pump with a VFD to allow the milking system to run at the power
needed, instead of at full power all the time. This reduces electricity use and extends
equipment life.

• High-Bay LED Fixtures (2019)
o Improved lighting inside the barn with high-bay LED fixtures to create a brighter, safer
workspace while using less energy than traditional high-intensity lamps.