Heim’s Hillcrest Dairy to host Farm-Fit and Moo-tober Fest

ALGOMA – On Saturday, Oct. 4, Heim’s Hillcrest Dairy will hold a Farm-Fit Challenge starting at 8 a.m., followed by Moo-tober Fest in the afternoon. Kiley Heim, a fourth-generation farmer, came up with the idea for a fitness challenge and dairy festival after seeing other counties hold similar events.

“We came up with the idea at the beginning of summer,” she said, “We saw a similar event in a different county. We thought it’d be good to have more community events happen in Kewaunee County.”

Registration is required for Farm-Fit, which will include various fitness challenges. Many of the challenges are everyday farm tasks.

“We have squatting with chains, milk bottle lunges, farmer’s carry. We have gate carrying. We’re gonna crank up trailers like you’re jacking up the trailer up and down, and just some small things like that, things that happen every day on a farm that you wouldn’t think is a workout,” Heim said.

The challenges will be adjusted for all skill levels, and the event is open for ages 10 and up, with parental guidance and supervision.

“We already have a 78-year-old signed up,” Heim said.

The activities will be similar, with minor adjustments like weight and distance.
“For example, when you flip a tire, we have multiple different sizes. So you can have a big tire if you’re really strong, you can have a smaller tire if you’re just starting out or can’t lift as much.”

There will be someone at each station to show attendees how to safely execute the task. Heim said their goal is to prevent injury.

Participants will be rewarded with a gift bag with Heim’s Hillcrest cheese, a colostrum bag for people and protein powder, and there will be a yogurt bar at the end of the two-mile challenge.

Immediately after the Farm-Fit Challenge, there will be a farm tour where people can learn about cows’ needs, like comfort and nutrition. Heim said children are always interested in the animals, and the tour provides an opportunity for the kids to get up close and learn about the care and keeping of cattle.

Participants who register by Sunday, Sept. 21 will receive a free Farm-Fit T-shirt.

Moo-tober Fest will be held in the afternoon from 1-5 p.m. following the Farm-Fit challenge, providing participants with a low-intensity celebration after their hard work. The festival is open to everyone for free, including people who did not partake in the Farm-Fit Challenge. It will feature events including live music by rock band BoomBoxx, an agricultural drone demonstration and a mechanical bull ride, among others. Kids’ activities will include learning to feed calves, make butter and ice cream. All Things Wagyu and Rose’s Food Trucks will be onsite, and vendors will be present selling goods like handmade doll clothes, caramel corn, laser engraving and blankets.

“These events showcase the best of fitness, farming and fall fun,” Heim said. “We’re excited to welcome the community to challenge themselves in the morning and then celebrate together in the afternoon.”

To learn more about Heim’s Hillcrest Dairy and to register for the Farm-Fit Challenge, visit www.heimshillcrest.com/events.