GRATZ, Pa. -- The lifestyle that has been so dearly appreciated by generations of dairy farmers is still alive and well at ETC Farms here in the northern tip of Dauphin County. Earl Campbell, 64, says it was never his ambition to make a lot of money in the dairy business. What was much more important to him, he says, was the lifestyle ... and it’s given him all he ever wanted. He’s happily married to his wife, Tamie, and they raised four sons together. They also have 10 grandchildren, all of whom live within walking distance of the barn. “Dairy farming has been good to us,” he declares.
As he walks around the farmstead, he speaks of the long hours and numerous challenges. “I don’t know how we ever did it,” he says, adding that he is ready to slow down. Having started from “scratch,” with nothing having been given to him, the family’s accomplishment are all the more impressive. What you see here at ETC Farm is what the family built on its own since having moved here in 1986.
You ... yes you ... are invited to come see ETC Farm any time. But if you need a special reason to visit, then come on July 9th. That’s the day the Campbell Family hosts the Schuylkill County Holstein Club’s evening picnic. They’re making it a celebration under the banner of “Proud to Dairy.”
Some folks might find the positive attitude out of place, especially these days. On the other hand, folks might find it very inspiring, as was the case with this writer.
ETC Farms is in many ways your typical 100-cow dairy ... a fine and accurate example of what the vast majority of dairy farm families across the nation can instantly identify with. It’s a family farm in the purest sense in that Earl and Tamie and their boys provided the labor force. Only in recent years have two neighbor boys come along to help part-time. The management of the herd is quite typical too, virtually all across the board. 
But, for sure, ETC Farms can in some ways be described as atypical. It’s most noticeable in the picture-perfect appearance of the place and the attitude of the family. It’s not just Earl who is upbeat and appreciative. It’s the entire family, right down to the 10 grandchildren. Obviously, it goes back to lifestyle and you can bet your last dollar that the family feels very, very blessed because of it.
To be sure, the Campbells had their challenges, struggles and tough years ... the same as anyone else with similar ambitions. Nevertheless, Earl says: “I never had a bad year; it’s just that some years are better than others. And this year certainly isn’t going to stack up as one of the better ones!” he added.
Recognized as a Dairy of Distinction, ETC Farms reflects success and pride of ownership all at once. The barns are situated just behind a knoll and as they come into view it’s almost a jaw-dropping experience. The place is uncommonly neat and tidy and what sets it off are the mountains at the opposite end of the valley. On that score, this is also not your typical dairy farm.
Earl offers a tour of the facilities and takes pride in having designed every building. “It doesn’t have to be the fanciest,” he says, “but it has to be functional.” He repeatedly hit the mark with labor-saving innovations and comfort for both the animals as well as the people who work with them. Thanks to those considerations, calves, heifers and cows are all doing well and the family has never had to give up the “fun” activities of the children and grandchildren.
For sure, this place was built with an attitude of having fun ... just the way Earl likes it. “When it’s fun it’s not work,” he proclaims. The results of his dedicated efforts can be seen everywhere, beginning with the happy family.
Earl was raised on a dairy farm in neighboring Northumberland County; then spent six of his early adult years working for Bell Telephone. He found out that farming was indeed in his blood so he returned to the farm, eventually moving to the Gratz area in 1977 to start on his own. Tamie was the mother of four young boys by this time, the oldest one being just 6 years of age. The milking herd numbered 12 grade Holsteins. Earl still rents the 75-acre farm, keeping bred heifers and dry cows there.
In 1986 Earl and Tamie purchased a nearby farm and began the process of building what you see today. They hired a contractor to erect each building’s “shell” and then finished the rest themselves. For Earl, it was part of the fun, with the significant cost savings perhaps being the most fun of all. 
With his ideas and plans coming into fruition and debt loads kept to bare minimums, the fun just kept getting better and better. Meanwhile, the boys had all joined the Schuylkill County 4-H Club and began showing their project animals. That added even more fun for all of the family and in the process the herd began to take on more type and registration papers. They have shown some of their animals with considerable success. For example, they took four head to the Farm Show last January and all four won their classes. One went on to be named junior champion; another was designated an honorable mention junior champion. And their 87-point 2-year old (Shady-Row Dundee Daphne) was named grand champion of the youth show. Two months later, this same young cow won her class in the youth division at the Pennsylvania Holstein Association’s Spring Championship Show. “Showing is fun,” proclaims Grant Campbell with a big smile, adding: “And winning is even more fun!”
But don’t think for a minute that showing is all that drives these people. It’s just part of the fun. To get the bills paid, they’ve got a herd average of 24,000 pounds with 3.7% butterfat and 3.1% protein on 125 cows.
Corn silage is the primary feed, with wheat silage and dry grass hay added to the TMR in smaller amounts. While Grant, a 1998 graduate of Delaware Valley College, has taken on the responsibilities as herdsman, the elder Campbell has retreated to the fields. He takes care of all 600 acres, raising corn, soybeans and wheat for silage. The latter is the only crop that’s custom-harvested. Every acre is no-tilled, a practice which Earl wouldn’t want to be without. 
Meanwhile, back at the barn, you’ll find Grant either milking or feeding. He rotates those duties daily between himself and the two part-time helpers. Earl and Tamie are on stand-by, if needed, to allow everyone some time off. Involved to a lesser degree is Garth Campbell who established his own hoof-trimming business. But he’s on the farm and can be counted on to help day or night. His wife, Melissa -- a dairy farm girl from Bedford County -- is in charge of the youngstock these days, having taken over from Tamie. And you guessed it, she gets all the help she needs from her three children, Courtney, Chasity and Coy.
Calves are raised in what some might call a South-facing calf motel. The 20 individual pens and five weaning pens are all under roof, with a generous overhang to add protection from the elements. Calves are housed here until they’re weaned, at which time they are moved to an adjacent heifer barn that was completed in 2005. Visitors just might find this 60’ x 144’ barn to be a model of unique simplicity and function. Again, it’s all about comfort for both man and animal and making work as easy as possible.
The free-stall barn for the milking herd, originally built in 1986, received an addition in 1994. That’s also the year a Slurrysore came onto the scene. And just last year, the entire free-stall barn was outfitted with waterbeds. A double-4 Surge Autoflow  milking parlor was pieced together out of used equipment. He paid pennies on the dollar for it. It’s just one example of Earl’s fiscal conservatism.
Cows are separated into three production groups, with a fourth group being dry cows. The breeding program is defined more by genetics and type as opposed to production and components. “I figure we can get the milk, so we breed for type,” reasons Grant. Some of the better cows, including the current “queens” of the farm that are pictured on page 1, are in a flushing program. This, too, is seen as adding more fun to the family farm.
And there’s still more. You might think that the Campbells have enough to do keeping their herd productive and their farmstead looking picture postcard perfect. However, Garth does a corn maze every fall and the family has a float that they enter in parades and carnivals. Aside from family members who toss candy and promotional dairy items to an appreciate crowd, the float also carries calves to the delight of young and old alike. 
The Campbells have a genuine and deep appreciation for the life on the farm that they share together. And they enjoy projecting a positive and clean image to the public, including their fellow dairymen and their families. “We raised our family on the farm,” says Earl. “And we did it strictly with income from the farm. It was our only source of income. And we had no outside help when our kids were growing up. The farm has been good to us,” he repeated.
So, if you need an uplifting experience, come to the Schuylkill County Holstein Club’s picnic on July 9th. “Mark your calendar for this evening of family fun as we celebrate and share why we are ‘proud to dairy,”  Earl concluded. The picnic and fun officially begin at 6:30 p.m..
Directions to the farm: From the West: From Gratz, take Route 25 East for one mile; turn left onto Picnic Road, proceed for a quarter mile, the farm will be on the right. From the East: Take Exit 112 off of I-81, proceed west on Route 25 for 16.8 miles. Turn right onto Picnic Road, go a quarter mile,  the farm will be on the right.