Mary Kritz's grandparents purchased their farm in 1913 in the hills of the Driftless Region. Electricity did not come to the area until 1946. The 20-cow dairy required hand labor twice daily. After electricity came to the farm, the family "mechanized" the farm and increased head to 25. In 1947, the second generation began dairying. Crops were used to feed the animals. Mary's mother's money came from her egg sales and teaching. Mary's parents stopped milking in the 1960s to raise heifers and restore horse harnesses. Mary's father's horses carried Frank Lloyd Wright's casket. Today Mary and her sister, Marge Kritz Hottmann, own the land that was part of the original 125 acre Kritz farm. The cropland is enrolled in the USDA Crop Reserve Program, and one of the pastures is rented to Farmer John Dougherty. He milks about 20 cows and makes cheese.

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