Open Day at the Farm ~ The 1st Birthday

The 28th June was the open day and first birthday for 4REAL Milk!
It was also the launch of the new hard cheeses, cheddar and red leicester.

Michelle and I were on the gate all morning.
Rob was the lovely man helping in the car park.
The kids helped Trish, Katrina, Karen & Geoff sell milk, cheese and merchandise.
Jewel & Yoke manned the jumping castle.
Dad was on stage.
Mum was everywhere making sure things were running smoothly.
Greg was the tour guide.
And anyone that I didn't mention had a very important job that I didn't get to see.

The stats from the Scenic Rim Robotic Dairy and 4 Real Milk page...

"2,072.80 - $$$$ raised for beyondblue on Saturday 


Nearly 2,000 - visitors, supporters, followers and friends who accepted our 'open' invitation on Saturday 

100 - cow bells...sold out before lunchtime 

42 - family, friends & staff...who worked their butt off to keep things flowing all day 

19 - stockists (that I'm aware of) who were able to attend 

10 - musicians who entertained us all - throughout the day 

5 - food and drinks stands who all excelled themselves 

0 - $$$$ advertising and promotions budget for the BIG DAY!!!"

When Dairying Goes Space Age

Today is the day the cows on the farm no longer need to be milked by humans.
Today the robots have taken over!
Today the dairy (with the milking machines that you have to put on by hand) was used for the last time.

Today is training day.

Once trained the cows will wander into the robots at will and be milked...people free.

It was a major operation.
There were people to push the cows in, literally.
There were others on the computers, guiding the cups onto the cows teats. Some just didn't want to go on, even cows can be the 'wrong shape'. Once the computer reads and places the cups correctly, it remembers exactly where they go for each cow.
There was the support crew of experts to fix anything that went wrong.
And there were plenty of eyewitnesses at this exciting event.

Here is some photographic proof that the farm has entered the space age...



Here they come.



The Astronaut has landed



Three in a row, ready to go!



Dad & Jack think everything is in order.



Checking them out.



The side the cow walks in.



The other side, with the computer screen and robotic arm.



Holy cow!!

Greg & Geoff in the computer room, entering the cows' data into the computers.



Trish getting ready to do the second last milking in the dairy.

Milking with machines, by hand.



So yesterday.

Needing a little push.



They're in.





Trish helping them in.

 

Helloo



Rob working one computer, checking that the cups are in place.

 

Jewel & Karen working another one.

 

The touchscreen computer.

 

The robot scans the udder to place the cups...this took awhile to get right on some cows.

 

Three working robots!