Sometimes the biggest inspiration comes in the smallest packages. This certainly holds true for Brynn Grewe from Cumberland, Wis. The pint-size dairy farm girl is not only well-known in the industry, but also serves as a true inspiration, as she embodies strength, grit and perseverance.
Brynn’s parents, Brandon and Kim Grewe, along with Brandon’s family, Roy and Gina Grewe, make up Valley Gem Farm, home to 170 head of Registered Guernseys. The family also farms around 500 acres. A century farm, Valley Gem is well-known—not just locally, but nationally, as their beloved Guernseys have earned top honors for themselves throughout big-name shows, including World Dairy Expo.
A Three-Peat
Soon, the Valley Gem show string will head to Madison in time for World Dairy Expo. This is a tradition that the entire Grewe family looks forward to.
"Expo is my favorite week of the whole year," Kim says. "We love the dairy industry. It is like seeing your extended family. It’s the best time to get together to visit with other industry professionals and farmers and just be able to connect."
The Grewe family has taken home top honors with Valley Gem Atlas Malt-ET the last three years, as she has won Grand Champion Guernsey at Expo in 2019, 2021, and 2022.
"We started showing her as a March calf, but she didn’t make her expo debut until she was three years old where she stood third."
Malt has also won supreme twice down in Louisville, Ky. Today, she is four weeks fresh, so the verdict awaits to see if the prize Guernsey will make her way back to the colored shavings in Madison.
For the Grewe family, their focus on their herd has always been to breed a combination of type and production.
"We are breeding cattle that will make an impact on the Guernsey breed," Brandon says.
Powerful Inspiration
However, for the Grewe family, it is not only about receiving purple ribbons. Their passion for farming and showing cattle runs deep in their veins. The family shows cows throughout the Midwest, although this year they headed south to the Missouri State Fair to exhibit cattle to help boost some spirits in the Show Me State.
Kim’s father, Mike Wilson, sold his Missouri dairy herd in 2014 and several of his cows went to his daughter and son-in-law’s herd in Wisconsin. Her father was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in April, and she shared that there hadn’t been any milk cows shown at the Missouri State Fair in a long time.
"We thought this year would be a great idea to lift his spirits and bring a herd of cows down to show," she says.
I’m not sure what lifted her father’s spirits more. Seeing his cows or his family, but indeed, his spirits were lifted.
"My mother said she has never seen him like that since he was diagnosed," Kim says, sharing that he was a completely different person. "He was like dancing down the aisles and staying up past midnight visiting with people. I just think he needed to be around his cows again, and that brought back some life into him."
She also said that seeing his three and a half-year-old granddaughter, Brynn, gave him the kick in the butt that he needed to keep fighting.
Pint-Size Power
The first 18 months of Brynn’s life were smooth sailing. In 2021, that all quickly changed, as she experienced her first illness that rapidly turned severe. Little Brynn was hospitalized for 45 days from an initial UTI that went septic.
"She ended up being an amputee because she went septic," her mother said, explaining she went gangrene, which caused her to lose some of her extremities.
From June to about December that year, Brynn, who was just a toddler, was in and out of the hospital with surgeries. In April of 2022, Brynn got her prosthetics, and her parents explained her life has since been soaring.
The Grewe family fights back emotions as they remember how family and friends in the dairy industry helped out.
"Without hesitation," Kim says. "Everybody stepped up offering to help us at the farm, so Brandon could be at the hospital with us. Having that support makes us speechless and emotional."
Their dairy community even continued to help them get their herd ready to show at Louisville, so their high-quality dairy genetics could be exhibited.
The following year, Brynn was able to attend World Dairy Expo, and everyone in the industry flocked to be by her side.
"Everybody loves seeing her and asks how she’s doing," Kim notes. "The level of support we received is nothing short of phenomenal. Brandon and I are very appreciative."
A girl dad, Brandon says his daughter is a true source of inspiration.
"She is so strong," he says.
"And very stubborn," Kim adds. "I even told my father, when he was diagnosed with cancer, that if Brynn could survive all she had been through, so could he."
A True Miracle
Brynn is a true farm girl—she helps lead heifers, feed hay and wash cattle as they prepare for shows. She has even called dibs on which heifers she wants to show in the future.
"She tells me that our cow Malt’s babies are all hers," Kim happily reports.
Brandon shares that the doctors have told them that Brynn is an absolute miracle.
"To survive the first night was nothing short of a miracle," he recalls.
Kim shares that being so young when this all happened is a blessing for little Brynn.
"Adapting to life is on her side," she says. "And she shows us daily just how strong she is. There isn’t anything she doesn’t try to do."
While the life of dairying is challenging, Brandon keeps it all in perspective.
"You know, everything that has happened with Brynn makes everything else not seem as bad," he says. "Like if you have a problem with a cow or low milk price, yeah, it sucks, but it’s not like what happened to your daughter. You really have to try and live life to the fullest. That is what Brynn reminds us daily."
Brynn Grewe’s journey is a testament to the resilience and strength that can be found in the face of adversity. Her story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of perseverance, family support, and the unwavering spirit of the farming community. As Brynn continues to defy the odds and inspire those around her, she stands as a beacon of hope and determination for all who know her. Join us in celebrating Brynn’s incredible journey and the profound impact she has had on everyone she meets.
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