Family Legacy

A Generational Story Growing the Legacy thru the Seasons of Life

Welcome to Golden Day Farms

It is an honor and privilege to share the story of "the roots' of our family farms and how we are working diligently to revitalize, extend and expand the legacy and activities of the Day Family Farm, which we have proudly named Golden Day Farms.

As the eldest son of William and Joan Day, I (Thomas Day) am eager to share this history and legacy that my parents created beginning in the 1960's. It is our family's goal to uphold and build that legacy and to share products made at the farm and to offer experiences at the farm that will be educational, adventuresome, and fun while creating your own wonderful memories in this expansive, picturesque, beautiful, regenrating, rejuvenating, enriching and inspiriing nature we call Golden Day Farms.

How the Legacy Began and the Generations of Committed & Humble Servants

Our family farm was purchased in 1969. Our parents intended to provide their children with a wholesome life and to teach responsibility and accomplishment. The farm had no running water and had an outhouse. We started with one Guernsey cow—Bosse—that we learned to milk and grow feed for. Each day, I would go out with my dad to feed Bosse, help milk, and clean up after her. Dad and Mom both worked outside the farm to support the family. Dad always emphasized the need to milk Bosse at the same time, morning and night. One night, Dad was running late, and I felt the need to milk Bosse on time. I went out to the barn and completed the chores. From that day on, I gained the responsibility of milking Bosse morning and night, and we grew the herd from one to twenty cows. The milk would go into cans and be shipped to the local cheese factory, where I later worked.

My parents wanted a big family but were unable to have one due to medical issues, so they decided to provide a home for 23 foster children. My parents had a lot of love to give, and no one received anything without everyone receiving something. With more hands, we expanded the farm and rented several farms to support the herd of cows. Growing up, I became a member of the 4-H club, and in high school, I became a member of the FFA.

The FFA vastly expanded my knowledge of agriculture. Through the FFA, I won the Star Greenhand award and participated in multiple judging and oratory contests. I worked at the National FFA Headquarters as an intern in the international department, leading programs for international exchange with Panama and Europe. I participated in a six-month Agency for International Development (AID) program in Panama. The FFA developed a one-of-a-kind, 18-month Work Experience Abroad (WEA) program for me, in which I lived and worked on agricultural farms or studied in schools around the world. I was also selected to be a delegate to the 3rd World Conference of Young Farmers in West Berlin, Germany. I received my FFA State Farmer Degree.

Upon completing my college degree, I joined the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant in the Transportation Corps. I spent 4.5 years in the military, and my final job was as an Aide-de-Camp for a Brigadier General at Oakland Army Base. Dad and I raised cattle on the farm, and eventually, we rented out the cropland to another farmer.

Growing the Love of the Farm in the Hearts of Our Children...and Beyond

When Diane and I raised our two children (Nathan and Michele), we would always take them back to the farm to spend time with their grandparents. They learned to drive tractors and other farm equipment. Because our driveway was three-quarters of a mile long, they learned to drive. The farm was always peaceful and a place to enjoy being with our extended family. Upon my son’s graduation from college, he became the 27th person in our family to have served in the military.

Our family always talked about the farm and relived the memories of experiences there. We talked about the dreams and how our parents wanted a commitment that we wouldn’t sell the farm. My parents have since passed. As a family, we brainstormed on what to do with the family farm. It had over 50 years of accumulated old equipment and a house full of clothes and knick-knacks. To date, we have donated over 13 trailer loads of items to local charities. We have cleaned up tons of old equipment, cleaned out sheds, and taken down buildings that were ready to fall.

As an extended family, we have worked diligently the past few years, and especially throughout 2025 on establishing the next chapter for Golden Day Farms, which we are proudly launching with great gusto, concerted commitment and excitement for the Chapters yet to be written in the legacy story and growing ventures of Golden Day Farms.

Revitalization of the Vision:

Launch into the Renewed & Refreshed

Golden Day Farms

We have done a lot of brainstorming - and months of "labors of love" - for the next chapter(s) of Golden Day Farms. In fact, there have been countless days, months, and now a couple of years putting in the "labor of love" to bring the renewed vision to fruition. This has incldued a massive clearing, restoration and preparation.

This also led to carefully planting and strategically placing 40 apple trees, over 1,200 lavender plants, and a robust pollinator garden, for the optimal nutrition for our dozens of box hives housing bee colonies that are busy producing hundreds of pounds of natural honey (more on that to be shared later).
We are working with family, friends, the DNR, and local chapter of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) to utilize the non-rented land.
We have also developing working relationships with (and seek grant funding from) the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and had a long series of interactions with regional offices of the University of Wisconsin Extension (until recent massive cuts eliminated many of the staff and programs in several of the offices with whom we had worked).
Importantly, we continue to develop alliances and build bridges with local Chambers of Commerce, Community leaders, and even elected officials committed to Rural Development.
As the revitalization has evolved, so have our ideas of our core business(es) and hopes for truly being a significant "force of nature" for rural development not only for Golden Day Farms but Central Wisconsin which is often overlooked and certainly under-estimated for the vast opportunities within and across communities.

CORE BUSINESS PRODUCTS (for more info, click here for PRODUCTS page)

As such, we decided to make a core business centered around raising bees in order to offer the multitude of products that emanate from busy hives. To support the bees, we have planted 40 apple trees, over 1,200 lavender plants, and a pollinator garden in 2025.
This includes honey-sweetened products and being a supplier to key food and beverage companies in Wisconsin that are seeking to opt for a sugar alternative with natural honey. Given all the health benefits of honey, we also have developed plans for other novel outlets and avenues to share this healthy product with opportunities for people in various venues to enjoy this natural enrichment of food. We plan to offer artisanal products as well.
In addition, we are excited to be able to offer high-quality Munstead and Hidcote all- natural lavender. Much of the product from our lavish lavender fields will be premier oil with all its healing, soothing, and medicinal properties. We will be offering lavender culinary products as well as serving as supplier for both culinary and medicinal lavender.
Our four brands of apples will be forthcoming and will be a highlight offered when they are fully mature.

ONSITE EVENTS. for more info, click here for ONSITE EVENTS page)

Early days of revitalizing the farm

The new Apple orchard growing strong along with the Vision

Revitalization of the Vision:

Launch into the Renewed & Refreshed

Golden Day Farms

We have done a lot of brainstorming - and months of "labors of love" - for the next chapter(s) of Gloden Day Farms. In fact, there have been countless days, months, and now a couple of years putting in the "labor of love" to bring the renewed vision to fruition. This has incldued a massive clearing, restoration and preparation.

This also led to carefully planting and strategically placing 40 apple trees, over 1,200 lavender plants, and a robust pollinator garden, for the optimal nutrition for our dozens of box hives housing bee colonies that are busy producing hundreds of pounds of natural honey (more on that to be shared later).
We are working with family, friends, the DNR, and local chapter of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter to utilize the non-rented land.
We have also sght to develop working relationships with (and seek grant funding from) the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and had a long series of interactions with Office of the regional offices of the University of Wisconsin Extension (until recent massive cuts eliminated many of the staff and programs in many of the offices with whom we had worked).
Importantly, we continue to develop aliances and build bridges with local Chambers of Commerce, Community leaders, and even eelcted officials committed to Rural Development.
As the revitalization has evolved, so has our ideas of our core business(es) and hopes for truly being a significant "force of nature" for rural development not only for Golden Day Farms but Central Wisconsin which is often overlooked and certainly under-estimated for the vast opportunities within and across communities.

CORE BUSINESS PRODUCTS (for more, click here for PRODUCTS page)

As such, we decided to make a core business centered around raising bees in order to offer the multitude of products that emanate from busy hives. To support the bees, we have planted 40 apple trees, over 1,200 lavender plants, and a pollinator garden in 2025.
This includes honey-sweetened products and being a supplier to key food and beverage companies in Wisconsin that are seeking to opt for a sugar alternative with natural honey. Given all the health benefits of honey, we also have developed plans for other novel outlets and avenues to share this healthy product with opportunities for people in various venues to enjoy this natural product enriching their food. We plan to offer artisanal products as well.
In addition, we are excited to be able to offer high-quality Munstead and Hidcote all natural lavender. The premier product from our lavish lavender fields will be lavender oil with all its healing, soothing, and medicinal properties. We will be offering lavender culinary products as well as serving as supplier for both culinary and medicinal lavender.
Our four brands of apples will be forthcoming and will be a highlight offered when they are fully mature.

ONSITE EVENTS (for more, click here for ONSITE EVENTS page)

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