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The Wisconsin Dairy Athlete of the Month sponsored by WisSports.net (WSN) in partnership with Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin (DFW) aims to connect consumers with Wisconsin’s dedicated dairy farmers and the youth who grow and raise food for their local communities.  

DFW and WSN are recognizing high school student-athletes who are actively involved on a Wisconsin dairy farm and participate in at least one WIAA-sanctioned varsity sport. Dairy is a vital part of the economy in nearly every Wisconsin county, whether urban or rural. Family-owned farms, dairy processors and dairy-related businesses generate thousands of jobs and millions of dollars of economic activity while contributing to local income and tax revenues.

Nominate a high school athlete for the Wisconsin Dairy Athlete of the Month by clicking here.

Christopher Gunst
Weyauwega-Fremont High School
Class of 2025
Wilstar Holsteins

Sports:

Gunst:  Football – I was a wide receiver and cornerback and earned my varsity letter. 
Basketball – I play point guard and forward and am a team captain. I earned my varsity letter as a sophomore. My junior year, I was Second-Team All-Conference and earned the Coaches Award and an Academic Letter. I have played on several traveling AAU teams. 
Baseball – I play center fielder and pitcher, and was a team captain. I started in the outfield as a freshman. I earned All-Conference Honorable Mention and Second-Team All Conference Honors all three years and played on a traveling AAU team this past summer. I was honored for having the highest batting average, earned the Glove Award and MVP throughout the past three years and am hoping to break some school records this year.

How do you balance farm, school and athletics?

Gunst: Having grown up on a farm, you learn at a young age what it takes to balance everything. We work together as a team when it comes to getting the daily chores finished. On nights when I have games, my sister and parents will do chores and I help catch up on other farm tasks on the weekends when the whole family is around, like scraping pens and bedding and other maintenance work. When I get home from practice at nights, I help get the daily feeding chores done. In the spring, when show season kicks in, I help walk and wash our show heifers once I get home from practice and on the weekends. Once chores are done, I focus on homework. During the summer I have held full-time jobs. When possible, I will do chores before I leave for work and assist with chores at night when I get home.

What hobbies / interests do you have outside of dairy farming? 

Gunst: I enjoy playing sand volleyball, basketball and summer league baseball. I also enjoy attending cattle shows and spending time with my friends.

How else are you involved in your local community?

Gunst: In 4-H, I've served as our president the past two years and held other offices in the past. In my local FFA chapter, I served as sentinel and have participated in the Prepared and Discussion Meet Contest. I’m also in charge of numerous community service projects. I attended the National FFA Convention. --As a member of the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association, I have participated in dairy bowl, dairy jeopardy and the speaking contests. I was honored to earn the Wisconsin Younger Member Recognition Award in 2023, and was chosen to represent Wisconsin on the national level, where I was one of six in the nation to earn the National Younger Distinguished Member Recognition Award. I was chosen as a member of the National Honor Society. I am a member of the Weyauwega-Fremont Fishing Club. I am a member of the Christian Athletic Club. I am actively involved in activities my local church sponsors.

ON THE FARM

What is your farm story and how long have you been involved in the operation?

Gunst: Wilstar Holsteins consists of 13 heifers, from young calves to a few dry cows. Our nine cows are cared for on a farm near Brandon, Wisc. We assist them with classification and shows and other events they need help with. We have 25 acres of alfalfa we manage every year. I have been involved in our operation since I was four years old.

What is your role on the farm?

Gunst: Before our dispersal in 2019, I took great ownership in assisting with our calf-care and feeding program. I also assisted my sister in overseeing our show heifers. Other tasks I did on the farm included milking, cleaning the milkhouse, scraping the barn alley and bedding stalls, picking up hay bales, and lawn and landscaping maintenance. Today my sister and I oversee our heifer show program. This involves feeding special diets to our heifers based on their overall body condition. I also walk, wash, rinse, clip and clean their pens on a daily basis. We show our animals at the local county fair, district show, Wisconsin Junior State Fair, Wisconsin State how and World Dairy Expo. We also lend a hand at the farm where our cows are cared for, such as classification, at shows, and when they host special events on their farm. I also help rake and pick up hay bales on our farm and on my uncle’s farm and help neighboring farms cover bunker piles in the fall. I also help with farm up-keep and maintenance around the farm.

Who do you farm with?

Gunst: I farm with my parents, Willis and Carla and my sister, Cathryn.

What is your favorite part of being involved with the farm?

Gunst: My favorite part of being involved with the farm is working with my sister preparing our animals for shows and witnessing the outcome of our hard work. We’ve learned a lot from mentors on how to prepare our heifers for the shows and have met a lot of lifelong friends along the way by being involved in the dairy industry.

What is your most proud moments or farm achievements/awards?

Gunst: There are several moments that really mean a lot to me where our families' hard work paid off. This past summer my sister and I had the opportunity to work with a junior two year-old where our cows are housed. She was grand champion and 5th overall Supreme at the Wisconsin Junior State Fair, 6th place, 2nd junior & honorable mention intermediate champion of the junior show at the Wisconsin Championship Show and 3rd place at the International Junior Show at World Dairy Expo. It was a humbling and rewarding experience to work with this amazing young cow. 

Several years ago, my sister and I showed a fall yearling that early on in the show season needed some fine-tuning to compete at the next level. My sister and I spent our nights after practices walking and preparing this heifer for World Dairy Expo, where she placed fourth overall and was third junior in her class. This year I had a goal of placing in the top 10 of my showmanship class at the Wisconsin Junior State Fair. I placed sixth overall in the 17-year-old division. 

Two years ago, I was honored to be named a National Younger Distinguished Member Award recipient. There are only six youth chosen throughout the United States, and I was humbled to share this honor with my sister and cousin.

Where does your farm ship its milk?

Gunst: We don’t milk cows on the farm anymore, just heifers.

What product is your milk turned into?

Gunst: Where are cows are housed and cared for, they send their milk to a cheese factory.

Future Plans?

Gunst: I plan to attend a technical school majoring in agricultural business.

Nominate a high school athlete for the Wisconsin Dairy Athlete of the Month by clicking here.

One athlete will be selected from nominations received each month.  Selected student athletes will be featured on www.wissports.net as well as DFW and WSN social media channels. 

About Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin

Funded by Wisconsin dairy farmers, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin is a non-profit organization that focuses on marketing and promoting Wisconsin's world-class dairy products. For more information, visit our website at wisconsindairy.org.