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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.

Isaac Crosby
Shell Lake High School
Class of 2025
River Valley Dairy LLC

Sports:

Crosby: Basketball – Guard, Team Captain; Baseball - RHP/3B, Team Captain.

How do you balance farm, school and athletics?

Crosby:  With the support of my father and uncle, I have been allowed to place a heavy emphasis on both academics and athletics. During basketball and baseball season, I am limited to mostly weekends and practice nights. During the off-season, I am then able to work more consistently on the farm.

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

Crosby: Outside of farming, I enjoy playing and watching sports, hanging out with friends, spending time with my family, lifting, and traveling.

How else are you involved in your local community?

Crosby: I am involved in National Honors Society, Student Council, and 4-H, a mentorship program, and I am active in Spooner Wesleyan Church.

ON THE FARM

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

Crosby: My great-great-grandparents moved to our farm in 1929. The farm transitioned through generations and eventually ended up in my dad and uncle's possession after buying it in 2002. My grandparents still currently live near the farm and are still involved. Currently, we milk 110 Holstein cows and finish around 200 head of dairy steer each year. We also farm 1800 acres of cropland, which feeds all of our cattle and a significant portion is sold for cash crop.

What is your role on the farm?

Crosby: My role on the farm mainly revolves around helping make feed for all the livestock. This includes dairy cows, heifers, steers, dry cows, and beef cows.

Who do you farm with?

Crosby: I farm with my father, uncle, older cousin, and two younger sisters.

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

Crosby: My favorite part of being involved with the farm is during the fall when we harvest all of our corn. The weekends consist of long days in the fields, but it always is a cool process seeing all the machinery going and everyone working in the same field.

Where does your farm ship its milk?

Crosby: Our farm ships our milk to NFO (National Farmers Organization). Our farm has shipped our milk to NFO since 1976.

What product is your milk turned into?

Crosby: Our milk is turned into cheese.

What sustainability practices do you employ on your farm?

Crosby: Some of the sustainability practices we use on our farm are no-till, minimum till, and recently we started implementing cover crops. Our farm was one of the first farms to implement no-till when my grandpa started no-tilling in the mid-eighties.

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

Crosby: A proud moment I had relating to the farm was when Governor Walker appointed my dad to the Wisconsin Dairy Task Force 2.0. I am also proud to be a part of the 5th generation of River Valley Dairy with my sisters.

Future plans:

Crosby: I will be attending the University of St. Thomas (MN) to major in accounting and play baseball.

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.