Come Celebrate the History of the Jones Yellow Barn

There is a reason why Jones Dairy Farm, the 133-year-old, seventh generation family owned business based in Fort Atkinson and best known for all natural sausage, ham and bacon, has “dairy farm” in its company name.   Until 1985, Jones Dairy Farm was home to a working dairy farm.

The dairy farm operations were always separate from the meat company and housed in a two-story, gothic roof structure affectionally known as the “Yellow Barn.”  The distinctive butter yellow barn was built in 1922 along a wide bend in the Rock River about a mile southwest of Fort Atkinson by W.D. James, founder of The James Manufacturing Company.  Mr. James, who bought 80-acres from the Jones family around 1919 to establish his own dairy farm, is best known for creating “The James Way” – still synonymous with innovative dairy farm equipment.

The barn was built with two interior silos and a single exterior silo, and equipped with the latest James Way ventilation, support columns, stanchions, stall fittings, drinking cups, mangers, and litter removal systems.  Shortly after W. D.’s death in 1948, the farm, including the Yellow Barn, was sold back to the Jones family which continued to operate the property as a dairy farm and swine breeding operation until 1985 . During the years of operation, the Yellow Barn housed as many as 120 registered Guernsey and Holstein cows and young stock.

With this historical Yellow Barn turning 100, Jones is commemorating the anniversary by inviting the public to attend the “Jones Yellow Barn Centennial Celebration” to be held on Saturday, September 17, 2022, on the Jones Dairy Farm property.

Event Details/Highlights:

• Saturday, September 17, 2022, from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Event starts at the Jones Market in Fort Atkinson (601 Jones Avenue)
• Tickets are limited; $25 per ticket and include:
• Hay wagon tour of the Jones property (which takes you out to the barn)
• All-you-can-eat pulled pork meal (includes baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw, Hoards Dairyman Cheese and more)
• Live bluegrass music
• Farm equipment display
• More than a dozen educational experiences and more

The Presentation Program includes: 

• Old World Wisconsin blacksmith demo
• “Jamesway” history presented by the Hoard Historical Museum
• Live animals: dairy cow breeds, swine and honey bees
• Famer talks about all aspects of dairy farming
• Jefferson County Barn Quilt Trail

All proceeds from the event will benefit local youth agricultural scholarships.

Register online for a time slot by September 9^th at ShopJonesMarket.com. Hayrides to the barn leave every 15 minutes.

Don’t forget to take the Barn Quilt Tour in Jefferson County where we combine some of our favorite past times.  Barns, quilts and ROAD TRIPS!