Man to be recognized for 6 decades as milk tester

Published 10:24 am Friday, June 17, 2016

By Emily Wangen

Sixty years ago Lester Perschbacher began a career as a milk tester. He started off working on a farm as a hired man and was given a week’s vacation to attend training to become a milk tester.

On Saturday he will be honored for his six decades of work with a program as a part of a reboot of June Dairy Days, an old tradition held Father’s Day, and as the grand marshal of the Morin Lake Days Parade.

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Originally, June Dairy Days was held to celebrate local creameries, but this year it will be celebrating Perschbacher.

Perschbacher said he tests milk on 31 farms.

At the height of his career in 1962, Perschbacher tested the milk on 99 farms. The farms are in five counties throughout the area.

He takes samples of the milk and sends them to a computer that gives farmers detailed reports of the milk.

He said his favorite part of his job is the people he works with and catching up with them on his monthly visits to their farms.

The parade starts at 7 p.m.