“We decided to do that, rather than move out like a lot of people were,” Kohler said. “We love where we’re from. Our heritage is here, so we wanted to do something different.”

But, increased density and rising costs of housing were not the only challenges Kohler said his family faced as dairy farmers. Kohler said that the business is naturally unpredictable. With a changing climate on top of that fact, he said consistency is not something to count on.

According to a Yale climate opinion map, 57% of adults in Wasatch County are concerned about global warming. That’s compared to a 64% national average. In the county, 58% think climate change is affecting the weather, but only 40% say they have personally experienced the effects of global warming.

“When I was a kid, it seemed like when we had winters here, you’d have snow that would cover the fences every single year, four feet or five feet of standing snow here in the valleys,” Kohler said. “We’ve gone through some droughts … as long as the snowpack stays up in the mountains, we do okay, but it is something you’re always concerned about.”

Kohler said not getting the water they need creates a domino effect of impacts that alter the farm’s production and economic stability. The last two years, Kohler said water use has not been an issue. But, in 2022 and prior, it was a different story.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the snow water equivalent in 2023 peaked at 30 inches. In 2021 and 2022, the peak was less than half that at around 12 inches. Kohler said, in those years, farmers were told to reduce their water use, which he said then reduced plant growth, which impacted his ability to feed his 100-plus cows. Normally, Kohler said he could buy dairy-grade hay for about $160 a ton. In those years, that price jumped up to $400 or more.

Kohler said that, along with adjusting to changing density, the farm has improved on efficiency and sustainability. He said that, because “happy cows” are more efficient at producing milk, Kohler has what he calls a “cow spa.” The more comfortable a cow is, he said, the better.

Along with leaning into technology, Kohler said they have a soil management plan that keeps them from blindly spreading soil, which aids their water usage and plant growth in turn. And, they’re even embracing a form of tourism.

“To allow the public to come in and experience agriculture and understand some of the challenges we face, and help them get a little taste of what agriculture is all about,” Kohler said. “It helps us economically, obviously, but it also gives us an opportunity to help people understand where we’re coming from when we face challenges in the community.”

To some, farming in the desert may seem like an oxymoron. According to Kohler, the environment is actually an excellent base for crops like alfalfa — a topic that, Kohler said, has caused a bit of the stir because of the assumed water use needed for growth.

“It’s one of the most economically beneficial crops that we can grow because we are so good at it. Alfalfa loves the saltier soils; it likes drier climates; it likes to have enough water, but it can’t have too much,” Kohler said. “Our climate is conducive to that. Most places in the world are not.”

Kohler said that alfalfa is one of most nutritious products for feeding cows, horses, sheep and other livestock.

“The American people can’t survive without protein, and that’s found in livestock agriculture, so we have to provide a way to feed these animals,” Kohler said.

With 125 acres, Kohler said it’s also essential to lean into tactics like regenerative agriculture:

“Regenerative ag for me means forming practices that are less impactful on the environment but more efficient in producing food to further our communities,” Kohler said, adding that he uses methods like no-till technology, which doesn’t disturb the natural biome or produce a dust problem. “Farmers across the country are very interested in finding more efficient ways to do things so that we can maximize the use of our resources for everybody around us.”

Kohler said environmental challenges and obstacles from urbanization and made it more difficult for farmers in the area and often forces the choice of selling their land or moving to a more rural space to farm. His goal, especially with agricultural tourism, is to show his community just how important farming is to the area.

“I would hope that when people walk away, they realize the impact that agriculture has on our lives every single day,” Kohler said. “Our hope is that people recognize the importance of it, why we do what we do and why some of these challenges threaten what we do.”

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