The Balzer family moved their cows into the tunnel ventilated free-stall barn with two robotic milkers on Aug. 24 after spending about four years studying options.

They milk cows in a tie-stall barn that was built to replace a barn built that caught fire in 2006. The fire began with a spark inside sawdust stored for cow bedding.

The project will change the tie stalls to free stalls. The cows will also be kept warm in the winter with the updated facilitates, Foltz said. “It’s very comfortable for the animals,” Foltz ...