Building a Dairy Legacy: Prososki Family Farms

At Prososki Family Farms in Wausau, Wisconsin, a state-of-the-art dairy barn demonstrates how thoughtful facility design and advanced ventilation can create an environment built around herd health and the farm’s vision for the future.

Have you ever walked into a dairy barn and thought the cows looked genuinely happy?
Walking into the new barn at Prososki Family Farm, that was one of my first thoughts.

There is an unmistakable sense of calm throughout the facility. The cows are comfortable, the temperature feels remarkably consistent, and the movement of air throughout the barn is noticeable without being overwhelming. You can immediately tell this was a facility designed with purpose. But what makes this barn special goes well beyond what you can see. It represents the Prososki family’s long-term vision for their dairy operation, and a belief that creating the right environment for the herd can play an important role in unlocking its full potential.

Designing Around the Cow

For a modern dairy operation, ventilation is about far more than moving air. Heat stress and poor environmental conditions can affect comfort, behavior and productivity. That makes climate control an important part of designing a facility where cows can perform at their best. The Prososki family approached their new barn with that philosophy in mind. Built by Fox Cities Builders, the state-of-the-art facility brings together progressive dairy design, advanced ventilation technology and the Prososki family’s deep understanding of dairy cattle.

Fox Cities Builders and Aerotech worked collaboratively to develop the ventilation strategy for the new barn. Jonathan Chalupa, Aerotech Sales Representative and ventilation expert, designed a tunnel ventilation system engineered to achieve the targeted air changes throughout the facility while supporting consistent airflow across the herd. Above the stall beds, strategically positioned circulation fans provide high-velocity air directly within the cows’ resting environment, helping support cooling where it matters most. The ventilation system incorporates Aerotech CX74, AX51, Vortex74, AX48 and GB24 fans, along with BI inlets. Rather than operating as individual pieces of equipment, the components are managed through a ventilation controller designed to help the entire system work together as one integrated climate strategy. The result is an environment designed around one fundamental priority: the cow.

Cow Comfort Is More Than a Design Feature

The experience of walking through the Prososki barn reinforces an important principle in modern dairy production: the environment surrounding the cow matters. Air speed. Air exchange. Temperature. Humidity. Stall comfort. Ventilation. Each of these plays a role in the overall environment of the herd. When ventilation is designed correctly, it can help producers create more consistent conditions throughout the barn and support their broader goals around health and performance. At Prososki Family Farm, that philosophy is built into the facility itself. And the family’s ambitions are significant. In the farm’s case study video, co-owner Luke Prososki shares a goal of doubling milk production within the next five years. It is an ambitious target, but one the family believes is achievable in part because of the way this new facility was designed. The barn isn’t just simply being built for today’s herd, it is infrastructure for where the Prososki family wants to take the dairy next.

A Partnership Built Over Time

The new facility also represents the continuation of an established relationship. This is the second barn project where the Prososki family, Fox Cities Builders and Aerotech have partnered to create an environment designed around the needs of the dairy operation. That kind of collaboration matters. The best ventilation solutions aren’t developed by looking at a fan in isolation. They begin by understanding the building, the animals, the producer’s goals and how every component of the ventilation system will work together. For this project, Fox Cities Builders’ Jason Ullmer, Agricultural Sales Consultant, worked alongside Aerotech’s Jonathan Chalupa and the Prososki family to translate those needs into a complete ventilation strategy. It is a partnership centered not simply on supplying equipment, but on solving the environment inside the barn.

Legacy Rooted in Genetics, Animal Care and Innovation

Innovation isn’t new to the Prososki family. Dr. John Prososki’s work extends beyond the dairy through Wittenberg Embryo Transfer, where genetics and reproductive technology have long played an important role in the family’s approach to advancing dairy cattle.

That history makes the new facility particularly meaningful. Years of attention to genetics and animal management are now paired with a barn designed to provide the environmental conditions those animals need to reach their potential. The connection is simple but powerful: exceptional genetics still require an exceptional environment. That philosophy was evident years ago when Dr. Prososki discussed the importance of calf care and genetics, emphasizing that animals can only realize their genetic potential when supported by excellent care and management. Today, the new Prososki Dairy barn represents the next evolution of that thinking.

Building for the Next Generation of Dairy

The future of dairy production will require producers to continually find ways to improve efficiency while keeping animal health and comfort at the center of their operations.

At Prososki Dairy Farm, that future is already taking shape. From the rotary milking parlor and advanced facility design to the integrated ventilation strategy moving air throughout the barn, every element contributes to a larger vision. It is a vision built around healthy cows. A more productive herd. A better working environment. And a dairy operation positioned for generations to come. For Aerotech, being part of that journey is what partnership is all about. Because great ventilation isn’t simply about moving air.

It’s about creating the right environment for animals and the people who care for them to thrive.

Learn more at
World Dairy Expo 2026

Dr. John Prososki is scheduled to join Aerotech at World Dairy Expo 2026 in Madison, Wisconsin. He will discuss the important role ventilation plays in dairy herd health during a Knowledge Nook educational session Tuesday September 29 at 9:30AM (Knowledge Nook – World Dairy Expo). We invite dairy producers, builders and industry partners to join us and hear firsthand how thoughtful ventilation and facility design can help create an environment where dairy operations can reach their full potential.

Knowledge Nook
World Dairy EXPO