In this episode of Building with Metal, host Kathi Miller interviews Jason Habeck and Dan Ullmer from Fox Cities Builders, a Wisconsin-based construction company specializing in agricultural and commercial buildings. The discussion covers their unique approach to custom barn construction, including innovative robot milking facilities and rotary parlors. They emphasize building strong customer relationships through collaborative planning and attention to detail.
The team shares insights about a recent 18-month project involving an 80-cow rotary parlor for Pasenen Farms in Ladysmith, Wisconsin, highlighting their commitment to creating long-term partnerships and adapting to evolving agricultural technologies throughout their 25-year history.
Jason Habeck: "Our goal is to honestly do what's best for the customer, align our core values with the customer's vision, and really try to hone in on their process and achieve their goals and objectives."
Dan Ullmer: "When those challenges come up, how we handle them. How we work through those with the customers, because inevitably, in construction, you're gonna have challenges."
Jason Habeck: "You can either be the person that runs into the storm or try to be the person that runs away from the storm. The storm eventually catches up with you, but in the reality of it, when that storm catches up to you, it's a bigger storm."
How robot barns work and their impact on modern dairy farming efficiency •
The difference between rotary parlors and traditional milking systems •
Fox Cities Builders' unique approach to custom agricultural construction projects •
The importance of creating "negotiables" and "non-negotiables" during the design process •
How collaborative planning and relationship-building lead to successful construction projects •
The role of company culture in employee retention and project success •
Real-world examples of overcoming construction challenges through teamwork •
How modern agricultural technologies are changing barn design and functionality •
The 18-month planning process for complex agricultural facilities •
Strategies for future-proofing agricultural buildings for expansion and growth
[00:02] Introduction to Fox Cities Builders - Company overview, location in Seymour, Wisconsin, and 25-year history serving agricultural and commercial markets across Wisconsin and neighboring states.
[05:30] Deep dive into agricultural construction - Discussion of robot barns, rotary parlors, and various animal confinement buildings. Explanation of how robotic milking systems work and their efficiency benefits.
[12:45] What sets Fox Cities Builders apart - Focus on aligning processes with customer vision, attention to detail, and building long-term partnerships through trust and transparent communication.
[18:20] Company culture and labor challenges - How Fox Cities Builders maintains low turnover through collaboration, internal relationships, and team-focused approach to projects.
[22:10] Book discussion - "Extreme Ownership" and quarterly training programs that emphasize taking ownership of projects and running toward challenges rather than away from them.
[26:35] Pasenen Farms project spotlight - Detailed discussion of 18-month planning and 9-month construction of 80-cow rotary parlor facility in Ladysmith, Wisconsin, including design challenges and solutions.
[35:40] Rotary parlor explanation - Technical details about how carousel milking systems work, efficiency gains, and cow comfort considerations in modern dairy facility design.
[42:15] Project planning process - Importance of identifying "negotiables" vs "non-negotiables" early in design phase, financial considerations, and future expansion planning.
[47:20] Construction challenges and solutions - Team approach to problem-solving, maintaining customer relationships throughout construction, and continuous support beyond project completion.
[52:25] Future outlook and contact information - Discussion of busy 2026 schedule, growth in rotary parlor projects, and how to connect with Fox Cities Builders through website and social media.
In the heart of Wisconsin's dairy country, Fox Cities Builders has spent 25 years perfecting the art of agricultural construction. What started as a small company in Seymour, Wisconsin, has grown into a trusted partner for farmers across the Midwest, specializing in everything from traditional barn construction to cutting-edge robotic milking facilities.
Jason Habeck and Dan Ullmer from Fox Cities Builders recently shared their insights on the Building with Metal podcast, revealing what makes their approach unique in an industry often dominated by standardized solutions. "Our goal is to honestly do what's best for the customer, align our core values with the customer's vision, and really try to hone in on their process and achieve their goals and objectives," Habeck explains.
This philosophy becomes particularly important when dealing with modern agricultural technologies. Robot barns, for instance, represent a significant departure from traditional dairy operations. These facilities feature automated milking systems where cows voluntarily enter robotic stations, reducing the human element while maintaining high efficiency. Each robot can handle 60 to 65 animals, creating what Ullmer describes as "a very leisurely environment" for the cattle.
What truly sets Fox Cities Builders apart is its commitment to understanding each client's journey. Habeck emphasizes the importance of learning "where they've been, what the history of the farm is, where they are now, and where they're going, because that plays a huge role in how we set up their facility and what conversations we have moving forward."
This approach proved invaluable during their recent project with in Ladysmith, Wisconsin. The 18-month planning process involved extensive touring of existing facilities, multiple planning meetings, and careful consideration of both immediate needs and future expansion possibilities. "When those challenges come up, how we handle them. How we work through those with the customers, because inevitably, in construction, you're gonna have challenges," Ullmer notes.
The Pasenen Farms project showcases the evolution of dairy technology through its 80-cow rotary parlor system. This innovative approach allows animals to step onto a moving carousel platform where they're milked during a seven to eight-minute ride. The efficiency gains are remarkable: what once took the family seven and a half hours in their old parlor now takes just two and a half hours after the initial learning curve.
The facility accommodates 1,000 animals in stalls with a 500-cow holding area, representing a significant upgrade from their previous setup. The farm doubled their herd size to just under 2,000 animals, demonstrating the scalability that modern agricultural construction can provide.
Fox Cities Builders' success stems from more than just technical expertise. Their company culture emphasizes collaboration and shared ownership of every project. "I enjoy the heck out of everybody I work with here at Fox Cities Builders," Habeck shares, highlighting how internal relationships translate to external success.
The company implements quarterly training programs, recently focusing on "Extreme Ownership," which reinforces their philosophy of confronting challenges head-on. As Habeck puts it, "You can either be the person that runs into the storm or try to be the person that runs away from the storm. The storm eventually catches up with you, but in the reality of it, when that storm catches up to you, it's a bigger storm."
One of Fox Cities Builders' most valuable services is helping clients distinguish between "negotiables" and "non-negotiables" during the design phase. This framework ensures that essential elements remain intact even when budget constraints require adjustments. The approach prevents the painful process of cutting crucial features late in the planning stage.
The Pasenen Farms project exemplified this strategy. The facility was designed within a single structure rather than the typical separated parlor and barn configuration, optimizing both construction costs and operational efficiency. Future expansion capabilities were built into the design, allowing the family to add cow groups easily as their operation grows.
With a busy 2026 already on the books, Fox Cities Builders continues to see strong demand for rotary parlor systems and other advanced agricultural technologies. The growth reflects broader trends in Wisconsin's dairy industry, where efficiency and animal welfare improvements drive continued investment in modern facilities.
"Farm people are just good people," Ullmer observes, highlighting the personal connections that make their work rewarding. "Their success is our success, right? We're putting our name on their facility."
This partnership mindset, combined with technical expertise and a willingness to embrace new technologies, positions Fox Cities Builders as more than just a construction company. They're partners in the evolution of American agriculture, helping family farms compete in an increasingly complex and technological landscape.
For farmers considering facility upgrades or new construction, Fox Cities Builders offers a model of how construction partnerships should work: comprehensive planning, transparent communication, and a shared commitment to long-term success. As they continue building across Wisconsin and beyond, they're not just constructing buildings – they're building the future of agriculture itself.