Families Kröll-Drescher

The Kröll and Drescher families tackle change together

The sun is shining on our visit to the heart of the Wiedtal Valley, drawing scores of day trippers out into nature. It quickly becomes clear what the farmers are working on at the moment: the first cut of grass needs to be brought in for ensiling. But the Kröll and Drescher families in Bremscheid still make time for our visit as hospitality is part of everyday life here. And it’s also part of their business.

On the way to Bremscheid, we are treated to a wonderful view of the Westerwald hills – and there's not a breath of wind over these today. As we enter the village, a small track appears immediately on the right – probably too small for horses. But we’ll find out exactly what this is for later on.

Last year, Hochwald presented Kröll-Drescher GbR with the first ever Hochwald Future Award. They impressed the panel of judges with their ‘Westerwälder Rinderspaß’ (Westerwald Cattle Fun) concept and sparked our interest. What does it take to develop public access, be it children’s parties, experience days or tours, into a line of business. An initial answer is easy to find: it’s the people who represent the farm and who have created this experience for visitors that leave a lasting positive impression. And not just on a sunny day in May either. But as the visit continues, it becomes clear that there are more answers to be found here in Bremscheid. For example, the fact that the focus is always on solutions – and that creative approaches are pretty much the norm here. Perhaps it’s also in part because of the diverse range of people who work together on them.
As the two families began working together, new ideas emerged on how to actively look to the future. PR and opening up farms to the public was already popular as a concept. But why not turn it into a profitable business venture? After all, the farm provides a service that has value for people. And so, the “Westerwälder Rinderspaß” idea was born.

From employee to successor

Marco Drescher is from the region. He doesn’t come from a farming family and made a conscious decision to train as a farmer after leaving school. He then started as an employee at the Kröll family farm in Bremscheid. And this working relationship developed into one of mutual trust. Neither of the Kröll sons were able to take over the farm for health reasons. So, Marco Drescher became part of a civil law partnership in 2020 with the aim of organizing a medium-term takeover of the farm. Important decisions have been made together ever since – always with an eye on the future. Something Georg Kröll and Marco Drescher never lose sight of is flexibility.

Birthdays, experience days and plenty of fun

Overlooking the cowshed is the centerpiece of the Rinderspaß experience: a cozy tent with straw seating. This is where parents can organize a cake break for children’s birthday parties and where Alexandra Drescher organizes arts and crafts activities on experience days like Halloween and Easter. What matters here is that the intention of Westerwälder Rinderspaß isn’t to give talks and teach directly. Children and their parents are encouraged to gather their own experiences through playful activities and getting to know the animals and people on the farm. A concept that makes children active participants during their visit, regardless of whether they come to the farm with prior knowledge or if they want to know why cows are milked. And this is where the track at the village’s entrance comes into the story again. Here the children can really let off steam after much stroking, marveling and discovering. Alexandra and Marco Drescher vary the obstacles depending on the age of the children. It’s a wonderful family day out for everyone at the farm in Bremscheid.

Letting go is part of the future

As we talk, it soon becomes clear that the Rinderspaß project is a venture by the younger family. Georg Kröll candidly confirms this. He listened to their ideas and thought they were good. But he doesn’t see himself as a core part of this project. He’s a dairy farmer who appreciates his cattle. So the demolition of the old milking parlor was a difficult moment for him. It felt like a piece of his career and working life had been lost. But despite all the emotion, he is rationally focusing on developing the farm, including the automatic milking system and new amenities. Such things are sure to be discussed, debated and weighed up when the two families get together each day for either breakfast or lunch. The fact that they are equal partners negotiating the best way forward may well prove an advantage in these discussions. They aren’t bound by family ties but are united in their goal of achieving whatever is best for the future of the farm.

Our perspective is clearer on the way back from Bremscheid, having visited the Kröll and Drescher families. The challenges of farming are more evident, the point of the track at the entrance to the village is now obvious and the optimism in farming has become a little more tangible again. Farming is built on innovation and tradition. Especially in a cooperative like Hochwald.