southwest michigan
When Robots Milk Cows, Farm Families Taste Freedom
Robots have arrived at Bill and Carol Shuler's farm near Baroda, Mich., and life has taken a turn for the better. "It absolutely changes your lifestyle. It gives you a life!" says Bill Shuler. For decades -- for the entire time that Bill and Carol have been married, in fact -- the Shuler family's routine was practically set in stone: Get up at 3:45 a.m., clean the barn, feed the cows and milk them. Then get breakfast and take care of other work around the farm.