97 Milk

“Feeding America is no small task. It includes many early mornings and many late nights. Farmers pour their heart and soul into what they do because we take pride in producing clean and safe food for America. For dairy farmers this includes treating all of their cows like V.I.P.s. We strive to ensure they have clean housing, nutritious food, and a safe environment to call home. Farmers will do whatever it takes to make sure the cows are happy and healthy. This includes usually feeding them before we’ve even had anything to eat, losing sleep, canceling plans because cows always make plans of their own. It’s a crazy hectic life but we do it because we care. We care for the consumers and the cows.” -Amy K.

“We are a multi-generational farm in Delaware County NY. We are the small dairy farming family. Our mission is to have cows that are healthy and well cared for, produce safe, clean wholesome milk, and to care for the land and take care of the environment. Our family has done this here on our farm for over 60 years. We plan to continue this dairy operation for years to come. Support is needed and the best way is to buy milk, whole milk, drink milk, encourage others to drink milk!” – Palmer Family

“The wonderful world that I am surrounded by as I walk into our barn. Cows eating their feed, their graceful, dairy necks sloping down as they grab a mouthful from the mound of forages in front of them. The calm, relaxed cows lay, contently, in their stalls, chewing their cud. Maternity pens, with fresh straw, for the mothers in waiting. The miracle of birth, watching the new calf take her first breath and blink her eyes for the first time, lifting a wet head up off the straw. A beautiful sunset over a promising field of green corn. “To be successful the first thing you have to do is fall in love with your work.” Sister Mary Lauretta. My husband and I both started our dairy farm as first time farmers in 2001. We both came from a farm background, with the ambition to start our own. As I think back on the past 18 years of living this lifestyle, I am so thankful for the opportunity we have, and the fact we were able to raise our children around dairy cattle. The love of animals all of our children have is because of this lifestyle. Working to raise healthy, beautiful animals is hard work, but immensely rewarding. It is so special to see our kids excited about a new calf born from a cow they raised as their 4-h project. They have learned that there are hardships and frustrations in farming, but it does make the successes so much sweeter” – Risser Family

“Farming is hard work. It’s even harder when milk prices are low and there isn’t much room for profit. Farmers get a bad rap for how we treat our animals, and people say we’re only concerned about making money. But did you know that most farmers put the needs of their animals before their own? They sacrifice family time or time off to care for their animals? They do everything in their power to ensure each and every single animal has clean housing, fresh water and food, even if that means we cut into our “take home” pay. While you sit down for a meal with your family, or go out for ice cream farmers are always working to produce clean and healthy food. The work never stops. We encourage all of you to talk to your local farmer and ask questions. See for yourself where your food comes from. Also, eat dairy. It does the body good.” – Sheridan Flats Dairy

“We love our cows! We care for them daily by giving them fresh feed twice a day that’s specially formulated by a nutritionist, we provide them with a comfortable environment by providing fresh air with fans and fresh bedding. We also have a licensed veterinary come twice a month just to check on the health of our cows. Our priority is to keep our cows happy and healthy. Our family loves the great tasting milk they make and drink over a gallon of whole milk a day to keep us up and going strong.”

“We are second and third generation dairy farmers. Each of the 75 cows we milk have their own name. Our cow’s health and nutrition is carefully watched and monitored by trusted dairy professionals. Our vision is to continue providing a clean and comfortable environment for our cows so they can produce a high quality milk for our consumers. We enjoy drinking cold, whole milk and you will too!”

“We are a dairy and crop farm located in New Columbia, Union County, PA. My husband and I are 6th and 3rd generation farmers with two great kids that will hopefully, be the next farming generation. The majority of the cow families in our barn originally go back to the cow families in my parents’ and grandparents’ herd. Our cows have been part of the family since 1959. Today, we use a robotic milking system to milk our 60 Registered Holsteins, which are housed in a compost bedded pack barn. Our facility was designed with cow health, cow comfort, and high quality milk production as top priorities. There are few things more enjoyable to us than walking into our quiet, robot barn and watching clean, comfortable cows resting, eating, and milking 100% on their terms. We concentrate on growing high quality forage crops, and maximize their use in the cows’ daily diet. As dairy farmers, we are proud of raising well fed, clean, healthy animals. Our family believes if we provide our cows with the utmost care, they will return the favor by producing high quality, good tasting, nutritious, milk. Lately, margins have been very tight for dairy farmers everywhere. Some people have asked us why we still farm? While economics may dictate a different reality in the future, the truth is, we have a deep love and passion for doing what we do. Honestly, knowing that nothing we have in this life truly belongs to us, we feel privileged that God saw fit to entrust our family with the responsibility of caring for His creation. We immediately fall in love with a newborn calf the moment she is born, and we grieve when we lose the same animal years down the road. There are so many ways farmers witness God working on a daily basis. The greening of spring grass, newly sprouting corn plants in the field, kittens in the hay mow, and rain falling just in time to save the crop from drought are all examples. It’s a powerful reminder that we are not in control, and yet He provides blessings daily. My heart swells when my children look up at me with proud eyes and declare that they will help mommy feed calves or push up TMR to the cows even though they are too small to push that large pile in front of them. I can only pray they will have the opportunity to experience the joy and humility that comes with the task of caring for God’s creation and feeding the world. As farmers, we would like to thank the consumers who buy our products, and in turn, help to ensure the security of the family farm.”

“It is me and my husband, with the help of some hired hands that operate a dairy farm here in Lancaster County. Caring and nurturing the cows has been our fulfillment through the years. The cows are our focus and they literally melt my heart. They sense the affection expressed to them as they are routinely referred to as, ”honey, sweetie, pumpkin, ladies and pretty girls!” It’s amusing to see them at the start of a milking shift, eagerly anticipating the opening of the gate, that allows them to enter the holding area. They run up to wait in line, jumping and grunting and expressing joy in a playful way. They are happy! It’s their play time! They routinely get greeted by the milking staff with scratches to the head and neck rubs as they affectionately like to lick to reciprocate the love. They are family here and we love our cows!”