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Young Dairy Producers of Kentucky is a group formed by the Kentucky Dairy Development Council for those wanting to grow in the dairy industry. KDDC recognizes that the future of dairy in Kentucky relies on the next generation and hopes this group will bring together and support a community of people focused on progressive management, continued learning, and a drive to succeed in the industry.
Young Dairy Producers will be open to individuals between the ages of 18-35 who are establishing themselves in the dairy industry, including farm owners and employees, industry members, and students. Meetings and events will be farmer-focused and varied to meet the needs and interests of members, and will include in-person meetings, calls, and farm tours. We would love to have you involved! |
Upcoming EventsSeptember - Virtual Event TBA
November 10 - Farm Tour with Indiana Producers 8:45 CT - Western Kentucky University SmartHolstein Lab 11:00 - Chaney's and lunch 2:30 - Coral Hill Dairy 5:30 - Dinner at Gondolier in Glasgow Join Us on FacebookThe Young Dairy Producers of Kentucky Facebook group was created to strengthen the community of dairy producers in Kentucky. It is open to Young Producers and beyond.
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Questions or comments on YDPK? Contact Tori Embry at 859-516-1966 or tembry@kydairy.org
Value-added done differently on dairies in Western Kentucky.
On July 13, the Young Dairy Producers of Kentucky toured operations in Western Kentucky that focused on different aspects of value-added production. Our first stop was to Enos Stoltfuz’s dairy farm, where he has been milking at the current location since 2016. In 2021, Enos switched markets and started shipping milk to his neighbor, Country View Creamery. Since then, many of his decisions around his farming operation are with the creamery in mind. Enos stated that “most of what we do revolves around the creamery” including their current transition from Holstein to Jersey cows to take advantage of the higher protein yields and heat tolerance. Enos also raises tobacco, laying hens, mums, and other crops that support the creamery. Enos showed us how successful producers can strategically grow and adapt to fit their market to create a mutually beneficial relationship.
After lunch at Country View Creamery, we were offered a tour by Omar Stoltzfus. Country View purchases all of their milk from dairies within 5 miles of their location and is currently processing cheese 2-3 days of the week. They have customers throughout the state and beyond, with products being sold under their Country View Creamery label, as well as under private labels. Omar said the goal of the creamery is to support local farmers and he values the different relationships they have with other companies that help the creamery meet that goal. Country View is a refreshing view of a market that focuses on supporting local farmers and other businesses within their industry.
Our last stop of the day was at Mark Hoover’s farm. This included a variety of operations, the first being a dairy farm operated by Mark’s son. The dairy milks about 100 Holsteins housed in a freestall barn. All cows are AI’ed to ABS InFocus beef bulls and replacements are bought from other operations, a decision based on the economics of selling high-quality beef-on-dairy calves and replacing with quality springers as needed. This breeding strategy also supports Mark’s beef-on-dairy feeding operation. Here, Mark will buy calves at 400-500 pounds and fatten them out to around 1200 pounds to sell at the packing plant. He’s had success with this venture with high quality carcass results and hopes to keep expanding. He attributes this success to not only good, reliable genetics like those found using ABS InFocus or Select Sires Profit Source bulls, but also from buying calves that have been well-managed and fed correctly prior to receiving them. Besides the cattle, Mark also has a custom soybean roasting business where he provides several customers with ground, rolled, or whole roasted soybeans to fit their needs. This operation is a great example of strategic management from beginning to end to produce high-quality products.
We appreciate the producers that took the time to show us around their operations, as well as those young farmers that attended the tour. News and updates on future events will be posted on our Facebook page and mailed to members.
On July 13, the Young Dairy Producers of Kentucky toured operations in Western Kentucky that focused on different aspects of value-added production. Our first stop was to Enos Stoltfuz’s dairy farm, where he has been milking at the current location since 2016. In 2021, Enos switched markets and started shipping milk to his neighbor, Country View Creamery. Since then, many of his decisions around his farming operation are with the creamery in mind. Enos stated that “most of what we do revolves around the creamery” including their current transition from Holstein to Jersey cows to take advantage of the higher protein yields and heat tolerance. Enos also raises tobacco, laying hens, mums, and other crops that support the creamery. Enos showed us how successful producers can strategically grow and adapt to fit their market to create a mutually beneficial relationship.
After lunch at Country View Creamery, we were offered a tour by Omar Stoltzfus. Country View purchases all of their milk from dairies within 5 miles of their location and is currently processing cheese 2-3 days of the week. They have customers throughout the state and beyond, with products being sold under their Country View Creamery label, as well as under private labels. Omar said the goal of the creamery is to support local farmers and he values the different relationships they have with other companies that help the creamery meet that goal. Country View is a refreshing view of a market that focuses on supporting local farmers and other businesses within their industry.
Our last stop of the day was at Mark Hoover’s farm. This included a variety of operations, the first being a dairy farm operated by Mark’s son. The dairy milks about 100 Holsteins housed in a freestall barn. All cows are AI’ed to ABS InFocus beef bulls and replacements are bought from other operations, a decision based on the economics of selling high-quality beef-on-dairy calves and replacing with quality springers as needed. This breeding strategy also supports Mark’s beef-on-dairy feeding operation. Here, Mark will buy calves at 400-500 pounds and fatten them out to around 1200 pounds to sell at the packing plant. He’s had success with this venture with high quality carcass results and hopes to keep expanding. He attributes this success to not only good, reliable genetics like those found using ABS InFocus or Select Sires Profit Source bulls, but also from buying calves that have been well-managed and fed correctly prior to receiving them. Besides the cattle, Mark also has a custom soybean roasting business where he provides several customers with ground, rolled, or whole roasted soybeans to fit their needs. This operation is a great example of strategic management from beginning to end to produce high-quality products.
We appreciate the producers that took the time to show us around their operations, as well as those young farmers that attended the tour. News and updates on future events will be posted on our Facebook page and mailed to members.
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The Young Dairy Producers of Kentucky is off and running! (Milk Matters, May/June 2023)
On March 13, YDPK hosted it’s first event: a tour of farms around Lebanon. The tour included 3 stops and began at the Riney Dairy, owned and operated by Billy and John Riney. John showed us around a few barns, including one housing milk cows with a pen of freestalls and a pen with a compost bedded pack. John remarked on how he liked the flexibility of having both types of housing in one barn and has plans to expand with a similar barn in the future. We finished up at this stop by going through the calf barn where John discussed how he’s adjusted to his recently installed Lely automatic milk feeders and group housing.
After a quick lunch with the group, we stopped at Bill Mattingly’s farm. Bill milked cows for years before converting his facilities to custom raise heifers. Heifers are housed in compost bedded pack barns and fed a TMR. Bill receives heifers when they’re around 400-500 lbs and will raise them until breeding age, at which point they are moved to another farm that breeds and raises them out until close to calving.
Our last stop for the day was at the Jones Dairy, owned and operated by Tim, Kim, and their daughter Brittany Jones. Brittany showed us the swing parlor, where she explained how the style of the parlor made milking an easy one-man job. Housing included a freestall barn and compost bedded pack barn. Cows are fed corn silage from silos using a conveyor and Tim commented on how the efficiency of this system was a significant advantage for their farm. The Jones’ are strategically using beef on dairy, creating crossbred calves with a wagyu bull in cooperation with a local wagyu breeder.
These 3 stops included a range of facilities and management styles, interesting conversations between attendees, and plenty of info to take back to the farm.
Later that week, 2 of the founding members of YDPK Thomas Sumner and John Riney, as well as KDDC consultants Jennifer Hickerson and Tori Embry attended the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin Annual Business Conference to bring back some ideas for Kentucky farms and our organization. We returned from this trip impressed not only by the scale and pride of the PDPW organization, but also by the cutting-edge advancements that our industry is making so dairies can farm more efficiently and productively.
On March 13, YDPK hosted it’s first event: a tour of farms around Lebanon. The tour included 3 stops and began at the Riney Dairy, owned and operated by Billy and John Riney. John showed us around a few barns, including one housing milk cows with a pen of freestalls and a pen with a compost bedded pack. John remarked on how he liked the flexibility of having both types of housing in one barn and has plans to expand with a similar barn in the future. We finished up at this stop by going through the calf barn where John discussed how he’s adjusted to his recently installed Lely automatic milk feeders and group housing.
After a quick lunch with the group, we stopped at Bill Mattingly’s farm. Bill milked cows for years before converting his facilities to custom raise heifers. Heifers are housed in compost bedded pack barns and fed a TMR. Bill receives heifers when they’re around 400-500 lbs and will raise them until breeding age, at which point they are moved to another farm that breeds and raises them out until close to calving.
Our last stop for the day was at the Jones Dairy, owned and operated by Tim, Kim, and their daughter Brittany Jones. Brittany showed us the swing parlor, where she explained how the style of the parlor made milking an easy one-man job. Housing included a freestall barn and compost bedded pack barn. Cows are fed corn silage from silos using a conveyor and Tim commented on how the efficiency of this system was a significant advantage for their farm. The Jones’ are strategically using beef on dairy, creating crossbred calves with a wagyu bull in cooperation with a local wagyu breeder.
These 3 stops included a range of facilities and management styles, interesting conversations between attendees, and plenty of info to take back to the farm.
Later that week, 2 of the founding members of YDPK Thomas Sumner and John Riney, as well as KDDC consultants Jennifer Hickerson and Tori Embry attended the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin Annual Business Conference to bring back some ideas for Kentucky farms and our organization. We returned from this trip impressed not only by the scale and pride of the PDPW organization, but also by the cutting-edge advancements that our industry is making so dairies can farm more efficiently and productively.
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