“The further backward you look, the further forward you can see.”—Winston Churchill
At any given time of the day, dairy farms across the U.S. are running in a therapeutic type of rhythm. Pulsators hum in the parlor, TMR mixers whir as feeders prepare to deliver a fresh ration, a computer mouse clacks against the office desk as herd managers review daily cow activity. The sun rises, the sun sets, and milk is produced.
At times, it seems like we’ve been dairy farming this way longer than we really have. The ease at which we’ve adopted some technologies that have transformed our industry is remarkable and the envy of other agricultural sectors – both here and afar.
We are fortunate to be a part of an industry that never rests, aching for improvements yet wise enough to know that every strong step forward doesn’t come without first looking back. We wouldn’t have the efficacy and efficiency of modern milking equipment had Anna Baldwin not developed the hygienic glove milker on her New Jersey farm in 1879, we wouldn’t have the diverse revenue opportunities of today had breeding tactics not evolved with artificial insemination in the ’40s, and I’d be remiss not to mention the Capper-Volstead Act of 1922, which became a crucial platform for dairy farmers to sell milk as part of cooperatives.
Doyle Waybright sums it up well: “I see that as what would be really surprising to our ancestors is how we have been able to have the freedom and the ability to be successful. From innovative ways to improving the stewardship of the soils, improving the efficiency of the operations and building a very productive dairy herd through genetics along the way so that the next generation of the family can succeed.”
In a few short days, we’ll be celebrating the Fourth of July and commemorating 250 years since our Founding Fathers had a vision for the United States of America with guidelines and a moral compass every citizen could abide by. Here at Progressive Dairy, we’re also commemorating one of the longest-standing, most humble jobs Americans have ever known and are looking back at the rich history that has shaped today’s U.S. dairy industry.
In this issue, we’re taking you on a journey through the years. We share Waybright’s family’s story of dairy farming on the Mason-Dixon Line. We go back in time to the very first settlers establishing their small, personal dairy herds and record a progression of some of the most pivotal moments for the U.S. dairy industry. We explore Ed Larson’s Grandpa’s Farm museum which brings dairy artifacts to life. And we highlight companies who proudly serve American dairy farmers with their American-made products.
The development of the U.S. dairy industry over the course of 250 years is no doubt a gratifying one, as each step has led us to this progressive, innovative and abounding industry that we all know and cherish today. May the U.S. dairy industry continue to prosper as our Founding Fathers envisioned through the freedoms of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
