Today marked the end of an era for our family. Gary's family has been dairying (big or small) for over 100 years. He still has cousins that dairy, but our branch of the family tree has ceased being members of the dairy industry. It was a hard decision to make and a lot of thought went into the decision. Gary, his father, Afton, and brother Paul put in a bid on a dairy cooperative buy-out. We weren't sure the bid would get accepted, but it did. There were only 6 dairies and 900 cows accepted in Utah. We were one of the dairies and we had about half of the cows. All the cows were sent to slaughter and the last truck load of cows left the barn today.
It is kind of bittersweet...his family has done it for so long that it is a little sad to see it all end. But, we really are more happy that we are out of the dairy business. The price we were getting for our milk is the same price they were getting in the 1950s. With corn, fuel, and hay prices at an all-time high - there was just no way to keep going without getting further and further into debt. So, we decided the time was right. I don't want to sound depressed because that can't be further from the truth. It is actually a day of rejoicing and it feels like a big burden has been lifted.
It is kind of bittersweet...his family has done it for so long that it is a little sad to see it all end. But, we really are more happy that we are out of the dairy business. The price we were getting for our milk is the same price they were getting in the 1950s. With corn, fuel, and hay prices at an all-time high - there was just no way to keep going without getting further and further into debt. So, we decided the time was right. I don't want to sound depressed because that can't be further from the truth. It is actually a day of rejoicing and it feels like a big burden has been lifted.
Gary, Afton, and Paul are going to venture further into the ranching business - beef cattle, calves, and farming. It is a little scary to start something new, but we are looking forward to the "non-dairy" life. I decided to chronicle the last day of "Morgan Dairy" - so here are many pictures of the last of the cows leaving our dairy...
Jason with Grandpa Morgan at the barn.
The dairy barn.
Empty corrals
The empty milking parlor at the dairy barn...never to be used by us again!
Waiting to load the trucks.
In the dairy corrals
Herding the cows.
Jason on top of the fence herding cows into the chute.
One of the trucks used in hauling the cows.
Cows being loaded into the semi.
The other two semis waiting their turn to load the cattle.
Herding the cows.
Jason in the dairy corral.
Jason, Gary, Gary's dad - Afton, and Gary's brother - Paul right after the last of the cows at the dairy were hauled away.
1 comment:
Good luck with the new venture!
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