Growing Dairy Family Partners For Success • DAVELEFEVER Lancaster Farming Stuff GETTYSBURG (Adams Co.) In 1970, John and Bonnie Hess and their three young children moved from Lancaster County onto a farm they had pur chased a few miles east of Gettysburg. They began with a milking herd of about 50 cows. Now daughter Josie Riser, son John Hess, and son-in law Dale Brown are partners with John and Bonnie in Jobo Holstein Farms, L.L.C. an operation that in cludes a milking herd of about 500 cows, 1,000 acres of corn and alfalfa, custom forage harvesting, and custom TMR mixing for about 300 additional cows on local dairy farms. Since moving onto the farm in 1970, the Hess family grew to include two more children. Joy, the youngest, is working fulltime on the farm, and daughter Jayne Sebright continues to be involved in the dairy industry as an employee of Land O’ Lakes Cooperative. In August of this year, Jobo Holstein Farms was one of two Pennsylvania dairy farms recognized by the Pennsylvania Dairy Stakeholders with the organiza tion’s Pacesetter Award. According to N. Alan Bair of the Stakeholders, the organization was created six years ago “to facilitate Claws • Shells • Automatic Takeoffs • Vacuum Pumps Receiver Groups • Bucket Milkers Circuit Board Repairs E-ZEE MILKING EQUIPMENT, LLC BUY - SELL - TRADE Many Brands and Models of Good Used Equipment USED and REBUILT MILKING EQUIPMENT LARGE INVENTORY OF NEW AND USED PARTS 3910 E. Newport Rd. • Cordonville, PA 17529 717-768-7599 the viability and expansion of the dairy industry in Pennsylvania.” . With 56 corporate members and a mailing list oi about 900, the Stakeholders are involved in all aspects of the the industry “from cows to consumers,” Bair said. . Pacesetter Awards are given to nominees who excel in the areas of vision, innovation, progressiveness, ex cellence of performance, and uniqueness. The award was created last year “to recognize individuals and or ganizations who have contributed significantly to cre ating a positive image of the Pennsylvania dairy industry.” Bonnie Hess said that expansion projects on Jobo Farm over the years were done with the goal of provid ing a livelihood for future generations of the family on the farm. These include a new freestall barn built four years ago and a double-10 milking parlor that is ex pandable to a double-18. Another improvement planned for the near future is to upgrade the lagoon manure storage system on the farm. A separator system will be installed to remove the liquids for storage, said partner Dale Brown. Brown and Josie Hess Riser manage the dairy herd, (Turn to Page 12)
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