July 31, 2008 (Reston, Va.) – Nothing draws young farmers like the allure of farm tours, a boat ride and a scoop or two of ice cream.  Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative can attest to that!  The cooperative’s Annual Young Cooperator (YC) Summer Break held last week drew a record crowd of 65 attendees from six states to Rocky Mount, Va. 

Maryland & Virginia drew a record crowd of young farm families for the Annual Young Cooperator Summer Break. 

Featuring stops at two progressive dairy farms, a lunch-boat tour of Smith Mountain Lake and a stop at Homestead Creamery for a plant tour and a taste of ice cream, the Summer Break hit the spot with attendees.  “We had a blast,” remarked attendee Clint Burkholder from Chambersburg, Pa.  “Andrew [his son] loved seeing all the tractors and trucks and Emma [his daughter] could not get enough ice cream.  Kara [his wife] and I always enjoy seeing different farms and we look forward to getting to know other farmers our age.”

The group started early with a tour of Jareco Farm located in Penhook, Va.  Operated by James Cook and his wife Jennifer, Jareco Farm is known for their top quality registered Holstein genetics.  Currently milking just over 300 head, the Cooks gave YCs the grand tour of the heifer facilities and milking parlor.  James answered questions on employee relations, heifer rearing and computer management technologies.  The youngsters in the group particularly enjoyed sitting on the tractors and seeing the baby calves.

The YCs then took a short bus ride over to Hammock Dairy in Moneta, Va., operated by Lindy Hammock and family.  Lindy’s son Nathan greeted YCs and gave the group an overview of the farm’s history outlining its growth and expansion to its current milking herd of 700 cows.  Nathan’s wife Jackie, daughter Mary and his mother Betty Jane were all on hand to explain the various facilities and management practices as the YCs explored the dairy barns, the double-10 herringbone parlor and heifer facilities. 

To escape the mid-day heat, YCs enjoyed a refreshing lunch-boat ride on Smith Mountain Lake.  Everyone appreciated the refreshing breeze on deck and the youngsters enjoyed talking to the boat captain and watching him steer the boat.

Homestead Creamery in Wirtz, Va., was the last tour stop of the day.  YCs visited the processing plant to observe the bottling process before swinging by the creamery store for a refreshing scoop or two of ice cream.  The creamery specializes in glass bottling including a non-homogenized cream-line milk, plus it is also know for its delicious and varied ice creams flavors.  Owned and supplied by Maryland & Virginia members David Bowers and Donnie Montgomery, the creamery markets their excess raw milk through the cooperative. 

Capping off the day, YCs gathered at Waid Park for a relaxing pizza party dinner and the opportunity to reflect and discuss what they saw during the day.

“We try really hard to put together a fun day, with tours of diverse operations and businesses that our members will enjoy,” reports Corporate Communications Manager Amber DuMont.  “Making the day family friendly is a top priority and as we’ve seen the event grow in popularity each year, it means we must be doing something right.”

Maryland & Virginia's YC Summer Break is a day-long family-oriented event that gives the cooperative’s future leaders the opportunity to experience a variety of farming styles.  YCs have the opportunity to befriend fellow young farmers between the ages of 18 and 40 and to discuss dairy industry and cooperative issues in a relaxed atmosphere.  To become a YC, contact Maryland & Virginia’s communications department at 1-800-552-1976.

Member Andrew Burkholder, of Chambersburg, Pa., loves all sorts of big equipment. He could not resist trying out one of many tractors he saw during Maryland & Virginia’s YC Summer Break last week in Rocky Mount, Va.

Dairy farmer Nathan Hammock of Moneta, Va., spends time discussing his herd management practices with YCs Matt and Jenny Moyer from Manns Choice, Pa.

Does that feel good? Rachel Gray, Stony Point, N.C., gives a Holstein calf a friendly scratch at Jareco Farm in Pennhook, Va.

The Satterwhite Family of Newberry, S.C., agrees nothing puts a smile on your face like a delicious ice cream cone from Homestead Creamery in Wirtz, Va. (l-r) Kevin, Austin, Jennifer and Dylan.

YC Mark Mosemann of Warfordsburg, Pa., thanks dairy farmer James Cook (left) of Pennhook, Va., for his hospitality and willingness to share his 300-cow operation with Maryland & Virginia’s YCs.

Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers is a milk marketing and processing cooperative that represents 1,500 dairy farmer-owners from Pennsylvania to Georgia.  The cooperative includes three fluid processing plants: Marva Maid in Newport News, Va., Marva Maid of Landover, Md., and Maola Milk and Ice Cream in New Bern, N.C.; manufacturing plants in Laurel, Md., and Strasburg, Va.; and a farm supply business in Frederick, Md.