[This blog post is part of The Farm Project and showcases a few photos from my spring visit to Al-Mara Farm in Midland, Virginia. Visit my photography website to see all the photos from this photo shoot. ~ Andrea]
Life on a modern dairy farm is not easy and there are are number of obstacles to success, including weather, illness, the vagaries of the milk market, and rising costs to run the farm. And even with all this, many families continue running a dairy farm because it’s a way of life. You have to love cows. I learned all of this during a visit to Al-Mara Farm (view the photo gallery) in Midland, Virginia as a guest of the Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association. Michael and I both were able to go, and we spent the day learning about the Leonard family and the dairy operation as well as the other side of their business, an agritainment venture they dubbed Cows-n-Corn that brings visitors to the farm to play, go on hayrides, and learn about the animals on the farm. Patty Leonard led the tour along with Lisa Perrin from the dairy association, and we had a wonderful time getting to know them and the farm and sample the fabulous homemade ice cream which is sold at Cows-n-Corn.
The Leonard family has had the property since the 1930s and has been running a dairy farm since 1954. With a herd of about 300 cows to milk, they work the farm every day of the year along with a handful of employees. The cows roam about freely and can wander into the milk parlor anytime they need to be milked. The pregnant cows are in a separate pasture the family affectionately calls “Club Med, “ and the cows that are due within a couple weeks get to rest in their own separate area where they can be watched carefully. The family is dedicated to their cows and have named a number of them.
We got an insider view of the running of the farm, including the mix of raw ingredients that make up the feed, the milking process, a detailed explanation of how they keep track of each individual cow and her health, visiting the calves, and the economics of running the farm. Cows-n-Corn is an important part of it all and helps keep the farm afloat. We were able to wander through “Club Med” and meet some of the cows and see their personalities. Some were very curious and walked closer to investigate us and the truck, others were more interested in relaxing in the sunshine.
The milk parlor uses modern equipment that automates the milking process and track the health of the cow as well as the amount of milk each cow produces. Keeping the milk and equipment free of contamination is a high priority, so each cow’s udders are cleaned before hooking her up to the milking machine. I had a chance to practice my limited dairy farming skills and hook up a couple of cows, which turned out well except when the tip of one of my sterile gloves got sucked into the milking machine and I had to tug hard to release it, drawing laughs from the group. In every way the experience was quite different from childhood when I tried milking with my great grandmother. That was all done by hand, and I was a bit scared of the cow that seemed huge to this young girl.
Now that I’ve had an up-close experience on a dairy farm, I’ll never look at milk and other dairy products in the same way ever again. As Michael said to Patty and Lisa, now that I understand all the work that goes into producing milk, I’ll take time to savor each glass I drink from now on.
What a great experience, and how nice that Michael had the chance to share the day with you. And to think that when we were kids, our parents had to keep saying "drink your milk"! Now it seems like a gift, to have a glass of milk from a local farm.
You are right, Lydia. It really is a gift, one that we often take for granted.
It must have been fascinating to get a behind-the-scenes look at a dairy farm right in your area, especially one that has been operated by a local family for so long. Often, when I am driving in "the country" I wonder what kinds of things are happening in the barns I pass by, and the answer is usually a family operation dedicated to a quality product.
Hi T.W. For me, the best part of the day was getting to know the family behind the farm.
What a great experience! I think we only have one family owned dairy here, now, and I guess the lack of water makes it very expensive to run. Love your description of the cows being able to cruise into the pavilion whenever they want. Happy Cows, I'll bet!
Yes, the cows seemed very happy and relaxed, and they talked about how important that is for milk production. Stressed cows just don't produce as much milk.
I'm so thrilled for you that you were able to experience this! I know how much you were looking forward to it and it looks like you had an amazing time. Can't think of anyone who deserves it more than you, my friend!
Thanks Kristy, it was a fantastic day!
A lot of hard work goes into managing a farm. It's nice the family gave you a behind-the-scenes look.
Hi Meagan! Visiting the farm was so much fun. I enjoy photographing farms, and it was great to meet the family.
What a neat interest! What is it about farms you like to photograph-- farmscapes or animals and people?