In late June 2022, Jersey breeders from across the country convened in Portland, Ore., for the annual meetings of the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) and National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ).
The herds profiled are REAP herds that completed and returned a survey sent out before the meetings to provide information about their dairies. Enjoy reading more about these Oregon herds.
Forest Glen Jerseys, Dayton, Ore.
Nestled in the valleys of Dayton, Forest Glen operates two herds, Forest Glen Jerseys and Forest Glen Oaks, that milk nearly 2,000 Registered Jersey cows. A family farm, Forest Glen is currently owned and operated by Dan Bansen and his daughter, Jamie.
Dairying is a family tradition for the Bansens. Dan’s great-grandfather came to the United States from Denmark in the mid-1800s and settled in northern California, working on dairy farms there until he saved up to purchase his own farm. Dan’s father left the home farm in 1965 and settled in Oregon with his family. The farm was eventually passed on to Dan before Jamie took over daily operations.
The Forest Glen herds are organic and managed on intensive grazing as much as possible, supplementing with TMR where needed. Forest Glen markets their milk through Organic Valley-CROPP, a cooperative organization of family farmers.
Forest Glen have bred many high index males and females over the years. Currently, they have 215 cows ranked on the Top 1.5% Genomic JPI Lists and both herds rank among the top 25% for JPI herd average. They have 32 homebred bulls in A.I. and listed in the Greenbook on the list of All Summarized Bulls (as of December 2021).
The farm was a tour stop during the AJCA-NAJ Annual Meetings in 2022.
GreenGold Dairy LLC, Nehalem, Ore.
GreenGold Dairy owned by Brad, Melody, Marika, and Julian Cowan. They operate with the help of six full time employees and one part time employee. Their herd is all Jersey, seasonally calving on 640 acres. The herd is comprised of 620 milk cows, 140 breeding age heifers, 265 heifer calves, 20 breeding bulls, and 40 bull calves. The first Jersey brought onto the farm was Ginger, an unregistered Jersey who was purchased for Marika’s fourth birthday in 1993. At that time the herd was registered Holsteins, but they wanted a small calf for Marika to show at the local fair. This began the transition to Jerseys followed by the purchase of the first Registered Jersey in 2000. Little River Patrick Calee was purchased by Julian from the Washington County Youth Sale in Canby, Ore.
The dairy is enrolled on REAP which makes it possible to keep appraisals up to date and for registration to be affordable. They also purchase their identification tags through the JerseyTag store.
Since GreenGold ships their milk to a cheese yield market, having higher components became important to them. The dairy uses New Zealand genetics, so the Jerseys are bred for grazing and components.
GreenGold has a March 2022 rolling herd average of with a 5.5% fat test and a 3.7% protein test. The Jersey has proved to be the most profitable for the Cowan family due to her small size being better suited for our tideland pastures, and her feed conversion efficiency to higher components. Calving ease is also a positive factor of having a purely Jersey herd. They calve about 90% of the herd in the spring and rarely have any need to call their veterinarian out to assist.
The Cowans focus on breeding for functional type primarily. Traits are selected based on udder traits, daughter pregnancy rate, health, longevity, strength and high component tests. Being that their herd is primarily New Zealand Jersey based, the herd has characteristics of extreme strength, endurance, and high components. This also allows for a wider range of options in using United States bulls. They currently use many of their own bulls and other U.S. bred sires like “Closer,” “Texas,” “Matt,” and “Popcorn-PP.” This spring they calved two-year-olds from sires such as “Viceroy,” “Lemonhead,” “Steve,” and their own bulls, Cowan Farms Terrifics Bingman (100JE7389), Cowan Farms 7P Terrence (100JE7388), Cowan Farms Chromes Bearrific (99JE11315), and Cowan Farms Oliver Bombsaway (99JE11316). The family has been happy with all their daughters for both production and type.
GreenGold Dairy is located in north Tillamook County on Highway 101 and their farm is bordered by the Nehalem River. They ship their milk to Tillamook County Creamery Association. The climate in their area provides great and easy grazing conditions. Oregon is a ‘right to farm’ state which provides dairies certain protections that other states may not experience. Additionally, milk is Oregon’s state beverage so dairy is a very important industry there.
The Cowan family was excited to host a farm tour for their Jersey peers during the AJCA-NAJ annual meetings. They are proud of their breeding program and while type is not necessarily a priority, their animals have competed well in the show ring. GreenGold has bred the 2013 Western National Futurity winner out of their own bull, Cowan Farms True Type Believer, and the 2020 Reserve All American Four-Year-Old. They have many Excellent cattle including a homebred Excellent-95% cow. And speaking to the importance of longevity of their herd a 16-year-old that is the granddaughter of their first registered Jersey.
Lady-Lane Jerseys, Mulino, Ore.
Lady Lane Farm is owned and operated by Garry and Lacey Hansen. Garry is a third generation dairy farmer. For five years he was a partner in the family dairy. Garry made the decision to farm on his own in May of 1992, at which time he established Lady Lane Farm. Lady Lane Farm is located in Mulino, 10 miles south of Oregon City, nestled in the scenic valley of the Milk Creek Basin, which Milk Creek flows through Lady Lane Farm.
Coincidentally his farm is literally next door to the family dairy that he grew up farming.
Cited on the farm website as a “small, sustainable” dairy farm that prides itself on efforts to be environmentally friendly, Lady-Lane Jerseys is the only producer-distributor of Jersey milk in the state. Garry and wife, Lacey, are nearly 15 years into bottling their own milk from their herd of Jersey cows. Milk from the herd is processed at an on-farm creamery using the All-Jersey® label as Garry’s Meadow Fresh All-Jersey Milk Products. Non-homogenized, low-heat pasteurized milk is processed in glass bottles as fluid milk and sold as whipping cream, half and half and eggnog as well. Products are sold in retail outlets and farmer’s markets in western Oregon, including Whole Foods, New Seasons Market and Roth’s Fresh Markets.
The herd of Registered Jerseys is milked in a robotic system and is well-known for its high components and high type in the northwest. The 60-cow herd had a 2021 AJCA (m.e.) lactation average of 21,456 lbs. milk, 1,020 lbs. fat and 783 lbs. protein. The herd is enrolled on REAP and uses JerseyTags for permanent identification.
In the area of type traits appraisal, there are 18 cows in the herd scored Excellent-92% or higher. Lady-Lane CVE Kassie is a standout of the herd as she is appraised Excellent-95%. Another family member, Lady-Lane Premier Kandace is appraised Excellent-94%.
Also housed at the farm are the cattle owned by Pat Gourley. Included with the herd are Elliotts Tequila Romance, Excellent-95%, and Arethusa Excitation Jojo-ET, Excellent-94%.
Garry currently is serving as AJCA director from the Tenth District and chair of the Development committee. Both he and Lacey were part of the planning committee of the AJCA-NAJ Annual Meetings this past summer. Pat Gourley served as a co-chair of the annual meetings. All three have also served on The All American planning committees.
Legendairy Farms LLC, Beaver, Ore.
Legendairy Farms LLC is owned by Tom, Jennie, and Coltan Seals and operated with the help of four full time employees and two part time employees. Tom grew up under the prefix Sun Valley which was established in the late 1950s.
In 2013, the family branched out and leased a farm close to the Sun Valley Farm where they started their own herd. In 2018 they purchased the farm they were leasing and began adding acreage. The Seals herd is made up entirely of Jerseys. They house their 500 milk cows in freestall barns that are bedded with recycled manure solids. The cows are milked twice a day in a double-14 herringbone parlor. The farm utilizes the SCR collar system that interfaces with the takeoffs and milk meters in the parlor. Legendairy Farms also own 200 heifers that are developed at a custom heifer grower in eastern Oregon and 90 calves raised at a custom calf raiser.
Jerseys came to be Legendairy Farms breed of choice when Tom received his first Jersey at eight years old, then Tom and Jennie bought their first animal together from the Oregon State Jersey Sale in 1994. The Seals have found success with Jerseys as they ship milk to Tillamook County Creamery Association and are paid based on a full fat cheese yield formula, this benefits high test milk.
“Feed in, cheese out – Jerseys are the best.” They find the Jersey the most efficient of the dairy breeds.
Legendairy Farms benefits from AJCA-NAJ services by being enrolled on REAP, a contract advertiser with the Jersey Journal, and have marketed multiple animals with Jersey Marketing Service through National Heifer Sale and The All American Sale. Legendairy Farms consigned the highest selling animal of the 2021 All American Sale, Legendairy Ducati-ET.
The dairy had a March 2022 rolling herd average of 18,577 lbs. milk, 1,043 lbs. fat, and 723 lbs. protein. This record shows how the Seals’ breeding philosophy is reality in their herd. The main traits they look for when mating cows are total pounds of fat and protein. They like to develop cows that milk above average, test exceptionally high, as well as being a functional cow that is phenotypically sound. They also breed for GJPI.
The Seals farm is located in Tillamook county on the northern Oregon coast. They believe the Tillamook Creamery the most notable advantage of their location. They also find the temperate climate conducive to year round high milk production.
Misty Meadow Dairy, Tillamook, Ore.
Misty Meadow Dairy is owned and operated by Dave and Rita Hogan and their children Becky, Matt, and Kristin along with their families. The Misty Meadow dairy was founded in Tillamook in 1982 with a small herd of grade Holsteins with the hope to raise their family and develop the dairy. However, as Jerseys fit Tillamook Creamery’s market better when the pay price formula changed the dairy began the switch from Holsteins to Jerseys. The first Registered Jersey arrived to Misty Meadow in the early 90s. It was difficult to find Jersey replacements around that time so they purchased several small herds throughout the United States. Misty Meadow was not always a large herd made up of predominantly registered Jerseys. The dairy started utilizing the genetic recovery and Jersey expansion programs to help trace most of the herd back to their original registered animals.
Misty Meadow takes advantage of many AJCA-NAJ services namely, REAP, JerseyTags, appraisal, JerseyMate, and HerdView. The Misty Meadow family has also participated in numerous Jersey events, shows, and sales. Kristin was National Jersey Queen in 2008 and they are exhibitors at the All American Jersey Show and Sale. They have found identification of their elite females in the production herd has improved their ability to market their genetics to a larger audience. Appraisal has also helped their marketability, specifically with their type herd. It also helps them make adjustments and improvements for future cattle.
With these opportunities they have capitalized on Misty Meadow have been able to consign elite pedigree type and genomic animals to some high-profile sales recently. Misty Meadow’s type and genomic herds are housed at separate facilities and the rations and sire selections vary between the two herds. However, an extensive IVF program is used in both herds to create the next generations of show winners and genomic chart toppers. Their interest and involvement in both shows and genetics has helped to forge many relationships with Jersey enthusiasts and industry partners. This connection to the public and the industry is supported by the dairy’s Facebook page that was created a year ago and has already gained over 2,500 followers.
Misty Meadow Dairy has a rolling herd average of 20,506 lbs. milk, 1,010 lbs. fat, and 803 lbs. protein. They focus on profitability, cheese yield, and genetics with their herd. The dairy chooses bulls based on cheese merit, health traits, sound feet and legs, and well attached udders. They appreciate the efficiency and feed conversion of Jerseys, have noticed less herd health and calving issues, as well as less facility maintenance issues. Misty Meadow has set goals and met them with their Jersey herd and have been impressed with the improvement of the breed over the decades.
Misty Meadow Dairy is located in the dairy community of Tillamook. This location is advantageous to the dairy because of Tillamook Creamery’s agritourism and advertising that has helped to tell the public Misty Meadow’s story. The climate is also a positive for cow comfort and crop yields.
Royal Riverside Farm
Royal Riverside Farm is owned and operated by Ben and Amy Krahn and their two daughters, Gracie and Clancey. Both Ben and Amy grew up on dairy farms. Amy’s grandparents owned a Jersey farm and the love of the breed was instilled in her at an early age. In 2010 Ben and Amy came across a foreclosure that had a small piece of land and they had a dream to own their own dairy. Together the Krahn family built their small operation from the ground up. The began building their production and processing building where they would eventually start producing their own cream line milk. At that time they were only milking eight cows, since they have grown to 25 which is full capacity of their current facility.
The Krahn’s farm is made up of 25 Jerseys and one Brown Swiss. Jerseys fit in well at their operation because of their small size which is ideal for their smaller facilities. They also enhance the quality of milk produced and sold directly from their farm. The Jerseys use fewer natural resources, convert feed to milk with less investment, and produce a smaller carbon footprint.
Royal Riverside Jerseys are enrolled on REAP and benefit from services such as type appraisal, advertising, consigning animals in Jersey sales, and exhibiting in Jersey events.
The breeding philosophy on the farm is to create show winning cattle by maximizing type. They strive to create a “perfect” cow with each mating. Royal Riverside is focused on cow families, udders, feet and legs, and longevity. The highest scoring cow bred by the Krahn family is Royalty Ridge Comerica Nahaley, Excellent-95%. They have also bred several Excellent-93% cows that they have sold in various sales in the past. Their current average appraisal score on 27 head is 89.65. Royal Riverside has consigned animals to the Top of the World Sale and to the All American Sale, they also support local registered sales.
The Royal Riverside Farm is located in the Mid-Willamette Valley close to Oregon State University. This is convenient as the university handles their veterinary work. They are also close to an advantageous route to transport their product all the way from southern Oregon to the northern part of the state. The farm is also in close proximity to several communities that value farm fresh products. Over the past couple of years people have started to come directly to their farm to buy products. This was the beginning of their farmstand, the Classy Cow Farmstand. They converted their garden shed into the farmstand where they sell milk products, along with grass-fed beef, all-natural pork, and free range eggs. Alongside all of the other activities on the Krahn operation they also began offering tours in order to improve agricultural literacy in the community surrounding Royal Riverside Farm.
Sun Valley Farm
Sun Valley Farm is owned by Bearl “Smokey” Seals and his wife Joanne. The farm is located in the north coast of Oregon where grass pastures and grass silage are the main crops harvested. The foundation of the Sun Valley Jersey herd traces back more than four generations of the Seals family.
In 1969, “Smokey” and Joanne married and took over Smokey’s family farm. The Sun Valley herd is enrolled on REAP. Today the farm is operated by Smokey and his son Jeff, while Joanne takes care of the bookkeeping and other organizational tasks. Their other two sons, Tom and Dave, have established dairies in the neighboring communities.
The herd totals just over 600 head or Registered Jerseys. The 2021 AJCA Lactation average was 19,655 lbs. milk, 916 lbs. fat and 719 lbs. protein on an m.e. basis. Milk is marketed to Tillamook County Creamery where they are paid a full fat-cheese yield formula. The herd ranks among the top 25% of the nation for GJPI. After the March 2022 appraisal the herd had an average type score of 82.7% on 622 head.
The production-bred REAP herd selects bulls to sire a high-component, great uddered cow that is built to last. They currently have 39 cows listed on the August 2022 Top 1½% cows for GJPI. There are 22 Sun Valley bred bulls currently carried in A.I. programs, including Sun VAlley Jive, GJPI +27.
Bearl and Joanne were honored with the AJCA Master Breeder award in 2013. The family is proud to have been developing outstanding cow families for over 60 years. To develop these families, they breed with a focus on components, functional type, Jersey Udder Index, and somatic cell count. The high component Jersey milk that is produced by the large herd is sold to Tillamook Creamery Association where it is used in cheese production.
Wilsonview Dairy
Excerpts from the TDFHonestFarming website: The Josi family established their farming footprint in the Pacific Northwest in 1912 when Alfred Josi, and several of his siblings, emigrated from Switzerland as indentured servants to discover the alluring – and lush – Oregon coastal pastures, which were perfect for raising dairy cows.
Alfred’s dream of owning his own farm rang true in 1918 when he began leasing the original 60 acres of the farmstead and joined the Tillamook County Creamery Association. As a traditional member and then director, he was instrumental in building and growing the cooperative, which was founded in 1909 by local farmers.
Since founded, Wilsonview Dairy has remained in the Josi family, although the business structure has often fluctuated. The dairy was incorporated in 1982, much like any business would do for tax and legal reasons, and in 2008, Don and Desi bought out Don’s brother, and in 2014 Derrick’s older brother, struck out on his own founding Roads End Dairy, which is across the Wilson River.
These moves paved the way for current farm structure. Today the farm is co-owned by the 3rd and 4th generations to call Wilsonview Dairy home. Derrick and his wife, Kaycee, farm alongside Derrick’s parents, Don and Desi.
Derrick focuses on custom nutrition programs and feeding schedules, Don leads the genetic program and heifer care, Desi pilots the calf program and accounting, and Kaycee, whose family heritage includes quarter horses, assists with accounting and logistics as she raises the 5th generation of Josis.
The farm, located on the Wilson River six miles from the Pacific Ocean, is in an epicenter of a relatively mild climate with temperatures ranging from the 30s in the winter to the 80s in the summer with an annual rainfall of more than 120 inches of rainfall, on average, each year.
The Oregon century farm milks in a double-12 herringbone parlor, houses dairy cows in a free stall barn, grows 500 acres of corn and grass silage, and includes open pasture grazing for the cows.
Today, the 450 acre, fully-Jersey farm ranks 14th nationally for genetic merit and produces about 35,000 pounds of milk, or 3,000 gallons, of milk per day.
Milk is delivered to Tillamook County Creamery, producer of award-winning cheese and other dairy products, where Derrick is an alternate director as was his dad and great grandpa were before him. Wilsonview Dairy is one of 90 farms that comprise Tillamook County Creamery Association, which is a farmer-owned co-op.
Tillamook County Creamery
Since 1909, Tillamook Creamery has been farmer-owned making wholesome products for consumers. It isn’t just about the cows and the products, it is what goes on behind the scenes with the farmer, his care for the land, the environment, and staying true to values. According to Tillamook, it all started when a few creameries got together and decided to supply high quality cheese and each donating $10 to start the coop, known as Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA).
The Start of Something Special
“For 110 years, we’ve stood behind the honest values of our farmer-owners. It’s from them we’ve learned passion can’t be faked, hard work can’t be outsmarted, and real food is worth fighting for,” is a statement on the Tillamook County Creamery’s website.
Starting in 1921, Tillamook’s first slogan became reality. “Look for Tillamook on the Rind,” letting consumers know that the cheese was produced with care and quality. TCCA stamped the cheese rinds with a loaf stamper. Along with stamping cheese, they ran advertisements in three cities which made sales increase.
Products
It all started with the original Tillamook Cheddar and now they are selling several products that have become widely popular.
Expanding into ice cream as an experiment, ended up being a success. Ice cream became popular and by 1950’s consumers could buy the product around the area. Not too far after the ice cream debut, sour cream and yogurt hit the shelves in the 1990s.
Awards were no secret to Tillamook as cheesemakers received hundreds of awards from state, national, and world competitions. Their medium cheddar is the number one selling natural cheese item in the United States according to Tillamook. All Tillamook’s cheddars are aged with time. They sell their medium cheddar, sharp cheddar, extra sharp cheddar, and Maker’s Reserve Cheddars, which are aged for 10 years.
Today, Tillamook enters in worldwide competitions and places among the top.
“In fact, Tillamook cheeses won gold in last year’s International Cheese and Dairy Awards, and also placed in the 2022 World Championship Cheese Contest,” said Jenna Cerruti, Corporate Communications Manager for Tillamook County Creamery.
Along with cheese, they sell ice cream, sour cream, yogurt, butter, and cream cheese spread.
The Twenty First Century
Business was booming and a new processing plant was built in 2001 to keep up with consumer demands. To add to the excitement, in 2018, the new creamery was built, which attracts many visitors.
Even as the creamery grew, the foundation remained the same. Around 80 Oregon farming families continue to supply the creamery with wholesome milk for the products. Farmers are to follow strict regulations for quality in order to maintain production for the creamery.
Along with having the producers whom Tillamook supports, they also support other youth agricultural nonprofit organizations such as 4-H, Future Farmers of America (FFA), and Oregon Agricultural Trust. Tillamook also invests money into food security and preserving farmland.
Recently in 2020, TCCA became a Certified B Corporation.
“Underscoring our uncompromising dedication to stewardship, and a way to stay accountable to our legacy as a force for good. A Certified B Corporation meets the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability,” stated Cerruti.
Working With the Producers
Not only is it important to have a successful product, but it is vital to have a strong relationship with those who contribute to that success. All profits from the business go towards the farmers or gets reinvested into the business. Farmers are paid above market value for their milk and are given a premium for milk quality.
“Our Farm Services Team works with our farmer-owners on a day-to-day basis. This group is made up of highly trained and deeply experienced farming experts. They work one-on-one with our farmer-owners and milk suppliers, whether that’s troubleshooting a mechanical issue or providing nutrition advice for cows. It’s a highly personalized approach — and one that’s unique to TCCA,” Cerruti stated.
Building from the ground up, having a good relationship with the producers and consumers has made this creamery special not only in Oregon, but the world.
The Legacy Lives On
Starting from the bottom, now this corporation is selling delicious products to consumers all over the nation and worldwide. Not only do they focus on their products, producers, consumers, and communication, they are now creating goals to reach greenhouse gas neutrality by 2050. In addition, they also have invested into better packaging to become more sustainable. You can read more about their packaging imitative on the website.
The future looks bright as they set goals for themselves and continue to do what they do best.
Cerruti said, “Success was gradual versus sudden, but it’s working. TCCA as the fastest growing family size ice cream brand and most trusted national dairy-wall cheese brand in the U.S. Today, nearly one in four households in the U.S. buy Tillamook.”
