From the Ground Up
Royal Farms Dairy has been milking cows and growing feed in Kansas for more than 20 years. Today, the operation has expanded to 6,500 cows, and as many replacement heifers, that produce millions of pounds of milk each month. Managing Partner Kyle Averhoff cites the key ingredients to the dairy’s success: passionate people and animals that are treated well.
“Taking care of our cows is ultimately such a pinnacle of what we do,” said Kyle. “My family has been involved in milking cows for a long time now, and the cows are what pay the bills.”
It’s all come full circle for Kyle, who grew up on a small dairy in Texas. He and his wife Michelle now live on the farm with their three children. With a focus on integrity and animal health, Kyle and his business partners have earned the respect of the industry and consumers alike.
Navigating Change
For Kyle and his team, change is part of life in the dairy business.
“For us, it’s just part of the daily routine of figuring out how we tackle the next level of change,” Kyle said. “There are those who thrive in change, and those who deal with it as more of a challenge. We try to be open minded and think strategically about how we’re going to move through the next layer of change.”
One change for the dairy has required them to learn how to steadily produce more milk with fewer resources and less waste. Royal Farms Dairy keeps a close eye on water use, taking in water used to cool milk and cycling it back through the milking parlor, then onto the fields growing feed. It all adds up to a lower water bill and less impact on the environment.
As consumers across the country get more and more interested in how their food is made, Royal Farms Dairy proudly shows off its healthy cows and the delicious dairy they produce.
“What we do today is what we think are the best options,” said Kyle. “On any given day, we’re looking at the next change to make conditions better for our cows and a better story of how we produce food—and ultimately market it to our consumers.”
This article was originally published by American AgCredit.
