Keen Attention to Detail « Back

I share much more in common with Randy and Jennifer Gross from South Dakota beyond the fact that we’re both young dairy farmers. I can relate to them well; they are committed, driven and share a passion for family and farming. I recently caught up with them to share their story.

For Randy and Jennifer, who are the managing partners of Prairie Gold Dairy LLC, cow comfort and management consistency are business basics for their 3,600-cow dairy off of the I-29 corridor in Elkton, South Dakota.

Their keen attention to detail has aided Prairie Gold’s success. Their commitment to keeping cows comfortable includes rubber floor walk ways, a “free-stall” barn where cows can move about for feed and water, or rest in stalls bedded with sand.

Ninety-five percent of the sand is recycled, utilizing a system where manure and sand are scraped from each pen into a section of the barn where clean lagoon water washes everything down into a gravity-flow sand settling lane. The reclaimed sand is then moved into storage piles to dry out. Both Randy and Jennifer take pride in their sustainable practices – aiding cow comfort and contributing to their environmentally-friendly farm.

Prairie Gold’s herd veterinarian emphasizes prevention to keep cows healthy. Their fresh cows are checked every morning and an employee at Prairie Gold Dairy walks through all pens of cows at least once a day to look for any cows that may need extra attention. The close attention they pay to their cows has allowed Prairie Gold’s herd to keep the milk pipeline full.

Strict milking procedures attest to their farm’s mission statement: to profitably produce wholesome dairy products in a manner that benefits their cows, employees, environment and the consumer. They believe keeping healthy cows in a comfortable and clean environment is the first key to producing high-quality milk. The couple believes the second key is having well-trained employees with a passion for caring for cows and doing things the right way.

Prairie Gold Dairy is more than a business for Randy and Jennifer and their 18-month-old son, Emerson. It’s a way of life. They believe that dairy farming is a great lifestyle for raising their family, asking themselves, “Where else can someone grow up and be exposed to so many life lessons and little miracles?”