True Affection and Devotion for the Dairy Industry « Back

This week I visited with Joe and Duffy Lyon from Toledo, Iowa. Their list of accomplishments makes me strive harder in my own dairy business – pushing myself to do better. They are a remarkable dairy family and own a remarkable dairy farm – through and through.

Lyon Jerseys is a 350-cow dairy farm in central Iowa. They are a true family farm where pride, value and love for the Jersey dairy cow shines deeply. Their commitment to and involvement with their dairy farm and the entire dairy industry is nothing short of admirable.

The Lyons have been in the Jersey cattle and farming business for more than 85 years. Joe Lyon started in 4-H with his cousins and brothers, and continued the dairy farm with his brother, Howard. Today, Joe and his son, Eric, and Howard’s son, Stuart, own and operate the family on 1,600 acres in Tama County.

Their community and agricultural involvement is a long tale of endless sweat and tears; true affection and devotion for the dairy industry, and for the Jersey cows.

Joe, a veteran leader of the industry, is a milk marketer extraordinaire, a true dairy promoter and one of the nation’s finest Jersey breeders. His résumé includes being the founding director of the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board, a pioneer in developing how dairy farmers are paid for milk based partly on the milk’s protein content, an internally recognized dairy cattle judge, World Dairy Expo Man of the Year, and past president of the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey. His wife of 60 years, Duffy, better known as the “Butter Cow Lady,” has dedicated endless hours to sculpting life-size figures out of butter, an endeavor that’s garnered national attention.

Away from their hours of extracurricular activities, the Lyons strive for excellence on their farm in Toledo. The herd is nationally known for exceptional genetics and excellent milk production that currently averages 63 pounds a day per cow.

Lyon Jerseys’ superior cattle performance results from superior cow care. Cows are housed in free-stall barns bedded with sand to improve the comfort and cleanliness of the cattle. An extensive vaccination program helps cows stay healthy and allows new baby calves to thrive.

Cow care is of supreme importance at Lyon Jerseys. Monthly herd reproduction work helps to keep cows on a schedule that maximizes their productivity and health, and they utilize up-to-date ultra-sounding technology to help diagnose pregnancy.  Lyon Jerseys’ local herd veterinarian cares for and coordinates all of the health issues year around. When it comes to comes to handling, cows are moved slowly to prevent injuries among them. They strongly believe that if you take care of your cattle, the cattle will take care of you.

The Lyon family is humble about their achievements – both for themselves and for the farm, but admits it is very satisfying to see their herd progress in both appearance and production. They feel blessed to have made many friends through the dairy business and believe that there is a lot in common among people who work around cows, even in other countries.