Family farms come in all sizes
Despite its size, this 1,200-cow dairy is run by the Kasper family.
by Jeffrey Bewley
A
T SOME point in time, most of us have been
involved in a discussion lamenting the demise
of the family farm. Invariably, someone in
the conversation will fondly allude to the “good ole
days,” when all farms were run by families and
then quickly condemn the rise of the corporate
farms in today’s agricultural landscape. If there is
an economist in the discussion, an opposing argument may be presented discussing how economies
of scale, narrow margins, and changing demographics amongst farm youth contribute to the decline of the family farm.
If you’re like me, I find myself torn between the
two opposing arguments. Each has its own mer-
its and justifications. What’s refreshing is to find
a family dairy that appeals to both sides of this
discussion.
Tom and Jo Ann Kasper and their six children
(Eric, 23; Peter, 21; Jenell, 19; Jessica, 17; Josina, 13; and Johanna, 6) have taken a different
approach to family farming. This successful dairy
family has taken an old-school approach to a modern style of dairying. This dairy business combines the best aspects of the traditional family
dairy farm with today’s modernization efforts.
A lifetime of dairy involvement . . .
Tom and Jo Ann Kasper are both from dairy
families. Tom’s passion for the dairy industry is
abundantly evident any time you speak with him.
When discussing his reasons for choosing to be
a dairyman, he replies, “The dairy business is interesting. You get to have a lot of different jobs,
be outside and in the country, and you have the
opportunity to be your own boss.”
In 1988, Tom and Jo Ann purchased Tom’s parents’ dairy in Modesto, Calif. In 1996, after the
pressures of living only two miles from town became too much to endure, the Kaspers moved their
600 cows to Idaho. By 1999, the herd size had doubled to its current size. Their 1,200-cow dairy, located in Melba, Idaho (about 30 miles southwest
of Boise), is tucked away on a picturesque, albeit
rocky, plot of land purchased in 1992.
In 2004, demonstrating a major commitment
to the role their children have in their dairy business, Tom and Jo Ann formed Kasper Land and
Cattle, LLC, thus officially bringing their oldest
sons, Eric and Peter, into the business management structure. Plans are already in place to double herd size again in the near future.
From the outset, Tom and Jo Ann decided not
to place any pressure on their children to come
back to the dairy after completing their educaThe author is a graduate research assistant, Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University.
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tion. However, each member of the family is fully
aware that they have the opportunity to return
if they desire.
So far, the two oldest children have decided this
is the life-style and career for them. Peter indicates
that he chose to return to the family dairy because
he was provided “lots of opportunities he wouldn’t
have gotten anywhere else with more freedom.”
Eric, likewise, considers himself lucky to have
had the opportunity to start his career with a
dairy operation built with an eye on the future.
He points out that one of the reasons that not as
many young people choose to return to the family farm is that “they are not provided with an
opportunity
that
matches their mental
and physical talents,
their education, and
their financial goals.
Too often,” he adds,
“dairy youth are left
with the choice of exiting the industry or
joining a dairy operation that is not in a position to compete in
today’s dairy industry
where they may be
headed into a financial
train wreck.” He is also
quick to note that,
even with the right opportunity, young people have to be aware of
the realities of long hours and the unique lifestyle associated with being a dairyman before
committing to rejoining their parents’ operation.
Active off the farm . . .
In addition to their responsibilities on the farm,
the Kaspers are all active members in the dairy
community. Tom and Jo Ann both serve on the
steering committee of the Treasure Valley Dairy
Replacement Heifer Project, a program designed
to teach young people, who may otherwise not have
the opportunity, about the dairy industry through
short-term ownership and care of a dairy heifer.
Tom currently serves on the national board of
the CWT (Cooperatives Working Together) program, as president of the River Valley Milk Producers, and as a committee member of IDEAL (a
legal defense fund within the United Dairymen of
Idaho). In addition to her roles on the dairy and
within the house, Jo Ann has also home-schooled
all of the children. And attending church as a family remains a high priority for the Kaspers.
Both Eric (2003) and Peter (2004) obtained their
degrees in animal sciences from the University of
Idaho. During their years in Moscow, both were
active in the dairy club in addition to being members of the school’s Dairy Judging and Dairy Challenge Teams. Eric was also honored as the Outstanding Senior in animal sciences. Jenell is currently enrolled at Northwest Nazarene University while pursuing a degree in accounting. A former 4-H club president, Jenell maintains her involvement as a project leader for the Dry Lake 4H Livestock Club’s Dairy Judging and Quiz Bowl
teams. Jessica, currently a senior in high school, is
busy narrowing her future degree choices. She is
currently the secretary of the Melba FFA Chapter and has been honored as the Star Chapter
Farmer and Star Greenhand in addition to placing
first in the Idaho FFA Dairy Judging contest.
Both Jenell and Jessica participated in the National FFA Dairy Judging Contest in Louisville,
Ky., in 2003. Josina is the reporter of the Dry Lake
4-H Club and is a participant in the Treasure Valley Dairy Heifer Replacement Project. With an
amazingly quick wit and the same winning attitude, it is hard to imagine that Johanna will not
follow in the footsteps of her older siblings.
All have a role . . .
In many ways, the structure of the work distribution amongst family members resembles
that of a smaller family dairy farm, as you can
see in the table. Of course, 18 additional employees are required to maintain all of the dairy’s
operations, but family members complete a large
portion of the work. Interestingly, every member
of the family maintains ownership in a few cows.
It is truly amazing to watch this dairy team work
together. You don’t have to spend long with them
to realize that this family’s involvement and enthusiasm toward the dairy industry is a direct
result of the attitudes and leadership provided by
Tom and Jo Ann.
“Most people think family dairies are small,
but this is not always true,” states Tom. “In our
operation, the whole family participates in decisions, discussions, and work, whereas with corporate farms the family members are often not
involved. One of the problems with this business
model is that the future generations don’t have
the experience and interest in the dairy to continue the operation at the point in time when the
older generations decide to retire,” says Tom.
A large family dairy farm is not without its difficulties. One of the downfalls of a family dairy
operation is that it is harder to get away because
everyone has a part on the dairy. Further, conflicting personalities can become a problem at
times. Ultimately, though, these minor disadvantages pale in comparison to the primary benefits of a large family dairy farm.
It is encouraging to see a successful family farm
that has embraced the advantages of large-scale
Family
member
General farm responsibilities
Tom
General management, finances, risk
management, hospital, reproduction,
relief breeding
Jo Ann
Calves, bookkeeping, teaches Josina and
Johanna, manages housework
Eric
Fresh cow monitoring, calving, managing
field work, hoof care, feedlot management,
relief hospital, relief breeding
Peter
Breeding, relief feeding, relief fresh cow
monitoring, manages ovsynch programs, hoof
care, dry cows, feedlot management
Jenell
Relief feeding, calf relief, field work,
relief breeding
Jessica
Calf feeding, discing and planting, manages
beef herd, feedlot work, relief breeding
Josina
Calf feeding, landscaping, feedlot work
Johanna
Assisting in calf feeding, comic relief
dairying. The management team at Kasper dairy
is poised for a long future as leaders in the Idaho
dairy industry. And, while building this dairy business, they have been able to maintain a wholesome, humble, fun-loving family. All of us could
learn from both the business model and family
model they have established. Jo Ann describes the
charm of this system best by saying, “it’s a good
life-style. It teaches everyone work ethic and how
to work together. It’s a good family life.”
HOARD’S DAIRYMAN