Beef Producer Interview
Interview Questions that Tell Your Story
Farm: Golden Acres, Westerlo, NY
Q1: How long have you been a producer?
A: I’ve been a producer since 1968 – 48 years.
Q2: How many generations have been part of your cattle operation?
A: My father was a forester, I (Gerry) worked for a dairy farmer as a teen, then my
father got into the beef business as I got older, so I would be considered 2nd generation
Q3: What’s the most unique thing about your operation?
A: First, I have a labor team of ONE! I fully operate Golden Acres myself, Laura helps
me when she is able as well as our son when home from college. I have a unique operation
that I have both a grass finished and grain finished product thus incorporating a feed lot
aspect on my farm. We are unique that we are one of the only fulltime cow/calf operations
in Albany county and that our operation is from birth to finish in process.
Q4: What does being a cattle producer mean to you?
A: I get to be my own boss, its an amazing way of life! I love being outdoors, calving
season, feeding cattle, watching my calves and my crops grow; it’s a driven passion that
can’t be fully explained.
Q5: As a producer, what role do you play in protecting the environment?
A: NRCS, (Natural Resource Conservation Services) we work with this organization and
Albany Co. Soil and Water. We work with these services to help us monitor our crops and
our creek (drains into a reservoir)
Q6: What would you want consumers to know about how you help conserve natural
resources?
A: Our crops are corn, sorghum, barley, oats, hay. We are looking to work with the farm
beer market by growing barley. We sell our extra hay (what we don’t use to feed our own
cattle). All crops are fed to our beef and help keep the land from running wild with scrub
brush etc. By raising crops I have kept the farm from development, keeping the land
productive.
Q8: Have you made any changes recently to further address your operation’s
sustainability?
A: The farm has gone solar as of 2013. Our residence as of 2012. Our system generates
enough electricity to meet our farm’s needs.
Q9: What will your legacy as a cattle producer be? What will it be to the
environment? What will it be for your family?
A: I raised my son on a farm. I hope it helps determine who he is and what he will be. If
he is the next generation to run this farm, that’s great, however if not, he will at least
have had the lessons of life here on the farm, a great work ethic as well.
Q10: What should consumers know about your daily life and how you are helping
to feed America?
A: 24/7! I leave the house every day at 5:30 and don’t come home until dark. Jan – March
is calving season, I watch the cows around the clock, spring hits and it’s planting season,
I’m a one man show, so there is no time for rest, sick day etc. I love what I do!
Q11: How do you educate future generations about the cattle industry?
A: I hope by example, plus beef tours like this, school groups. My son is a perfect spokes
person/ambassador for the industry amongst his friends.
Q13: What actions do you take to ensure your animals are properly taken care of?
A: I utilize our handling facility for the safety of the animals as well as myself. I have
bedding for cows for comfort, that I change out a few times/week. We vaccinate cows
yearly, deworm, give nutritional supplements depending on the gestation of the cows to
ensure calf health.
Q14: What do you do to ensure beef safety?
A: Track antibiotics, through record keeping, fencing maintenance to ensure that cattle
are safe from the roads, follow BQA practices
Q15: What are some challenges you feel are facing the beef industry?
A: Taxes –it’s a large percentage of our costs, especially school tax on vacant land that
can’t be farmed (swampy), can’t grow enough crops to pay taxes
Q16: What breed of cattle do you raise? Why did your family choose to raise
this breed of cattle?
A: I started with Charolais because their color (white) is appealing to me. As time went
on and the focus of our business changed, we added in Angus and some Simmental. Most of
our calves are cross bred. The breeding is natural (done by bulls, not AI).
Q17: What type of marketing programs do you use for your cattle? (e.g., natural
organic, conventional)
A: Natural, no hormones or antibiotics used to promote growth.
Q18: How do you see all of the steps in the production chain working together?
A: Our business is direct market from conception to supplier.
Q19: What’s the best part about being a beef producer? What’s not so great?
A: I enjoy going to work everyday! I get to work in a barn, watch my animals grow and
thrive based on the decisions I make. I love raising animals. What’s not so great: when
equipment breaks down, being at the mercy of the weather – mother nature is not fun
sometimes.