Dairy Producer Highlight
Foy Chapin
Your family has been dairy farming for several generations; can you tell me where it all started and how you got to where you are today?
It all started in 1938 when my grandparents, Myrtle I. and Foy P. Chapin, moved with their children from Elba, Colorado to a farm along the South Platte River northwest of Weldona. At the new farm, Chapin Dairy, my family milked 27 cows by hand twice daily, farmed the irrigated land and raised cattle. My Dad, Don Chapin, returned to the farm in 1955 and married my Mom, Gertie, in 1956. My brothers and sister were always active on the farm. After attending Colorado State University, I returned to the farm in 1978 and married my wife, Cindy, and we became partners in the dairy and farming operation. In 1994, we expanded the farm and built a new barn with revolutionary tunnels. We were the first farm in Colorado to have a full tunnel barn, which later became a standard in the United States.
How has dairy farming changed over the years?
We use so much technology in everything we do, from milking cows to how we manage our feed programs. It’s a lot of work trying to balance efficiencies, especially today when the margin to make money is so narrow and we have to be careful and diligent in every single decision we make.
Tell me about your families’ involvement in the dairy farm and what it means to have a family owned and operated farm?
We have four generations on our farm, which is a balancing act in making sure that everyone’s futures are taken care of. As far as their involvement, in 2011 we purchased another dairy, Riverside Milk in Snyder, Colorado. All four of my children (Cole, Tiffany, Cami and Foy H.) own and run that dairy. All of the children went off to school and realized when they worked elsewhere that they enjoyed the cows and the work at the farm. This gives our children a future and it’s in their hands as to where the business will be in 10 to 20 years. We also farm over 1,000 acres and Cole runs most of the farming, Foy H. manages the dairy, Tiffany takes care of the cow records and inventories and Cami and Gertie do the financial records and bookkeeping. My father, Don, is semi-retired but he still comes to the dairy every day.
What does it mean to you to be responsible for producing a product for other families to consume?
Everyday our goal is to run an exceptional operation and send out a quality product. My whole family works very hard to ensure that we produce a safe and wholesome product. We take a lot of pride in our dairy – everything we do we try to do our best.
How has your experience been as a Western Dairy Association board member?
I took office in early 2011 and it has been a learning experience. I find it enlightening to hear about all that goes into promoting and protecting us and our product. I think part of doing business is staying in tune with your industry and being aware of everything going on.
