Dairy Dynasty
by D'Lyn Ford
From 10-gallon cream cans to computerized feed mixers, David and Juanita Terry have experienced 52 years of rich dairy history.
Just as when the Terrys started their business with five cows, dairies are vital to eastern New Mexico's economy, supplying more than half of Roosevelt County's agricultural income.
"When we started, there were 270 dairies in this county," David recalls. "A typical dairy back then had 15 to 20 cows."
New milk tank regulations transformed the industry. Instead of buying cream cans for $10 apiece and cooling them in an ice bank, dairies had to purchase bulk tanks that cost thousands of dollars.
About 75 percent of area dairies sold their cows, but not the Terrys. Both had grown up milking by hand on the farm.
"Dad always told me that Holsteins would break you, that the milk was so thin you could see the bottom of the bucket after you finished milking," David says, his eyes twinkling. "I never listened to him. Not all Holsteins are like that."
Through years of careful breeding, the Terrys have built a reputation so solid that Holstein bull buyers will simply load animals into the trailer with scarcely a glance at the breeding records.
Sons Charles and Leland, now in the family business, grew up putting on milkers "as soon as they could tiptoe," Juanita says. Grandson Adam helps an outside company handle computerized data that tracks every facet of the family operation.
The largest dairy in the region for many years, the Terrys became a medium-sized operation of about 1,000 cows with the influx of California dairies that began in the 1980s.
One of the largest on the High Plains is Rajen Dairy, owned by Randy and Jenise Vander Dussen. The Vander Dussens moved to Clovis from California's Chino Valley in 1992, drawn by the dairy-friendly climate, feed availability and labor force.
Like the Terrys, Vander Dussen comes from a dairy family. He initially went into partnership with his father, a Dutch immigrant. His grandfather also was in the business.
Vander Dussen believes New Mexico's dairy industry is entering its next generation, following the eras of small family dairies and out-of-state investment.
"Dairymen here are expanding or building dairy number two or three," says Vander Dussen, president of Dairy Producers of New Mexico. "Growth has slowed down, but we're on the way to being a self-perpetuating industry."
Economically, one of the industry's greatest contributions is stability.
"Dairies provide a steady income and employ a lot of people, close to 100 percent of them year-round," Vander Dussen says. "We buy feed and contribute to the tax base."
The Vander Dussens already are making expansion plans for another generation in the dairy business.
"We have six boys," Vander Dussen explains. "The oldest is 15 and the youngest is 5."