August 2012 - Swiss Valley Farms

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Lyon Jerseys Good Partnerships Evolve Over Time by Nancy Feeney Since 98% of America’s dairy farms are family owned, it stands to reason that every day there are thousands of parents and uncles working alongside sons and daughters, nephews and nieces, with a few grandparents mixed in for good measure. Lyon Jerseys of Toledo, Iowa, is a good example of a multigenerational dairy operation that has survived for 85 years. When questioned about this successful track record, the Lyons shared some insights into what they think makes their family partnership work. This Toledo, Iowa dairy began in 1927 when two brothers, Robert and Earl Lyon, purchased land and began farming together. The present family patriarch, G. Joe Lyon, says his Uncle Bob bought the first Jersey cows from the local sanatorium. It was from this first, somewhat chance purchase that sprang the current registered herd of Jerseys that are now famous throughout the Midwest and in the Jersey breeding world. The Lyon Jersey partnership passed on to Robert’s sons Russell and “Jiggs” and Earl’s sons Howard and G. Joe in the ‘60’s. In turn, two of their sons eventually worked their way into the partnership. When Howard passed away in the late eighties, the partnership was left on sound footing with G. Joe, his son Eric and his nephew Stuart. The present herd consists of 380 Jerseys with a rolling herd average of over 19,000 pounds with over 1,000 pounds of fat and over 680 protein. They farm on 1,600 acres and have nine full-time employees milking twice a day in a herringbone G. Joe Lyon stands between his son, Eric, left, and nephew Stuart in the alley way of a barn on Lyon Jerseys in Toledo, Iowa. SWISS SWISS VALLEY VALLEY FARMS FARMS DAIRYMAN DAIRYpage 6
12-on-a-side parlor. that is having trust in one another!” He recalls that the only Compared to your average dairy, genetics is a bigger part of instruction his dad gave them regarding spending money was, the operation income wise. “We’ve been selling genetics since “If you need it, buy it. If you don’t need it, why on earth would 1958 when we sold our first major bull out to stud,” G. Joe you buy it?” says. He is proud that the maternal family of their cousins’ While Stuart and Eric’s families all have their own private original 4-H prize heifer is still in their line 27 generations checking accounts, trust is expressed in other ways. “We don’t later. “We sell over a 100 commercial breeding bulls and 30 consult each other on all purchases.” Stuart says. “You can’t to 40 springing heifers a year,” Eric adds. “But on the income worry about every penny. If Eric thinks he needs a new calf side, we rely on the milk. It’s milk that pays the bills.” shed, I let him take care of that. If I think I need another G. Joe, now in his early ‘80’s, has not retired from active tractor, I take care of it and he doesn’t question it.” farm work. He visits the barns bright and early on most “Like in most dairy operations, you’ve got the in-laws and mornings looking for cows to milk. He also remains a vital outlaws,” G. Joe says with a grin. He went on to say they have member of the Swiss Valley Farms Board of Directors and is never involved the wives in the operation. His wife was the late approaching 24 years of tenure. G. Joe currently serves on the Duffy Lyon, the famous “Butter Cow” lady at the Iowa State Executive Committee as well as the Governance Committee Fair. Stuart’s wife Deb recently retired from her career as an of the Board. He is chair of the Compensation and Workforce IRS agent. Eric’s wife Terry has a quilting business in her home. Committee and also spent many years as chair of the Hauler “I’m sure they voice their opinions through their husbands,” G. Committee. Joe says. “But this is contrary to what most people do.” The Lyons Jersey partnership was on everyone’s minds as “People say there’s been more change in the last few years father, son and nephew sat down to chat earlier this summer. than since the beginning of the universe,” G. Joe says. “That’s G. Joe recalls that maintaining partnerships in the old days was bull! A myth! Change happens all the time. It’s been happening just as difficult as it is now. “The harder off you are, the easier it since the beginning of time. Mechanizations and machinery is to keep a partnership going,” he says. “It’s the best of times; prove that.” it’s the worst of times. It’s difficult to keep everyone happy.” He says the biggest change he’s seen in his life time is “Partnerships can be very beneficial, but tough to keep the huge increase in the amount of capital it takes to run an going,” G. Joe continues. “Human nature is that we all like operation. “It’s so much more than 50 or 60 years ago.” to do our own thing. But a partnership is a way to involve the “We all give lip service to wanting to help the young guys family in the operation and keep the farm in the family.” get started. But it’s just lip service,” G. Joe says. Stuart added, As he sees it, there are two main advantages in a partnership: “Nowadays, farmers work in town at full- time jobs and put in putting everyone’s capital together and using everyone’s talents 20 to 30 hours a week to keep the farm going.” G. Joe agrees. in the most beneficial ways. “You had better have a real passion for farming nowadays. It “Sometimes when people retire, they need to take the won’t be easy.” money out of partnership,” G. Joe says. His capital is still in Stuart says that regulations in farming and dairying are a the partnership so Eric and Stuart can use it to expand. “That real headache. “You are never caught up.” G. Joe was quick to really makes a difference for the operation.” chime in, “Without regulations on the environment, people “I think the key to a successful partnership is you sort would plow everything up. People’s greed creates the need for of let the thing evolve and if nobody gets too ambitious, the regulations.” partnership will actually evolve into responsibilities that each Eric had his own take on the partnership experience. partner is good at,” G. Joe says. In their case, Eric handles the “Working with my father has been valuable and interesting to cows, like his father did, and Stuart handles the crops, which is say the least,” he says. “If you are willing to learn from someone what his father did. else’s experience, you can save yourself many headaches. There Everyone agreed that trust is very important in any is a time for being innovative in the dairy business, but more partnership. G. Joe says that his father and uncle and their times when restraint and patience pays off. I’ve found that families shared one joint checking account the whole time older folks have more of it than us younger ones.” during their partnership. “Imagine, two husbands, two wives (STORY CONTINUES ON NEXT PAGE) and six kids had access to that same checking account. Now AUGUST 2012 page 7 Member NEWS
Page 1 and 2: FEBRUARY AUGUST 2012 2010 bEERS FAM
Page 3 and 4: On a Mission USDEC Trip Highlights
Page 5: serve the members. They are the one
Page 9 and 10: Two meetings, two different months
Page 11 and 12: Swiss Valley Gals Fall Meetings wel

August 2012 - Swiss Valley Farms

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