Generations of tradition: The family legacy behind Jones Dairy

Family is the central driving force behind Jones Dairy in Spencer, Iowa. Over the years, five generations of farmers have lived and worked together to build the farm into what it is today. This strong family legacy continues to guide them as they navigate changes in the dairy industry.

Patrick Jones is the third generation on Jones Dairy. His grandfather, Minor, started the farm in 1903, and his father took it over in 1945 after serving in World War II. At that time, the farm totaled 240 acres and was a diversified farm with some milk cows, pigs and chickens. Gradually, in the 60s and 70s, the farm got more concentrated on dairy.

The youngest of five siblings, Pat always knew he had a passion for agriculture and a desire to take over the farm one day. Pat married his wife Nancy in 1977, and in the early 1980s, they purchased the farm together, milking 80 cows in a double-four parlor.

They raised their eight children on the home farm and decided to expand the farm in the late 90s. In 1997, they built a new facility for 350 cows and later expanded to 1,200 cows, adding a new barn and more frequent milking.

Pat’s oldest daughter, Aaron, and oldest son, Nathan, manage the dairy today, which has grown to 1,200 acres. A new facility was built on a new site in 2022, and they’re now milking 2,000 cows in a rotary parlor.

“Looking back now, I realize my dad set the tone for what our farm continues to be today: open-minded and not afraid to try new things,” Pat said. “My dad and I worked side by side for 20 years, and he was excellent in being my mentor to learn the operation, but also, allowing me to try my own way. I’ve followed his lead and tried to do the same for my kids as they take over the operation.”

This forward-thinking mindset has contributed to the growth and success of Jones Dairy over the years, and Pat thinks it will continue to help their farm in today’s dynamic industry.

“It’s just like a new machine; when I get into the tractors now, I have to understand how the GPS and monitors work and how to adjust everything on a screen,” Pat said. “Forty years ago, I would have just a few wrenches in the cab, and I would manually adjust the planter. Now, I can do it all with the push of a button. That’s the main difference, and as a result, I can do a much better job. Everything is monitored, which leads to a better and more efficient operation.”

Advancements in farming technology have enabled farmers like Pat to optimize their workflows and make more informed decisions based on data.

“Dairy is significantly different now compared to the last 40 years I've worked in the industry,” he said. “In the past, increasing profits meant milking more cows and working longer hours, but we've now reached limits on efficiency on those basic things. Success depends on paying close attention to finer points such as feed purchasing, cow health, production and marketing. Farmers have to focus on these areas, gather information and work together with other professionals, which has been a learning curve for many of us.”

Pat shares that he gradually learned this over time, but he says his children realized quickly that a big part of modern farming is sitting behind a computer, analyzing facts and figures and communicating regularly with other industry experts.

For Pat, that also means working with others who can support the work they do on the farm, His farm relies on Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative to share their message and advocate on their behalf.

"The staff at Edge are the industry experts who advocate for us," he said. "It's essential; if we're silent, it may seem like everything is fine, but we need change, and Edge is taking proactive steps to support our interests."