BREEDER PROFILE
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Vierra Dairy: More than a Pretty Show Ring Face
hen asked what the name Vierra in Merced County in the 1940s and 1950s actual average of 22,763 lbs. milk, 1,024 Dairy Farm evokes, many in dairy and eventually settled on the present farm lbs. fat and 820 lbs. protein on 469 cows. circles would mention show-winning in Hilmar. Over the years, the farm grew to Five animals owned by Vierra Dairy or in cows. That is fair. Vierra Dairy has 1,500 acres and the herd to 5,000 cows. earned more than its share of hardware The farm was transitioned to their son, and banners in the show ring in recent Anthony, and his wife Marie, and then years and just performed a first for to their eldest daughter, Maria, who World Dairy Expo—a clean sweep of married Matt Swanson in 1988. champions in the Jersey show. The Swansons were entrepreneurs as But show cows are just the tip of well, moving to Turlock, Calif., in the late the iceberg for this 6,000-cow, multi1800s and establishing their reputation generational dairy in Hilmar, Calif. And as leaders in the turkey industry. Among the dairy is just one aspect of a much the businesses they established was larger enterprise that includes a feed Associated Feed & Supply Company company, a record label, and several Inc. The multi-million-dollar company state-of-the-art dairy tech companies. provides animal nutrition products and What are the commonalities that tie other farm supplies to clients in Arizona, together this widely diverse group of California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, ventures? At the helm of each is Maria Utah, and Washington. Associated Feed Swanson, current matriarch of the also markets an extensive line of show Vierra family. All strive for excellence, Thousands of consumers and dairy producers follow supplements for cattle, sheep and swine. and all operate with a mission to glorify Vierra Dairy Farm on Facebook and Instagram to learn Matt eventually became president about dairy farming and Registered Jersey genetics and God. of Associated Feed, and, the Swansonto keep up with twins, River and Reagan, pictured here Vierra Dairy Farm is a mixed herd with Dad Peter and Mom Maia. All photos except World Vierra union grew to a much larger of about 3,000 Jerseys and 3,000 Dairy Expo courtesy Leann Castellanos/C Street. production agriculture enterprise. Holsteins. Cows are managed on In time, other ventures were added, multiple farms in Hilmar. Maria Swanson including the cloud-based Milc group partnership with Semex rank among the top is a third-generation owner. Her eldest and the in-vitro fertilization (IVF) facility 100 females for genetic merit. daughter and son-in-law, Maia and Peter Boviteq California. Cipponeri, oversee operation of the dairy And while production agriculture was in It All Started with Cows while Eddie DeRocha manages day-to-day their blood, Matt’s true passion was music. The eclectic venture has humble activities. Another 75 full-time employees In 2017, he founded Riser House with beginnings that trace four generations back help with operation of the farm. Jennifer Johnson and flagship artist Mitchell to Tony and Angie Vierra, who married in Vierra Dairy has been enrolled on Tenpenny, who later topped the country 1940 and established a dairy farm in Hilmar REAP since February 2017. The milking charts with “Drunk Me” in December with three unregistered Holstein cows string on the main farm ranks fourth in the 2018. The full-service publishing house named Enos, Snookums and Topsy. The (continued to page 20) nation for milk and fifth for protein with an Vierras moved to several other locations 2021 International Jersey Show. Photo courtesy Cowsmopolitan.
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JERSEY JOURNAL
