Dee Waldron: Leveling Out for Irrigation in Utah’s Weber Basin
Dee Waldron’s piped irrigation system. A 34-inch vertical pipe sticks out of the ground every 20 feet; when a set of them is removed, the system flood irrigates a section of field.
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Irrigation Leader: Please tell us about your background and how you came to be in your current position.
46 | IRRIGATION LEADER | May 2021
Dee Waldron: I started farming when I was in high school with my father and his brother. I helped milk cows and do other farm work. In 1967, I bought a tractor and started doing custom work in addition to helping my family with farm work. In 1978, I purchased Waldron Brothers, starting with my uncle’s half of the farm and shortly thereafter purchasing my dad’s half of the farm. I farmed, operated a dairy, and raised and sold fat beef. In 1982, I built a shop and purchased tire equipment to work on commercial and tractor tires. Today, that business has become a full-service tire store with an ag division selling fertilizer, chemicals, and seed and providing custom farming. My daughter Lindsey and my son Aaron manage the business. I’m no longer in the dairy industry, but my beef operation has continued to grow. irrigationleadermagazine.com
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DEE WALDRON.
he narrative of a small family farmer prospering after many years of hard work and sacrifice is an iconic version of the American dream. Achieving this dream requires a farmer to overcome many obstacles, both natural and manmade. Dee Waldron is someone who has lived that dream, growing up on a family farm, striving to acquire the land and water needed to grow his business, and now owning a successful agricultural enterprise for beef, barley, and other crops. In this interview, Mr. Waldron tells Irrigation Leader how he began his journey, how he has used innovative irrigation strategies to ensure proper water for his crops and cattle, and the importance of cooperative conservation of water for all water users in Utah’s Weber Basin.
