Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative named Her-Man Jerseys, owned by Lutz family of Chester, South Carolina, its District 5 Producer of the Year. The award recognizes a cooperative member for outstanding farm management and sustainability practices.
“Congratulations on being named Producer of the Year in District 5,” said Maryland & Virginia Board Member Roddy Purser at the District 5 meeting held last week in Clemmons, North Carolina. “We could not be prouder of your accomplishments and we’re thankful to have you as part of our cooperative.”
Amanda and Herby Lutz operate Her-Man Jerseys with Herby’s father Herbert Lutz. They farm 520 acres and have 85 milking head of registered Jersey cattle with about 200 head of heifers, bulls and beef cows. They aim to merchandise about 35-40 breeding age bulls and 10-15 replacement heifers every year.
Herby and Amanda work together as a team to manage their herd of pedigreed Jerseys. Amanda handles the day-to-day responsibilities, while Herby has an off-farm job. They have a full-time employee who helps milk cows and feed calves. Herbert handles the crop work and helps on the farm when Herby is out of town.
The Lutzs grow all their own forages on the farm, and they purchase all of their commodities to ensure their cows are fed the best possible rations. They utilize a nutritionist to help guide their feeding decisions, and they consult their veterinarian when it comes to herd health decisions.
“We strive to keep cows comfortable and offer them the highest quality feed possible. We hope they return the favor by being trouble-free and putting milk into the tank,” said Amanda.
Amanda is the fourth generation in her family to operate a dairy and can’t imagine doing anything else. “Since the birth of our first child Hobbs, I more fully realize how important and wonderful it is to raise a dairy farm kid,” She said. “We want to develop a herd that is available for Hobbs to grow and mold should he choose to make dairy farming his career choice.”
“The Lutz family sets the bar high when it comes to cow care. They are focused on doing the very best for their cows, and they make for a deserving choice as our first ever District 5 Producer of the Year,” said Maryland & Virginia’s CEO Jay Bryant.
About the District Produce of the Year Awards:
Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative presents the District Producer of the Year award to a member farm in each of its five regional districts. The awards are given to members for their outstanding commitment to continuous improvement and to advancing dairy sustainability and industry leadership. First awarded in 2019, the District Producers of the Year will be considered for the cooperative’s top honor, Producer of the Year, at the cooperative’s annual meeting in March 2020.
About Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative:
Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative is a community of dairy farm families passionate about cultivating dairy goodness and bottling fresh Maola branded milk and dairy products. Founded in 1920, the cooperative’s farmers produce three billion pounds of milk a year for consumers and manufacturers worldwide. Our dairy farm families take pride in creating dairy products people crave, operating with passion and integrity, responsibly caring for our resources and providing a rewarding livelihood for our farmers and employees.
