Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Recognizes 25-Year Member Milestones

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Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association (MDVA) recognized 11 members for 25 years of membership to the cooperative during their recent annual District Meetings.

“We congratulate these outstanding 25-year members on their dedication and commitment to Maryland & Virginia,” said MDVA Executive Vice President of Sustainability and External Relations Lindsay Reames. “Members that arrive at such distinct milestones prove to our customers that our supply chain is robust and can provide for their needs for many years into the future.”

Bowmont Dairy Farm of Boones Mill, VA

Bowmont Farms in Boones Mill, Virginia, is co-owned and operated by Laird Bowman, his wife, Sarah Ann, and daughter, Joanna Shipp. The family keeps this sixth and seventh generation farm working, milking more than 200 cows on 600 acres of land. Two hundred fifty acres of woodland accompany the dairy which helps sequester additional carbon, making the operation more sustainable.

Eldon & Susan Martin of Newville, PA

Eldon and Susan Martin started their dairy farm in 1997. While Eldon is not from a dairy farm, Susan’s family had a dairy farm. They milk 40 cows in a tie-stall barn. They grow corn, alfalfa, and beans on 85 acres of owned and rented land.

Michael & Julie McCuller and Family of Union Bridge, MD

The McCuller family milks 100 cows on their 250-acre farm in Union Bridge, Maryland. Mike is a third generation dairy farmer who hopes the farm extends to the fourth generation via his children. Animal care is a top priority of the farm as they have many cows that have had 8 to 10 calves.

Piedmont Dairy of Wirtz, VA

Second generation farmer Daniel Layman and his son, Jason, milk 110 cows and farm 350 acres of corn and soybeans.

Silver Knoll Holsteins of Hagerstown, MD

Silver Knoll Holsteins is a family operation established in 1965 by Dennis Spielman. With the help of his daughters, their spouses, and numerous grandchildren, everyone pitches in to help with all the farm work. Dennis’ late wife, Debora, who passed away in 2021, was an integral part of the farm and is deeply missed. It’s evident Dennis’ love for farming has been passed on to his daughters and grandchildren. Recently the farm expanded beyond Holsteins to colored breeds thanks to Dennis’ grandsons David and Matthew. The 50-cow herd is milked in a flat barn and the family raises about another 50 replacement heifers. They farm 140 tillable acres of corn, alfalfa and small grains and have another 50 acres of pasture.

Also recognized for 25 years of membership were: