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VOLUME XVIII, NO. 3 |
TEXAS DAIRY REVIEW |
MARCH 2009 |
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Double your pleasure with 40% more pizza cheese Southwest Regional Dairy Center comes to life At long last, permits moving through TCEQ system Ned-Tex Dairy earns “top producer” award Trichomoniasis interstate rules effective April 1 High Plains Dairy of Friona awarded 2009 IDFA CWT members asked to commit to two more full years Contractor told by others he makes “dirt look good.”
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Double your pleasure with 40% more pizza cheese |
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In the past 50 years, pizza, by far, tops the charts as America’s favorite food. In today’s food industry, the mere thought of pizza is often enough to trigger the taste buds and send pizza lovers on a mouthwatering quest to satisfy their cravings. But, hold on a minute! Not only pizzas lovers, but cheese lovers as well, are bound to be doubly pleased with the unleashing of Domino’s new American Legends pizzas that boast 40% more cheese. Just when you thought your favorite pizza couldn’t get much better, Domino’s, Dairy Management Incorporated (DMI) and Dairy MAX have teamed up to bring customers one-and–one-half times the amount of cheese amid a combination of premium toppings and delectable cheesy crusts. Inspired by unique tastes from throughout the nation, American Legends pizzas offer six varieties including Honolulu Hawaiian, Cali Chicken Bacon Ranch, Pacific Veggie, Memphis BBQ chicken, Buffalo chicken, and Philly Cheese steak. Through their investment in the dairy check-off, American dairy producers are bolstering the pizza food category with these new and innovative specialty pizzas that feature a wider variety of cheese flavors. Pizzas are a big business for American’s dairy farmers with about 25% of the total cheese produced used on pizza. This represents more than 25 billion pounds of annual milk production. More than 1.73 billion pounds of milk goes into making Domino’s cheese, meaning Domino’s utilizes 91,893 dairy cows a year. Domino’s is the world’s leading pizza delivery company, operating a network of 8,726 franchise and company-owned stores throughout the US and 60 international markets. (DMI) works with state and regional organizations, such as Dairy MAX to ensure the future success of dairy products by building demand through integrated marketing, promotion, advertising, public relations, nutrition education and research programs. A certain portion of U.S. dairy farmers’ milk sales is directed into a fund to support these activities called the “checkoff program.” Dairy MAX, is a non-profit organization affiliated with the National Dairy Council and funded by the dairy producers in Texas, New Mexico, a portion of Oklahoma and the southwest corner of Kansas. Responsibilities include handling local and regional promotions such as the Domino’s American Legend’s™ partnership.
The name “American Legends” was chosen to convey the standard principle “dairy farmers are a legend in their own right.” This special catchphrase along with a personalized message from dairy producers appears on the box top of American Legends pizzas in pilot areas where unique advertising campaigns have been launched. The three pilot cities are Albuquerque, New Mexico; Columbia, South Carolina; and St. Louis, Missouri, where American Legends is additionally being promoted through use of 30-second Domino’s radio spots and 30 second dairy farmer spots that began in February and will continue on into March. Contests, give-aways and sampling programs are also part of the pilot campaign. “We’ve initiated these pilot programs to help determine local activation ‘best practices’ in preparation for a much broader local rollout in the near future,” said Mike Konkle, general manager for Dairy MAX, who is keeping a close watch on the Albuquerque area. “The pilot cities were chosen because of strong franchise groups and well-defined media markets in these areas. Based on what happens with the pilots, we’ll be able to choose the best advertising and marketing avenue to take in the future.” A national television advertisement has also been launched, a spoof depicting the “Secretary of Taste” shredding “cheese” instead of “documents.” American Legends Pizzas: Honolulu Hawaiian-Sliced ham, smoked bacon, juicy pineapple, and roasted red peppers with provolone and mozzarella cheeses on a cheesy parmesan crust. Cali Chicken Bacon Ranch-Chicken breast, white sauce, smoked bacon, tomatoes and parsley with provolone and mozzarella cheese atop a cheesy provolone crust. Pacific Veggie-Roasted red peppers, spinach, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes and black olives with feta, mozzarella and provolone cheeses on a cheesy parmesan crust. Memphis BBQ Chicken –Chicken breast, barbeque sauce, onions and parsley with provolone, mozzarella and cheddar cheeses on a cheesy cheddar crust. Buffalo Chicken-Chicken breast, Buffalo hot sauce, onions and parsley with provolone and American cheeses on a cheesy cheddar crust. Philly Cheese Steak-Steak, onions, green peppers and mushrooms with provolone and American cheeses on a cheesy provolone crust. |
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Southwest Regional Dairy Center comes to life |
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A crowd of about 300 people gathered on Fri., Feb. 27, 2009, for groundbreaking ceremonies to kick of the new Tarleton State University (TSU) Southwest Regional Dairy Center. After many years of hard work and determination to bring the center to fruition, the groundbreaking was a proud moment for all of those present including dairy industry leaders, government officials and TSU educators. The center, to be located off Hw. 281 just north of the Texas A&M Research Center, is expected to be a premier learning and research dairy serving Texas and surrounding states. Dr. Don Cawthon, dean of the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences, hosted the ceremony and introduced guest speakers TSU Pres. F. Dominic Dottavio, Dr. Larry Boleman, associate vice chancellor of Texas AgriLife Research; State Rep. Sid Miller (Dist. 59), Congressman John Carter (R-TX), and John Cowan, executive director for the Texas Association of Dairymen (TAD). Local city officials and a representative for Landmark Structures Inc., one of the dairy center’s first industry partners, were also part of the ceremony’s activities. The group officially turned portions of dirt with gold-painted shovels as audience members applauded.
A highlight of the groundbreaking was when Annie, a prized TSU dairy Holstein bearing the purple TSU logo, appeared on the scene to persuade speakers and anyone “who dared” to participate in a good old-fashioned hand milking. Annie was harnessed to a vintage plow to signify how dairy science and technology has grown since TSU’s first dairy was built in the 1940s. Cawthon addressed the crowd with a brief rundown on the dairy center. “We anticipate stocking the dairy in January, maybe February 2010, and begin milking then,” he said. “There will be more than one phase to the dairy. The first phase will include a rotary parlor, several teaching labs, a classroom, a few offices and a 300-cow capacity.” The second phase will include bringing the herd capacity up to 600 cows and building a creamery that can produce dairy products such as cheese, milk, ice cream and many more. Cowan, representing dairy farms across the state, was especially supportive of the center. He recognized the importance of the dairy industry to Texas and to Erath County that provides “nature’s most perfect food” to the metroplex. He noted dairy farms are suffering, just as all citizens, from the current recession. “In order to take care of their farms, dairymen need good science-based research that this center is going to be capable of providing. Dairy farm families live on their land, breathe the air over that land and they drink the water from under their land. They are good stewards and we need to help them remain so. I am anxious to see this educational research and demonstration center come to fruition. Let’s now get it built!" Dr. Barry Lambert, department head and dairy science specialist, provided additional details about the center. “We plan to open the dairy center up to other universities in the region so that they may also be able to use it for research and learning opportunities,” he said. “We are working with others in the design phase so it will be useful to other universities and other groups, including industry.” In addition to traditional dairy science research, other research applications will include business, finance, engineering, medical, animal behavior, labor management, energy recovery from agricultural wastes and environmental sciences. It will also serve as a center for agricultural undergraduate research. Key points to the innovative design of the center include a rotary parlor, auto animal ID and multiple energy recovery systems. A start-up company in Waco, called EQMA, plans to build a demonstration plant at the center capable of turning manure into ethanol. Other industry partners are developing plans for methane, algae, biodiesel and additional innovative energy conversion technologies. “Eventually, we would love for energy recovery systems at the dairy to help offset a portion or all of the facility’s electrical costs,” Lambert said. Because of its location in the Bosque River watershed, a special effort is being made to make the facility as environmentally friendly as possible. “Restrictions are different in this watershed than others,” Lambert said. “Our environmental engineers are working with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to make sure the dairy has the minimal environmental impact that science currently allows.” Future research and development will refine and enhance the technology to lessen the center’s environmental impact. The main architectural engineering firm for the project is Hanfeld Hoffer Stanford, based in Fort Worth, assisted by Five G Consulting, a dairy design company. |
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At long last, permits moving through TCEQ system |
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Amid curdled milk prices and a global economy caving in all around us, a bright note has managed to wangle its way to the surface pertaining to Bosque River dairy permit renewals. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) renewal permits are finally beginning to move through the system after a long overdue wait that has kept dairies in limbo and barely hanging on since 2004 when new state rules were adopted. According to TCEQ records, 26 permits have been issued, thus far; 25 are in public notice, and one is in technical review. The Texas Dairy Review personally congratulates these dairies who have struggled and exerted a powerful amount of energy and expense to comply with state and federal requirements while overcoming tremendous obstacles to block their way by the City of Waco and the Sierra Club. TCEQ reports precise work of consultants has helped to facilitate the process and expedite the progress. In the past few months, the agency reports it has been issuing one or two permits per week. John Cowan, executive director of Texas Association of Dairymen (TAD), said the most noteworthy and significant factor concerning Bosque River permits is the favorable outcome of two specific renewals concerning “matters of standing.” “Outstanding legal issues were resolved in the cases of both Jewel Alt and Willy De Jong on ‘matters of standing,’ ”Cowan said. Alt’s case had been appealed by the City of Waco to a Travis County District Court that deemed the City of Waco did not have standing. Her permit was issued shortly thereafter. De Jong’s case on the “matter of standing” ended up before the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) judge who denied the Sierra Club standing. The Sierra Club had recruited a landowner in an effort to create standing. De Jong has since received his permit. Cowan said with both these court decisions, these dairies and others have demonstrated permits are being written to protect water quality; i.e., “doing what the permits are intended to do.” Hopefully, these two cases prove to be an “eye-opener” for commissioners, signifying dairies are following procedures and are in compliance even though the City of Waco and the Sierra Club persists in challenging permits as they come up for renewal. It has been a long haul, but industry leaders say “we’re getting there.” As soon as the permits are issued, dairies must look to follow the new rules that go into effect as soon as permits are issued. Many dairies are faced with expanding or rebuilding their lagoons that are currently required to hold a 10 day catastrophic event instead of 24 days. |
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Ned-Tex Dairy earns “top producer” award |
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Each year the Stephenville Chamber of Commerce awards a member of the agriculture industry who shows outstanding leadership in their field and exceptional community involvement and service. This year’s Agriculture Producer of the Year was awarded to Roel and DeeDee Stoker of Ned-Tex Dairy located in the Selden Community near Stephenville.
Roel and DeeDee have owned and operated Ned-Tex Dairy for nearly 16 years. They have a son, Roeland, 23, and a daughter, Heather, 21. Roeland is a business management graduate of Tarleton State University (TSU) and employed by Enviro-Ag Engineering, Inc., of Stephenville. Heather is currently pursuing a degree in architecture at the University of Texas at Arlington. The Stokers moved to Texas from the Netherlands in 1983 where they operated a dairy in Paris, Texas, for three years before moving to Erath County. They dairyed in Huckabay, north of Stephenville, for a year prior to Roel and his two brothers, Marten and Ruurd, building Triple S Dairy where the brothers and their families operated a joint enterprise for six years. In 1993, Roel and DeeDee built Ned-Tex Dairy, a 320-acre contemporary dairy farm. Through years of AI breeding, they have built a quality 600-cow Holstein herd of genetically improved animals. Many of the cattle are registered and Roel and DeeDee work earnestly toward a goal of milking all registered cows. Roel and DeeDee are proud to call Erath County their home. They embrace their dairy and community along with a firm belief in their church and family that combines to make them a well-respected and admirable contribution to the county. The Stokers are members of Tri-county Agribusiness Association (TCAA), Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) and the Texas Holstein Association, where DeeDee serves on the board. They are members of the Stephenville Christian Reformed Church where Roel serves as an elder and DeeDee is the junior high youth group leader. |
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Trichomoniasis interstate rules effective April 1 |
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Beginning April 1, 2009, breeding bulls entering Texas from any other state must be either 24 months of age or younger and certified as a virgin, or be tested negative for cattle trichomoniasis within 30 days prior to entry. The entry requirements are part of a regulatory package adopted by the commissioners for the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) February 24, to address trichomoniasis. Trichomoniasis is a venereal disease of cattle that causes infertility, abortions, results in extended breeding seasons, and diminished calf crops which costs livestock producers valuable income. Cattle trichomoniasis is not a human health issue. For the interstate or state to state movement, a breeder’s certificate must accompany the virgin breeding bull, signed by the breeder, and the information also must be included on the certificate of veterinary inspection. Routine documents also are required, including the certificate of veterinary inspection, and other applicable tuberculosis or brucellosis entry requirements must be met, depending on the state of origin, or if the bull is a beef or dairy animal. Non-virgin breeding bulls or bulls older than 24 months of age entering Texas on and after April 1, must be tested negative for trichomoniasis within 30 days prior to entry. During the test period and prior to shipment, the bulls must have no contact with female cattle. Like virgin bulls, the non-virgin bulls must be officially identified with a breed registry tattoo or brand, a USDA metal ear tag, official RFID tag, official trichomoniasis ear tag from the state of origin, or other official identification. The animal must be accompanied by a completed trichomoniasis test document, certificate of veterinary inspection and other routine health documents. Hillman said the regulatory components of the Texas’ Cattle Trichomoniasis Program will focus only on breeding bulls, which, even when infected, continue to appear and act normally. Under the new regulations, Trichomoniasis also becomes a reportable disease in Texas, which will give TAHC more information on where and how much infection already is in the state. “There is no effective treatment or vaccine for bulls, and as they age, the surface of their organs becomes more hospitable to the protozoa, perpetuating the infection,” Hillman added. “Although the primary impact of the disease is on cows, which can become infected during breeding and lose the fetus, the cow herd is not included in the regulations,” he said. “The majority of infected cows will clear the infection, if they are given 120 – 150 days of sexual rest. A vaccine also can be administered to infected cows to help control the disease in the cow herd.” The second phase of the program, which will address in-state movement of Texas breeding bulls, will go into effect January 1, 2010. |
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High Plains Dairy of Friona awarded 2009 IDFA Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year |
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High Plains Dairy of Friona, Texas, was named the 2009 Innovative DairyFarmer of the Year during a ceremony on Jan. 12, 2009 at the International Dairy Foods Association’s Dairy Forum 2009. Harry DeWit, owner of High Plains Dairy, received the award from IDFA Vice Chairman Gary Vanic, who is president and CEO of Great Lakes Cheese Company. Now in its 11th year, this award recognizes U.S. dairy producers that apply creativity, excellence and forward thinking to achieve greater on-farm productivity and improved milk marketing. The award is co-sponsored by IDFA and Dairy Today magazine. High Plains Dairy operates on more than 5,000 acres with 51 full-time employees and milks 4,400 cows. According to the judges, the farm was selected based on its innovative facilities and business solutions. To cope with the weather extremes in West Texas, for example, High Plains Dairy installed cross ventilation in its barns. Providing this consistent environment has led to marked improvements in productivity, cow health and overall profitability. The dairy also raises heifers for replacements and produces most of the feed it uses to help control costs and limit market volatility. Taking another innovative step, DeWit joined two other local dairy farmers to form Dairy Services, LLC. This partnership provides economies of scale for purchasing, and employs technicians and repairmen the individual farms couldn’t afford to hire separately. A brief video highlighting High Plains Dairy is available online at www.AgDay.com. High Plains Dairy was nominated by Todd Staples, the Texas commissioner of agriculture. The judges for this year's award were Geoffrey Benson of North Carolina State University, Mark Stephenson of Cornell University, Michael Brown of Glanbia Foods, Jim Dickrell of Dairy Today magazine, Bob Yonkers, IDFA vice president and chief economist, and Charles Fletcher from KBC Farms, the 2008 winner of this award. Other winners of the Innovative Dairy Farmer title include Mason Dixon Farms, Gettysburg, Pa. (1999); Clauss Dairy Farms, Hilmar, Calif. (2000); Baldwin Dairy/Emerald Dairy, in Emerald, Wis. (2001); Si-Ellen Farms in Jerome, Idaho (2002); Pagel's Ponderosa Dairy of Kewaunee, Wis. (2003); C Bar M Dairy, Jerome, Idaho (2004); KF Dairy, El Centro, Calif. (2006); and Joseph Gallo Farms, Atwater, Calif. (2007). A call for nominations for the 2010 Innovative Dairy Farmer award will be released this summer. |
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CWT members asked to commit to two more full
years |
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Realizing the gravity of the economic crisis and production costs that far exceed the price dairy farmers are receiving for their milk, members of Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) are asked to commit to a two-year program, from Jan. 2009 through Dec. 2010. Dairy cooperatives and individual producers have been asked to sign a two-year membership agreement at the current rate of 10¢ per hundredweight. This will allow CWT to secure adequate resources to have a significant impact on cow numbers in the coming months. The CWT committee, which convened in February via conference call, also approved two herd retirement rule changes: • Producers who were accepted in a previous herd retirement will be allowed to bid in the first herd retirement CWT executes in 2009, but no other subsequent rounds; • Producers who have their bids accepted must agree both they, and their dairy facility, will stay out of the dairy business for 12 months. They will be paid in two installments - 90% upon completion of the farm audit, and 10% plus interest at the end of 12 months if they and their facility did not produce milk during that period. CWT and its members are making an all-out effort to expand the number of cooperatives and individual producers that are investing in CWT for the next two years. Direct mail, radio, and print advertising are all being used to maximize participation. Jerry Kozak, president and CEO of National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), said the decision to fund CWT for another two years is predicated on achieving the participation of 67% supermajority of the nation’s milk supply at the current 10 cent per hundredweight membership assessment. Consistent with its long-standing policy, Kozak said CWT will not disclose the precise dates when it will initiate future herd retirement activities, or any thresholds or targets that the organization may have for how much milk or how many cows it will remove. “America’s dairy farmers are looking to CWT to help them overcome the dire financial circumstances they are facing,” Kozak said. “I’m pleased that our members are willing to support a two-year commitment to the program, in order to give us the resources necessary now to make a positive impact on farmer income.” Kozak noted CWT has not solicited government financial assistance. He indicated a prominent agricultural lender will provide CWT a line of credit tied to the level of funding CWT members are committing to invest in the organization over the next two years. “I can only say that we will use the financial resources our members provide us to achieve the most bang for the buck. Given where milk prices are compared to the cost of production, I believe we are in a position to remove a significant amount of oversupply in the future, but we will continue to be careful stewards with our resources. We are not going to squander money to meet someone else’s arbitrary expectations of what CWT should do,” Kozak said. Kozak indicated dairy producers are doing their part to address the economic crisis through their participation in the CWT program, “and they are also expecting the U.S. Department of Agriculture to do its part to help alleviate the situation.” He noted NMPF has asked the USDA to take several quick actions, including making it easier for manufacturers to sell dairy products to the USDA under the dairy product price support program, using more dairy foods in government feeding programs, and resurrecting the dormant Dairy Export Incentive Program to boost overseas sales of U.S. products. The CWT program, managed by the National Milk Producers Federation (NMP), was initiated in 2003 and recently completed its sixth herd retirement. This last movement removed nearly 51,000 cows that produced 976 million pounds of milk from dairies successfully audited in Dec. 2008; Jan. and Feb. 2009. This most recent herd retirement and one conducted in 2008 together removed 1.4 billion pounds of milk and 76,000 cows in an eight-month period. For more information about CWT, please visit www.cwt.coop. |
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MILC payments
triggered |
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Due to low milk prices, the USDA’s Farm Service Agency will be making payments in April to producers through the FSA’s Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program. The 2008 Farm Bill made changes to the MILC program, most notably the addition of a dairy feed ration cost adjustment in addition to changes to the payment rate and modifications to the per-operation poundage limit, depending on when the milk is produced. “We will be making MILC payments as a result of the low prices but because of the changes to the program ordered in the 2008 Farm Bill, the payments may be higher but will take a bit longer to gather the required data before payments can be made," explained Rusty Rose, executive director for Erath County’s FSA. FSA makes MILC payments on a monthly basis when the Boston Class I milk price falls below $16.94 per hundredweight (cwt) as adjusted for feed costs. FSA determines the per hundredweight payment rate for the applicable month by subtracting the Boston Class I price for that month from the $16.94 MILC payment trigger price as adjusted for feed costs, and multiplying the difference by 45 percent. The payment factor of 45 percent will decline to 34 percent on September 1, 2012. The MILC payment trigger price of $16.94 is adjusted upward when the National Average Dairy Feed Ration Cost for a month is greater than $7.35 per cwt. This rate will change to $9.50 on September 1, 2012. The dairy feed ration cost is calculated each month from the price of feed ingredients used to create a 16 percent protein dairy feed as reported by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). "While the dairy feed ration cost adjustment benefits producers when feed costs are high, it also means we must wait until that month's National Average Dairy Feed Ration Cost is known before the MILC payment rate can be calculated," explained Rose. "For example, while the Boston Class I price for February is $13.97 and below $16.94, we still won't know the actual MILC payment rate until late March when we receive final figures from NASS for determining the National Average Dairy Feed Ration Cost. That means the MILC payment for February cannot be made until April." Rose said FSA issues payments no later than 60 calendar days after FSA receives production evidence for the applicable month or the entire month's National Average Dairy Feed Ration Cost is posted for the applicable month, whichever is later. FSA makes payments on up to the maximum eligible pounds of milk produced and marketed by each operation per fiscal year. The annual maximum eligible pound limit per dairy operation is 2,985,000 pounds per fiscal year. The amount drops to 2.4 million pounds per fiscal year on September, 1, 2012. MILC participants must select a month for which FSA will begin issuing payments for each fiscal year. Starting with the dairy operation's selected month, FSA will issue MILC payments based on that month's milk production and the milk production for each consecutive month thereafter with an effective payment rate until the operation reaches the production cap or the fiscal year ends. Dairy producers must select a start month on, or before, the 14th of the month before the month which they want to receive payments and before the selected month’s Boston Class I fluid price is announced to the public. Or the dairy producer has the option to select the month in which the contract application is submitted as their start month. For subsequent years or if they wish to change a previously selected start month the producer must select a start month prior to the 14th of the month before the month which they want to receive payments and before the selected month's Boston Class I milk price is announced to the public. In addition, if changing a start month selection, the change has to be made by the 14th of the month before the month originally selected. Producers may contact their local FSA office to sign up for the MILC program. The 2008 Farm Bill also excludes producers whose non-farm average adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeds $500,000 from receiving MILC payments. Producers will have to sign an AGI statement when signing up for the program. More information about the MILC program can be found on the FSA website www.fsa.usda.gov. |
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Jeff Wetzel of Blanket, Texas, has been told he makes “dirt look good.” |
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Making “dirt look good” is a little harder mission than one may think. It takes on a certain kind of art form that most people do not associate with dirt work. Digging, pushing and shoving dirt around to make a situation workable requires expertise, skill and a “good eye” to envision the overall task.
Jeff and his wife Brenda, married for 22 years, know all about dirt. After excavating and moving the Earth’s soil with their Big Iron Heavy Equipment Company for the past 20 years, they have a great respect for what they do and enjoy the success dirt work has brought them. Jeff’s interest for dirt work was first inspired when he went to work for a contractor after graduating from high school. After he and Brenda married, the couple created ideas for starting their own business. Although not an easy undertaking, they persisted, which eventually led them to a door to door campaign handing flyers out to acquire their first jobs. “Word of mouth,” spread and with only one bulldozer, the Wetzels began to reap the benefits of their determination. In 1989, they organized Big Iron Heavy Equipment that currently utilizes 14 heavy equipment machines capable of building lagoons, ponds, lakes, dams, roads, and building pads. But, Jeff quickly admits, “We didn’t do any of this by ourselves.” He said his family and company values are based on a strong Christian faith that has ultimately guided them to where they are today. Jeff firmly believes he is doing what he was meant to do and takes his Christian commitment seriously. Jeff looks over one of his most newly completed projects at Johan Koke’s Blue Jay Dairy in Lingleville. Pointing to the lagoon, a small sense of pride and satisfaction is detected as a slight smile tugs at the corners of his mouth. “I love doing this. I like being outside and can’t imagine myself doing anything different,” Jeff said. “I sure wouldn’t be comfortable sitting behind a desk all day long.”
Koke’s lagoon, located next to a settling
basin, was expanded from a small pond to a 52-acre foot retention
control structure. Sludge from the settling basin will overflow into the
lagoon when it becomes full. Contracting for dirt work provides Jeff the opportunity to work in a natural environment where no two jobs are alike. “I meet different people and it’s interesting because each person and each job presents a challenge,” he said. As Bosque River permits have moved forward in the past year, Big Iron has contracted several dairy lagoons. In addition to the four Koke projects, Big Iron has built twelve other retention control structures for eight area dairymen. Of the sixteen completed lagoons, Jeff has worked closely with EnviroAg design engineer Norm Mullin. He said Mullin keeps up with TCEQ regulations and specs that Jeff is required to follow. Working with dairymen has been a pleasant experience for Jeff. “You don’t see these dairymen just sitting around. They work hard and they stick to their word. I enjoy working with them and hope to keep working with them.” As in many small businesses, the biggest problem is trying to find good labor. “It’s hard to find someone who wants to work,” Jeff said. But, he quickly adds he is fortunate for two employees who have been with him for awhile. “They are hard workers and I’m glad to have them.” Clearly, one of Jeff’s biggest joys is when his two sons, Corey, 17 and Conner 14, climb aboard to help on weekends and during the summer. “I love working with my kids,” he smiled and said. Both Jeff and Brenda agree the part-time work instills in their children an important work ethic that will help them build a good future. Brenda, who keeps the company books and substitutes teach, appreciates Jeff’s rigorous work schedule and understands when he says, “I’d rather work than do anything.” She said in order to “get the job done,” sacrificing family vacations or outings is sometimes necessary, but they always manage to stay involved with their children. “I make sure I attend all my kids’ activities, no matter what,” she said. Brenda and Jeff both believe “you do what you’ve got to do” to make it in today’s world. But, they are confident and secure because they know they have a guiding hand to help them along. The Wetzels are active members of Faith Baptist Church in Brownwood where Jeff and Brenda teach Sunday school. |
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