Ballou Family

If you ask Matt Ballou what he likes best about dairy farming, his answer is simple.

“I just like working with my cows,” he says.

A modest answer from a man who oversees the care of more than 2,500 cows and 2,000 heifers each day at Texico Jerseys, LLC. 

Ballou starts each day with quality cow time, his herd manager at his side, ensuring each cow is clean and comfortable, with fresh bedding and 24-hour access to clean water. If a cow needs veterinary care, Ballou arranges immediate and personal attention.

His cows get such good care, they eat better than his own family does; at least nutritionally, he says with a laugh.

“When it comes to eating good food, our cows get the best protein and starch content of the feed each week,” Ballou adds. “That’s how we provide the best quality milk.”

Dedication like this doesn’t get to take a holiday.

“We never stop taking care of cows. That’s our number one priority,” says Ballou. “In fact, even on holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, the cows still have to be milked.”

But rest assured; with a growing family and dairy, Ballou can’t imagine doing anything else.

“It’s more than a job, it’s a way of life,” he says. “There’s nothing else I’d rather do each day than help provide a safe, nutritious food for families like mine to enjoy.”