Ashley Farr is the third generation to work Farr Farms, his family’s 60-cow, Richmond dairy farm. While he likes the farming lifestyle, he wasn’t sold on the milking twice a day–sell your milk wholesale–model that has been the staple of Vermont dairy farmers.

After a 4 year hiatus, Ashley and his wife Erin decided to start their dairy back up, this time with a robotic milker that the cows use on-demand to milk themselves. Step two of their plan is to build a retail business selling their own milk and gelato from the farm.

It was for this purpose that the Farrs contacted the Vermont Farm Fund this past spring. The loan application included a small milk processing facility, gelato maker, and extra funds for building out a farm store on their road that sees about 8000 passing cars a day.

Online surveys of local residents showed that 87% of respondents preferred to buy milk directly from the farm where it was produced. The Farrs are banking on this, as they plan to transition all of their sales to retail over time.

We love the idea of the VFF–farmers using the capital in turn to build their dreams and pay it back for the next to use. Easy paperwork and a reasonable interest rate sweetened the deal. — Erin

Growing their processing and retail business should increase the farm’s annual net income and avoid the price fluctuations inherent on the open, wholesale market. The additional cash flow will allow Ashley and Erin to give up their part-time, off-farm jobs and work 100% at the dairy. Looking to the future, they hope to build a business that will also support any of their children who are interested in getting involved in their family farm.

Photos courtesy of Farr Farms.