most popu1ar takes a. strong group of

Stephenville
Empire-Tribune
Stephenville,TX
Circ. 3838
From Page:
2
6/30/2011
91722
pros
dairy family discusses
Local
cons
and
NATHAN
By
industry
of
BURAL
E-TStaff Writer
nathan.bural@empiretrlbune.com
The world has come
mustache
from
the
to
know the famous
Got Milk?
Music superstars,
milk
campaign.
professional athletes and pop
sensations around the globe have been known
don
famous
the
white
support
lip in
strengthening super-drink.
Before the drink can grace
o
popu1ar
most
working k
,hard hours
f1F
rn
The Triple
many
local
S
-
-
Dairy brand
dairies that
fit
strong group
a.
lot
a
in
calciumstrengthening
lips of the world s
the
takes
of the
to
of time
of
peopIe
for not a lot of
Stephenville is one
of
this mold.
Brothers Marten and Ruurd Stoker maintain a
family-run dairy just oft US Highway-281 that produces
thousands
of gallons
raw milk daily.
Of
We milk about 480 cows all together, said Ruurd.
We have a pair of 5,000 gallon tanks that the milk goes
into Then about every other day, the Dairy Farmers of
America trucks comes and take
Life on the farm
just for the fun
25 years
jn
of
isn t
a
family business almost
the making
moved
originally moved to
My
something the Stokers started
but rather
it,
away
it
fanilly
to
Texas
In
1983,
said Ruurd
We
Paris, and came to Stephenville in
been here ever since
My dad st6rted the dairy and we took it over when
he passed away, he continued
This dairy has been
1986
We
here since
1987 and
Marten and
I
have basically been
dairying our entire lives.
Ruurd, along with
Coibe,
live just
down
who handles most
some
County: Erath
help from
of
his wife
Amy
and
the road from the
the farming,
the boys.
sons Jayden
dairy and
and
Ruurd,
doesn t mind getting
ÓMarten handles the medical side
of the dairy,Ô said
Ruurd. ÓThen we have four non-family members
work for us. handle most of the farming and hay
that
I
moving.Ô
ÓItÒs
fun to work with my dad,Ô added Colbe.
sometimes
hay and stuff and
they
let
ÓWe haul
me drive the
big
tractors.Ô
Jayden and Colbe attend Lingleville High School
and
are looking forward to furthering their education
in
college.
Stephenville
Empire-Tribune
Stephenville,TX
Circ. 3838
From Page:
2
6/30/2011
91722
Amy, however, admitted the farm
life
indeed
isnÒt for
everyone.
ÓI
donÒt farm,Ô she said.
ÓI
donÒt like the smell or the
heat.Ô
Ruurd admits he does enjoy the flexible schedule
of
farm
life
and
the
time spent with his family, but
,the financial struggle keeps the job from
J
being too
enjoyable.
now there
isnÒt
much
enjoyable about
(the dairy
ÓRight
See
County: Erath
FAMILY
on Page
B6
Stephenville
Empire-Tribune
Stephenville,TX
Circ. 3838
From Page:
2
6/30/2011
91722
and. Ruurd.
The Stoker family (left to right): Marten, Colbe, Jaydefl, Amy
Colbe Stoker feeds
a
calf.
Trip1e S Dairy
milking
The cows enter the conveyor belts, nine at a time onOaqh side, for
County: Erath
is
owned and operated
by brothers, Marten
and Ruurd Stoker
Photos by
NATHAN BURAIJE-T
FAMILY
theyÒre producing miftñ
FromPageBi
industry)
he said.
at afl,Ô
itÒs
been
But
a
some money,
With
but
he continued.
Stephenville
Empire-Tribune
Stephenville,TX
Circ. 3838
From Page:
B6
6/30/2011
91722
as
high as
having
to
killing the
In
it
ÓI
donÒt think
is right
ÓThe
and thatÒs whatÒs
the cost
to
like our
feed, the
of
to be
ÓWeÒre
a
heavy burden
help keep shade over them and
water over them
ÓA
over
1993
built our stalls in
to
the
cows cool
in
the
a
gets below
fingers.Ô
S
Dairy remains
run business and
working dairy
keep them wet.
obstacle the Stokers face on
human
The Triple
to
to
is
one
of
push
a familyrun
many
question,
hard
facilities in the United
States that will continue to answer
is
100 degrees,Ô he added. ÓPlus, as
Keeping
it
forward.
we pour
cowÒs natural body temperature
unless
usually donÒt
and the dairy industry continue
well.
keep them cool.Ô
just trying to
said Ruurd. ÓWe
as
cool temperatures
Despite the struggles, the Stokers
Texas weather over the past year has
proved
ability to bring
freezing he added. ÓThe cowsÒ tits then
can get frostbitten and break off, kind of
dairy industry.Ô
addition
TexasÒ uncanny
affect them much,
WeÒre the ones
now.
buy the feed
root,Ô
ever been
itÒs
a
be careful of the extreme cold.
through the
going
Is
has been
that
freezing weather, the Stokers must also
thatÒs killing us on our end.
ÓFeed cost
isnÒt just the heat
it
struggle
struggle for everyone. The corn farmers
up north are making
hard on
is
them
struggle.
ÓItÒs a
For the past couple of years
generates heat
It
and thatÒs why the summer
the
Ógot milk?Ô
Yes they do.
Texas heat
scorching
daily basis.
is
an
Colbe Stoker gets
pusher
In the
feed
______________________
County: Erath
Jayd
Stoker
trouble
getting
ready
feed the calves
to
has
the
a
little
bottle
While
the
in the
edge
of
fee pusher, Colbe StokerÒpushes the hay
the fence. for the dairy cows to eat.
up to
Stephenville
Empire-Tribune
Stephenville,TX
Circ. 3838
From Page:
B6
6/30/2011
91722
M
RUUrd
County: Erath
Stoker
te
h$
ge
Co
-
he