You’re Invited to Breakfast on the Farm
Depending on life experiences, the question of where food comes from may vary. Some might say the grocery store. Others have experienced the circle of life. Even though the Iowa Great Lakes is situated in rural Iowa amongst manufacturing, commerce, and agriculture, Aaron Titterington of Jones Dairy said fewer children have accessibility to a working farm and understand the basics of agriculture.
“My mom was leading a farm tour of fourth graders and one of the children asked where eggs come from,” Aaron remembered. “This showed us as a family that not everyone is connected to a farm and knows that milk comes from a cow or that eggs come from a chicken. Even though we are surrounded by agriculture in Northwest Iowa, there is fewer livestock and access to a working farm.”
Their goal at Jones Dairy is to share this knowledge with visitors and one of the reasons why they regularly offer farm tours and host Breakfast on the Farm every other year during National Dairy Month.
This year, on Saturday, June 21 from 7-10 a.m., everyone is welcome to visit Jones Dairy near Fostoria to learn more about the dairy industry, see firsthand a working farm, enjoy breakfast and delicious dairy snacks, and participate in numerous educational stations.
“It’s a day our entire family returns to the farm to help and we love providing this fun experience for guests,” Aaron said.
From petting animals and milking a cow to walking through the freestall barn and enjoying delicious breakfast burritos, visitors can enjoy the contentment of the cows and observe the 64-stall DeLaval 3500 rotary in action.
“People get to see how happy our cows are. They are clean and healthy, and it provides people with a good vibe of food agriculture,” she added.
Life on the farm doesn’t change that much on any other day. Excitement is always in the air—new life is daily occurring and milk is always being gathered. With multiple family members and generations involved, everyone plays a role in the success of the farm and the contentment of the animals and the land.
History of the Dairy
Jones Dairy has been deeply rooted within the area since the early 1900s, situated between Clay and Dickinson counties. The dairy is currently owned by Patrick and Nancy Jones, who not only have raised thousands of Jersey cows but also eight children on the farmstead.
Aaron said her great grandfather Minor Jones and his wife Emma moved onto the home place in 1903, renting the original 160 acres until 1934 when they were able to purchase the land as their own. From the 1930s through 1970s, the family raised and grew a variety of livestock and crops, including pigs, beef, dairy cattle, corn and soybeans.
In 1945, Minor’s son, James Dale, took over the farm upon his return from World War II, becoming the second-generation owner of the Jones farm. During this generation, the couple raised five children on the homestead, as well as focusing on dairy cattle and hogs. James’ youngest son Patrick took a special interest in Jersey cows and dairy farming. The father-son duo began focusing on growing and modernizing the dairy portion of the farm, leading to today’s Jersey dairy farm.
“My dad loves the dairy,” Aaron shared. “He’s tenacious and ambitious in breeding cattle and was one of the first in the area to use artificial insemination to breed the cows. My parents passed on excellent work ethic to all of us kids.”
Patrick and Nancy were married in 1977 and have grown the farm to its current size of 1,500 milking cows. Today, two of their children, Aaron and Nate, have returned to the dairy and are actively managing the farm. Aaron is responsible for the herd’s care, and Nate leads the facility maintenance and fieldwork. Although not every family member has returned to the farm, it is still a large family affair with all pitching in when they can, especially Breakfast on the Farm in June. As a result, the home farm is often bustling when all 14 grandchildren gather for a visit.
Growing the Dairy
The enormous desire to always provide excellent care for their cows is why the Jones family is always striving to learn and work towards a perfect environment. Every day, 2,000 cows are milked three times through a 64-stall DeLaval rotary parlor that was added in 2023. The cows spend about 45 minutes away from their pens to comfortably wait for their turn for a space on the rotary, be milked and then return to their pen.
“The investment of the rotary allowed space for the dairy to grow for another generation,” Aaron explained. “The cows are comfortable and healthy and we’re always doing research to produce the best product available. This means constantly advocating for animal agriculture and learning about what’s best for their feed, as well as having high standards for what we produce.’
Jones Dairy is passionate about their Jersey cow breed, known for its high butterfat and high protein content that is ideal for cheese making. Each cow produces roughly seven gallons of milk daily, which is then sold to Agropur to make yummy cheese. The milk produced is picked up by a semi tanker each day and delivered to Agropur in LeSueur, Minnesota, where it is then made into cheese for brands such as Kraft and Crystal Farms.
“Jones Dairy is proud to be part of the two percent of people who produce food for our nation,” Aaron added.
The family’s love of the dairy and their animals can be experienced during a farm tour or through activities like Breakfast on the Farm in June, school tours, or Books in the Barn held in April. Jones Dairy also coordinates Beef Buddies for Dickinson County and provides calves for Grandpa’s Barn at the Clay County Fair every September.
For more information on Jones Dairy or questions about Breakfast on the Farm on June 21, visit jonesfamilydairy.com.
Sitting Left to Right: Natalie Bassett, Cindy Bassett with Bryson Bassett, Isla Jones, Emily Jones, August Jones, Angie Jones with Clara Jones, Nancy Jones, Patrick Jones, Haley Jones, Aaron Titterington, Quinn Sampica with Piper Sampica, Sheila Edwards with Oaklynn Edwards, Asher Edwards.
Standing Left to Right: Holly Bassett, Nick Bassett, Traver Jones, Nate Jones, Sarah Jones, Wes Jones, Lucas Titterington, Scott Titterington,
Max Titterington, Ben Sampica with Josie Sampica, Kyle Edwards with Kensi Edwards.