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Fort Ann, N.Y., Dairy Farm Owner/Operators Chosen as 2007 Members of Distinction by Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.
 Aaron Walker, Amy and Larry Bailey and their children |
Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. selected Leon and Sally Walker, Aaron Walker and Amy and Larry Bailey, the owners and operators of Walker Farms of Fort Ann, N.Y., to receive its most prestigious award – the 2007 Member of Distinction Award. The Walkers and Baileys received the recognition based on their vision, leadership and innovation in the dairy industry.
One farm from each of DFA’s seven Areas was selected and members were recognized with a video and award presentation during DFA’s Annual Meeting Tuesday, March 20 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri.
Other 2007 DFA Members of Distinction included the owners and operators of Anthony’s Dairy of Americus, Ga.; Crosswinds Dairy of Portales, N.M.; Diamond Three Dairy of Shelley, Idaho; RV Dairy of Winton, Calif.; Three Star Dairy of McCook, Neb.; and Weir Farms of Hanover, Mich.
“These members have found unique ways to ensure their success in the industry and are positive examples for us all,” says Rick Smith, DFA’s president and chief executive officer. “This is a great achievement.”
Walker Farms has been in the family for four generations. The enterprise is owned and operated by Leon and Sally Walker along with their son, Aaron, and their daughter and her husband, Amy and Larry Bailey. Located on 2,100 acres, the dairy facility milks 850 cows and produces more than 20 million pounds of milk annually.
Walker Farms, LLC, also operates a heifer facility, currently home to 775 heifers and calves. It boasts Kingsbury Kows, a bovine bed and breakfast providing the utmost in cow care and comfort, and the Kingsbury Country Inn, which pampers overnight guests of the two-legged variety. The overall operation is unique for its diversification, featuring additional businesses like Walker’s Farm, Home & Tack. This retail farm store supplies dairy farms of all sizes, hobby farmers, and the general public. A second location is opening soon in Vermont. The family also runs MGK Enterprises, a bulk feed trucking company and organic mill. Until last spring, the mill manufactured commercial dairy feed. Then it was transitioned to organic bulk feed production and now supplies New York, Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire. Additionally, MGK recently started a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation consulting program and is a contract feed hauler for Cargill Animal Nutrition.
Quality is at the top of the Walker’s priority list, and as a result, the dairy is a Gold and Silver Quality Award winner. Additionally, it’s achieved the Super Milk Award, created by the Empire State Milk Quality Council to recognize those dairies that consistently produce exceptionally high quality milk.
Walker Farms is heavily involved in both the community and the dairy industry. The principals hold office in most of the groups in which they participate and continue their involvement year after year. Such groups include the Board of Education, Fort Ann Planning Board, Tri-County Holstein Club, and Agricultural Stewardship Association. Also, Amy and Larry Bailey have been named chair couple of the National Milk Producers Federation Young Cooperator Program.