Source: NCDA&CS, 7/29/21


Even after decades of family farming, there is always room for a new idea.

Take that from Randy Lewis, owner of Ran Lew Dairy in Snow Camp. A fifth-generation dairy farmer, Lewis took over ownership of the farm in 1980, having bought the farm himself after his grandmother and mentor sold it among her family in the early 1970’s.

At the time, Lewis’ plan was to do as he’d always done – milk cows. Ran Lew Dairy has around 50 cows and produces whole milk, buttermilk, low-fat milk, chocolate milk and half-and-half. The farm had always been in the business of selling milk, but things eventually had to change, Lewis said. The farm could not be profitable because of low milk prices and drastically increased input costs over time.

“We’d been selling commercial milk forever, but it just got to the point where we couldn’t make a living anymore. We didn’t have enough land, couldn’t milk enough cows,” he said. “In this economy, you either get big, get out or find a niche market. You have to find a different way.”

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