By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

SIDNEY, Ohio — To say that simply working with Jerseys and Ayrshires is a family affair for the Greiwe clan of Sidney is an understatement. Five generations have lived with dairy cows in this west-central Ohio city and the sixth generation (the youngest is 5, the oldest, 12) has shown a keen interest in keeping the tradition alive.

“John and I bought this farm in 1972 and our son and daughter naturally got interested in the Jerseys and Ayrshires and had a desire to take them to shows across the tri-state,” Donna Greiwe said. “The real surprise is our six grandchildren have taken an interest in showing them at shows as well.”

The Greiwes could fill one of their barns with the plaques, ribbons, trophies and banners they’ve won over the years. Most of their weekends are spent at county, state and national shows. In fact, the six grandchildren will likely be exhibitors at the Spring Dairy Expo in Columbus, Ohio, March 25-27.

“Yeah, we’ve done quite well with both breeds,” Greiwe said. “It’s a challenge to work with different bulls and try to improve the downfall of a given animal and work with it. Working with the animals can be a real chore, but the real pleasure for John and I has been meeting all the nice people. That’s what it’s all about. It’s like one big family reunion out there.”

The family love affair with Jerseys and Ayrshires began around 1900 when Donna’s great-great-grandfather (Samuel Knoop) started raising dairy cattle. Her grandfather, Clifford Knoop, carried the tradition into the 1940s and passed it along to her father, Kenneth, who continued with the two breeds into the mid-1960s.
The Greiwes admit breeding quality Jerseys and Ayrshires can bring high profits. Greiwe says the shows also bring the biggest smiles to members of this family.

“We’ve had numerous successes and we’ve been fortunate to breed many outstanding cow families using the DKG and KEK prefixes,” she said. “But like other dairy farmers, we’ve taken a hit with the milk prices, too. Add to that the overhead of electric, supplies and vet bills. It’s tough right now but it’s been worse. Fortunately, we have other things to help offset these expenses.”

Those “other things” are the corn, soybeans, wheat, oats and hay they grow on their 1,800-acre farm. Their break from the worries on the farm comes in the way of dairy shows and contests.

“We enjoy going to the shows and having the family together,” Greiwe said. “It means a lot and it teaches the grandkids about winning and losing.”

These are also familiar to her. She’s judged dairy shows in Kentucky, Michigan and Louisiana. This summer she’ll judge Ayrshires, Jerseys and Guernseys during the Junior Show at the Kentucky State Fair, just as she did in 2000.

When it comes to discussing Jerseys and Ayrshires, Greiwe is the spokesperson for the family. But John is just as involved.

“It’s how we met,” Greiwe said. “He showed Ayrshires and I showed Jerseys. When we were dating, he showed Ayrshires and I showed Jerseys. When we married we kept both. Our kids started showing both and now the grandchildren are showing both breeds.”

For more information about the Greiwes and their dairy farm, call 937-492-7209 or e-mail millvalleyfarms @woh.rr.com