HISTORY OF THE LEASE A DAIRY PROGRAM
The Lease-A-Dairy Program has grown significantly over the years, with multiple dairies now sponsoring it
The Lease-A-Dairy Program was initiated by Amanda Dye in 2005 to support members of the Larimer 4-H dairy project who lack access to property for raising dairy cattle. This program evolved from the earlier Donate A Dairy project, which required participants to have their own land and facilities. The Lease-A-Dairy Program has grown significantly over the years, with multiple dairies now sponsoring it, allowing many participants to engage in dairy farming. Despite challenges such as Vesicular Stomatitis, Covid-19, and Bird Flu, the program has continued to provide valuable learning experiences. In 2017, it had its largest participation with 32 members for both the Lease A Dairy and regular 4-H Dairy project members.
In years past, the dairy industry had been hit with Vesicular Stomatitis, Covid-19 and Bird Flu which restricted the 4-H kids from showing their projects at the county fair. However with dedication from its leaders, members were still able to visit the dairies and participate in clinics.
In addition, we have had several members who started out in the Lease-A-Dairy Program and got so involved that their families purchased property so they could have their own cattle.
We asked our Honorary Leader, Shari about her involvement in the project:
Q - How did you get involved with the dairy program?
I started showing at LCF 1971. After I aged out, I continued to help. When my brother was showing, Sam and Clayton Fetzer were the key Leaders. At end of show, Sam announced they were retiring, and we (Lee DeBuse and I) were taking over. She never asked me or Lee, so we were surprised! She did talk us into doing it and we took over I think was 1994 or 1995. Lee stayed with me until she had her child 1998.
Q - Do you know the first dairy that participated?
When Lee and I took over the program, the donate a dairy heifer program was already going. Dairies that donated animals included Bill Shutts, Windsor, (who Fetzers milked at one of his dairies), Randy Hammon, Berthoud, (who had registered jerseys and showed nationally), Bill Wailes, Fort Collins, (his family has WW dairy now in Fort Morgan), Mike Dickinsen, Fort Collins, Dyecrest Dairy, Fort Collins.
For Lease A Dairy in the begining was Mike Dickinsen, Dyecrest, Sas (Taft Hill Dairy) and Randy Hammon. Other dairies that have participated in Lease A Dairy : Covenant Farms, Somewhere in LaMacha, Spence Family, Quarantino family, Blehm Farms, Pickert Dairy.
Q - How has the program changed since the beginning?
It has had big growth! Over the years we needed to add and tweak the guidelines. This helps participants and the dairy's need for consistency and legality (so dairies couldn't get sued) for how the program is run. The Extension office wanted to make sure of accountability since animals were not at their homes.
Q - How many members did the first couple of years have?
Not really sure, maybe 3-5??
HONORARY LEADER, SHARI
I was almost literally,
born in a dairy barn
I was almost literally born in a dairy barn! It was on the historic Willis Farm in Timnath, CO. My dad was milking cows and my mom was in the barn waiting for him to get done because I was on the way! Cows came first. When I was 2, my father went in partnership with another family and we had East Glade Dairy in Masonville, CO. In 4th grade, we sold out and after a little more than a year, we started Homestead Dairy in Bellvue, CO. I started showing Dairy cattle in 1972. At 14, I got a loan through the Jr. FHA program and bought 14 head of cows. My herd grew to 40 before we had to sell the dairy in 1983 (a hard time for many dairy farmers in the area.) I was also on the Larimer County Dairy Judging team for several years and even went to Nationals one year.
I won the State Dairy Enterprise award through FFA and went on to win in the regional division. My family started working for DHIA (Dairy Herd Improvement Association) following the sale of the dairy, and I continued being a DHIA supervisor for 14 years. Those dairy families became part of my family and I still care for them all so much to this day. I also helped Valentine Holsteins and Haake Farms Brown Swiss, showing and picturing cattle. I was just helping out at the Larimer County Fair Dairy show and somehow got to become a county leader – and have been the County Dairy Leader since 1995!
My son Thomas showed dairy cattle and many other projects in 4-H and school and my husband helps out when he can. I have been blessed by sharing what little I know along with many other terrific leaders and sponsors with many kids through the Larimer County 4-H Dairy Program. We have an awesome bunch of kids, parents and other supporters of the 4-H dairy program every year, and that’s what continues to keep me a leader in this great program.
