10 Alden Advertiser, Alden, NY Thursday, May 15, 2014

By Kathryn LuppiIn this third installment of the Three-Gen-eration Family Business series, the lead-ers of the oldest family-owned and oper-ated businesses in Alden share how their businesses were built, and how they have overcome obstacles and thrived.

Foss Livestock. LLC – Cattle dealers and dairy farm

After James N. and Myrna Foss retired in 2007, their son Craig and his family stepped in to man-age their cattle dealer business and family’s dairy farm. Craig be-came the third generation of the family to run a farm in Erie Coun-ty. Craig’s son, Nick, is now follow-ing in his father’s footsteps. In op-eration since 1962, the Foss farm located on Broadway St. in Alden, sits on more than 100 acres of land where a herd of roughly 100-150 cattle and a small number of pigs are kept. A “buying station” is in one of its barns. “We are comparative to an auction,” said Craig, who is president and own-er of Foss Livestock, LLC. “Farm-ers like dropping off their livestock, hav-

ing it weighed, priced and getting their payment right away. They have to wait for payment at other places.” Craig’s grandfather, Norman, also raised dairy cattle and ran a small livestock business in Marilla. “He would pick up livestock from farmers and take it to market,” said James. Craig’s great grandfather, Charles, operated a dairy farm in Germany.

New York State is ranked third, after California and Wisconsin, among states in dairy production. It’s the number one processor of yogurt and a top producer of cottage cheese and sour cream. State senators recently passed a bill making yogurt the official state snack. The increasing demand for milk has helped to support and grow the dairy industry in Wyoming, Genesee and Niagara Counties. “There is a lot of dairy cattle in this area,” said Craig. “It is not a big beef state but the number of beef cattle is increasing.” While some larger dairies have grown during recent years, a num-ber of smaller dairies ceased operating and started raising beef in-stead, he said. The biggest reason for the switch, he explained, was a national shortage of beef cattle as a result of years of draught in the West. “Herds of cows were sold off for meat purposes because they didn’t have enough water and feed for them." James offered that an additional explanation for the beef shortage was the exit of farmers from the beef livestock business during a period that started in the 1990s when the market was flooded with cattle and beef prices fell.

Foss Livestock has adapted to changing economic situations by di-

Three-Generation Family Businesses Deliver Hometown Products and Services

versifying, said Craig. As well as providing dairy products, the farm deals with farmers in New York and several other states in buying and selling bull calves to be turned into steers and raised for beef, and cows that are no longer useful for milk pur-poses (cull cows) to be slaughtered for beef. They also offer re-placement dairy cows to farmers who sell their cull cows. The Foss farm, which employs 10 full-time and part-time employees, continues to draw heavily on family support. Craig’s brothers, Keith and Jeff, own businesses that branched out from the farm. Keith’s forage business on farm property supplies the farm’s feed. Craig works with Jeff’s livestock business in Vernon, NY.

For a glimpse into life on a family farm there are videos available on YouTube. The Peterson Farm Brothers “Life of a Farmer” videos have sparked great interest. The series of videos with scenes of the brothers working on their farm in Assaria, KS--Peterson Farm and Livestock--are entertaining and education-al. The video series started when one of the young farmers re-vamped the words to a song and made it into the popular music video parody, “I’m Farming and I Grow It.” The videos give evi-dence that work is never-ending on a farm.

Along with running the dairy farm and handling most of the vet work themselves, the Fosses are on the road each week buying and selling livestock. “In this business it has to be in your blood be-cause the hours can be exasperating,” said Craig. Nick said work-ing with farmers and the variety in their farm business appeals to him. He returned to work for the farm last year after complet-

ing the A.A.S. Ag-ricultural Business program at Al-fred State Co l l ege . Craig said he would take Nick to auc-t i o n s when he wasn’t in s c h o o l so Nick c o u l d w a t c h h i m . “There’s no buy-ing cattle

101. You need to watch and learn.” Nick’s brother, Joey, who at-tends American University in Washington, D.C. and served as a congressional intern, has an interest in agriculture public policy. Joey and James worked to pass the “Right To Farm” law in Alden.

Treating livestock well is good farming practice, said Craig. “Animals are not going to do well if you’re not treating them well. Our cattle here probably eat a more well-balanced diet than we do.” The Foss farm is a member of the farmer-owned Upstate Niagara Cooperative. Dairy and meat regulation compliance is an important part of their businesses. Every load of milk is test-ed and there are stringent controls on meat, Craig said. “There‘s zero tolerance for any kind of antibiotic drugs or residues in the meat. It’s against the law to sell an animal with any kind of antibiotic residue in it.” The farm does not raise dairy or beef cows for the organic market. Craig noted that food production is greatly reduced with organic farming. “A cow that’s milked com-mercially will produce on average 80 pounds of milk each day; a cow organically, if she’s doing really well, produces 50.”

When James, Craig and Nick were asked what has helped the Foss farm to be successful, Nick responded, “Being fair.” James, who continues to lend a helping hand on the farm when it’s needed, agreed. “Nick said it exactly right. If the farmers do not trust you they’re not going to bring the cattle to you.” Craig’s response summed it up: “Being fair, working hard and having it in your blood.”

Aerial photo from 2000

Jim and Myrna when they started the farm in 1962.

Nick, Jim and Craig Foss