Young Hopkins County dairyman looks to a positive future

By PATTI SELLS | Sulphur Springs News-Telegram

J.R. Fisher, 22, has been involved in his family's dairy all his life. His interest in the industry has taken him to Australia, and across much of the United States. -- News-Telegram photo

August 1, 2002 -- In spite of the declining number of dairy farms in Hopkins County, one young man dares to dream big, and has the determination, motivation, and skill to make those dreams become a reality.

At 22-years of age, Jonathan Ronald (J.R.) Fisher has already obtained a wealth of knowledge and experience far beyond his years. His interest in cows and the dairy industry have taken him to Australia, and across North and Southwest portions of the United States.

After graduating from high school, Fisher attended classes at Texas A&M University-Commerce seeking a degree in dairy science. He continues the pursuit of that degree this fall at Texas A&M University-College Station.

During a recent hiatus from his college studies, Fisher was selected by Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) to go to Australia for four months on a young cooperative member program to work and observe the dairy industry in that part of the world.

He recently shared his wisdom on dairying in Australia, Utah, and Hopkins County with the Professional Ag Workers at an early morning meeting.

"The dairy industry in Australia is very different. The cows basically fend for themselves," he said. "They forage and graze the land."

According to Fisher, the only time the cows are given feed is when farmers are trying to get them in the barn.

The key to good dairying in Australia revolves around irrigation to keep the grass growing, he said.

"I learned a lot about pasture management, rotating pastures, and recognizing pasture quality," Fisher said. "Because of the different grasses, the cows' milk (production) would swing depending on the quality of grass.

"Their supply wasn't balanced like it is here in the states," he added.

Fisher has also attended Utah State, where he completed a nine-month dairy herdsman management program.

While in Utah, he got the chance to work with a nutritionist and learned in-depth, researched techniques on how to produce and collect data necessary to run a successful dairy operation. Fisher also studied how cows produce in certain situations.

"The biggest difference between dairying in Utah and Texas is the climate. It was frigid cold, and we worked in three to four feet of snow.

"I feel fortunate now to work in 110-degree temperatures," he said.

But the schooling didn't stop there.

Upon completion of the Utah State program, Fisher took it upon himself to travel the roads of Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, California, and Arizona in order to learn different techniques used in the dairy industry throughout the nation.

"I have had lots of schooling, but I have yet to find one that can teach me anything better than hands-on experience," said the young dairyman.

"I've learned things about better management, different styles of barns, and how to achieve maximum output from your cows.

Fisher puts his accumulated skills into practice on a 150-cow dairy farm he owns and operates with his father at their homestead in Reilly Springs. It is at this family dairy farm where his father, Bryant, gave Fisher his first cow, and his interest in the family business took root.

"When he was 2-years-old he could tell you all the different breeds of cows," said his aunt, Patricia Fisher, of Yantis. "Dairy cows are all he's ever known."

"I was just a baby when my dad gave me a Brown Swiss, and I have been sentimental towards that particular breed ever since.

"As a young boy I even served as the National Brown Swiss Ambassador at the World Dairy Expo, held in Madison, Wis. I guess you could say I was the poster child for the Brown Swiss breed. ... I have bought them from all over the country, and I continue to show them and win awards," he added.

"I can remember when I was a kid we would go to the civic center to show our cows and the Dairy Festival Queen would hand out the ribbons to the winners," he said. "That was a big deal to us."

Fisher said he feels discouraged because the dairy farmers' role in the festival seems to have been forgotten.

"It has turned into nothing but a pageant. The livestock show wasn't even held at the civic center this year.

"The cost to rent the civic center is so much that it is not feasible for us to have it there," he said. "That's the kind of stuff that disheartens me. The festival is suppose to honor the dairy farmers," he added.

Fisher believes the dairy industry is still a economical driving force for Hopkins County, but is on a down hill slide.

"I know the dairy business continues to stimulate jobs for our area," he said. "Sulphur Springs has three or four feed mills, there are milk plants, and dairymen spend a lot of money, especially with the banks.

But according to the dairyman, he is not content with the way things are for the dairy industry here.

"We once had 600-plus dairies here, and we're down to 180 and falling," he said

He attributes the decline to several factors.

"We have intense summers, intense winters, it rains too much and we have humidity that the cows just can't take," he said. "Our climate is not conducive for raising cattle that will produce a lot of milk."

Another factor, he believes, is that with the exception of himself and maybe a few others, Hopkins County does not have a second generation stepping in to take the place of their fathers.

"Dairying is hard, dirty work. It's seven days a week, no week-ends, no vacations and odd hours," he said.

It's got to be something you really want to do, he said. And though he may not be content, he is still able to dream.

"My dream is to run a bigger and better operation. In order for me to make money, I will probably eventually leave the area," Fisher said.

He said he has toyed with the idea of moving west.

"I want to milk cows, and I want to milk a lot of them. I could do it here by leasing several barns and filling them up, but I would wear myself thin," he said. "I'd like to do well here, but it's just not economically feasible.

"The dairy industry in Hopkins County may have already seen its golden days, but it is still a contributing factor to this community," Fisher said. "I'll be around for another five to 10 years anyway."