100 Years of Dairy Farming

388 S. Grand Mesa Dr,Cedaredge CO 81413

08 July, 2021

Description

Andy Wick talks about changes in dairy farming over the last 100 years and shares some stories about the Wick Family. Lucky for SCV residents, three of Andy Wick's great grandfather George Wick's sons moved to our valley. In 1910 Andy's Great Uncle Henry and family arrived, bought property north of Cedaredge, and started learning the art of fruit farming. Then in 1920, Andy's Grandfather Andy arrived and purchased land just south of Cedaredge. Andy grew up only about a mile from his grandfather's farm. In 1927, the third brother, Jake and family, arrived and purchased the general store which became known as the Wick Store. There are still a few descendants of these men that live in the area, including Andy and his son. When Andy was a kid the family had one milk cow, and today his herd numbers about 1000 cows, and is one of the few commercial dairies in western Colorado. Back in the early days, a farmer could sell his extra milk to the general store, but today Upper Valley Holsteins has to ship its milk to eastern Colorado to be processed for market. Photo credit: SCVHS member, Don Benjamin and Delta County Independent.