CARLISLE, Pa. — Agriculture is a big business in Pennsylvania, making up 52,000 farms and 7.3 million acres of farmland. The dairy industry also plays a huge role in agriculture and Pennsylvania’s economy – dairy accounts for $11.8 billion in economic revenue and 47,000 jobs.
FOX43 stopped at Destiny Dairy Bar and Stover Farms to look at how the agriculture industry works.
Julia Stover, also known as Grandma Julia, has been on the farm since 1989 and grew up raising cattle alongside her family. Her husband, John Stover, passed down the farm to their children, who now own and operate it.
“I grew up and was raised on a farm and I fed calves on that farm… and I’m still doing it today,” said Stover.
Amy Bricker, owner of the farm, went to Cornell and farms alongside Grandma and her family. They opened a store to offer their products directly to consumers. Milk goes from Farm to Fridge in 48 hours and is also produced locally.
According to the 2023 Census Review of Agriculture, the number of farms continues to decrease. Still, dairy in Pennsylvania is going strong, and the Commonwealth remains the eighth largest producer of dairy in the U.S.
“I’m most passionate about my dairy cows and the products they produced,” said Bricker. “I believe fully in the power of milk to supply the 13 essential nutrients we need every day, and so I wanted to make the absolute best product, make it available, and show people in the community how we raise our cows and support local farmers.”