Homegrown values: for dairy producer David Ruppert, success is all about a family working together toward a common dream

摘要

When you build your life around God and family, setting priorities becomes a pretty simple task. At least, that's the way dairy producer David Ruppert sees it. The Nokomis, Ill., Master Farmer says everything else comes after those two guiding factors. "This is about a family -- working together, developing a dream of showing and selling top registered Holstein dairy cattle," says David, 57. "All the children have been successful in 4-H, FFA and Junior Holstein activities, which have started them toward successful agriculture careers. Now we need to focus on transferring the operation to the next generation." David and his family, 1 wife Lenore and grown children Tonya, Lance, Jene and Lora, have built one of the state's top dairy herds, repeatedly earning the Holstein Association's Progressive Breeder award, typically given to the top 10 percent of all Holstein herds. The family's cattle reap show boxes full of trophies and ribbons at county and state fairs. Superior dairy genetics get noticed,and now other producers buy breeding cattle from the Rupperts.