NEW SHARON – A local family earned the top honor in Maine for its “exceptional” farm practices at this year’s Big E Fair in West Springfield, Mass.
Silver Valley Farm of New Sharon was selected as the 2014 New England Green Pastures Dairy Farm award winner for the state of Maine at the annual Eastern States Exposition or The Big E. The award “is given every year to an exceptional dairy farm from each of the New England states,” according to the fair’s press release.
The Davis family has been farming the 300 acres since the 1940s when Jim Davis’ grandfather bought the parcel off Route 2. Now, the fifth generation of the Davis family has joined the workforce to help manage organic dairy farm’s 60 milkers, 75 replacement heifers and grow crops of corn and hay.
Five or six farms are nominated each year for the award from each of the New England states. Jim Davis’s parents won the award in 1974. Two or three years ago he and his wife Carol’s farm was nominated but didn’t win the prestigious award.
Once a farm is nominated, the judges, who were the top winners of the award from their state during the last five years, visit each and conduct a thorough inspection before deciding on which farm is the best of the best.
“They choose the farm that’s doing the best job with their cattle and crops,” Jim Davis explained.
The judges who came to the Davis farm looked at the pasture and were particularly interested in how the organically-grown corn was doing.
To be certified organic, “we cultivate instead of spray (with pesticides),” he said of his corn crop. Judges examined the cattle and the condition of the systems in place to support the milking, feeding and cleaning operations. The hay crop operation was also inspected and a forage analysis of nutrient content was conducted.
The Davis family was attending The Big E when their Silver Valley Farm was announced as the 2014 New England Green Pastures Dairy Farm award winners for the state of Maine. More than nine decades old, The Big E, which continues through Sept. 28, is the fifth largest fair in North America.
“We didn’t know what to expect,” Jim Davis said after the judges toured the farm, but “we were very happy to win it.”
Congratulations Davis family!
Correction- The farm is owned by Rick and Jim. I just have a few ‘Swiss” on the farm. ;)…Carol
Congratulations!!!
Congratulations to Rick, Jim, and all the family! You are carrying on a proud tradition.
Terry and Kathy Lynch
Temple
We are all very proud of our farm family and their award!
nice job guys
Great job Jim and family !
Congratulations to a close knit hard working family.
Congratulations to the whole family. It truly takes a family to run the farm.
That’s amazing! I’m so proud to be from New Sharon! Your farm is truly a reminder of ‘home’. Good job Davis’s!!
CONGRATS TO THE DAVIS FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Where’s Rick and Ricky and crew?
Congratulations by the way. That’s Awesome!!!
Congratulations to the Davis family!! They are a hard working, special group of people!! Awesome friends!!! Love you guys, The Adams
What an Honor. Congratulations to all the Davis Family from your neighbors The Porter’s
Congratulations on your success and its recognition.
Congratulations ! Well deserved by a fine family. Franklin County & New Sharon need to be proud !
Fred Hardy
This is fantastic! What great news! Congratulations to you all for your hard work upholding the family tradition. We all know awards aren’t the reason we pursue our livelihoods and passions, but it sure is nice when someone notices. Kudos to you all.
Congratulations!
Nice to see some local business doing right!
great Job.
I’m a farm boy at heart and glad to see that the farms are alive and well in Maine.
Congratulations to all