Steve Rohe - Owner Rohe Farms

Our Farmers: Rohe Farms

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On a snow-covered morning in the Marcellus, New York countryside, the Rohe children, ages 10 to 22, gather around their kitchen to hear dad talk about the tradition of farming. “It goes way back to four brothers from Pennsylvania who bought the land,” Steve Rohe says. Back then it was an apple farm with a few cows. Today, three generations later, Rohe Farms, a top Byrne Dairy supplier, is a high quality, 900-acre operation with about 80 cows. Every other day, the Byrne Dairy truck arrives to pick up the freshest quality milk straight from the Rohe’s registered Holsteins. Though it has grown a great deal from the early days, Rohe Farms is considered a small dairy and the family’s just fine with that. Steve is able to be completely hands-on with the help of his wife, Trish, and their six children.

“It’s nice to have the family help,” Steve Rohe says grinning. He knows it’s not always easy waking up early with mom and dad to tend to the dairy cows and chores, but he also knows that what he can teach his children on the farm are lessons that last a lifetime. “It’s called bonding,” Trish Rohe says of the time the children get to spend with their parents when they work side by side. And the Rohe’s are happy they can give that to their children.

Patrick Rohe, son

A Worthy Partnership

Rohe Farms joined up with Byrne Dairy over 20 years ago, and the payoff remains significant. Even the oldest Rohe son, a Cornell University graduate, will wax poetic about the taste of Byrne Dairy chocolate milk from a glass bottle. “There’s something about the taste from the glass,” Patrick Rohe says with the same smile his father gives.

Along with being able to provide the highest quality milk to a well-known local company, the Rohe family has been able to count on a steady paycheck from Byrne Dairy when milk prices fluctuate, and when the country’s economy waivers. Steve Rohe says he is happy to work for a company like Byrne Dairy because quality is of utmost importance. Byrne Dairy also offers financial premiums to farmers who provide a milk product that is of the highest quality. The Rohe’s milk supply is checked randomly each month for its quality. When the milk passes the quality test, Rohe Farms is rewarded with higher pay. That’s incentive for the farmers, and “it’s good for the consumer,” says Steve Rohe.

The Rohe Family

All-Around Effort

A little after 4 a.m., every day, Steve heads to the barn to get the first milking started. Trish is not far behind, heading to care for and feed the calves. After raising six children together and countless Holsteins, Steve is still amazed at how well his wife can keep a cow happy. “She has the patience,” Steve says. Trish has even been known to take care of runny noses, and soothe a nervous calf with her words. And with happy cows, comes great milk. The quality and flow of milk is better when cows are treated well, and cared for Steve says. Proof of that is in their prized cow, Roxy, who is the highest milk producing cow living, in the world.

When Byrne Dairy announced it would keep its milk products growth hormone free, Rohe Farms was happy to comply. Adding growth hormones was a practice that never took off at the farm to begin with. “(Byrne Dairy) is good about keeping the milk high quality,” Steve Rohe says. “They have always been helpful, and they are good to work with.”

Though the Rohe’s are not sure if their children will continue in the tradition of farming, Steve and Trish know they have been able to provide a good life and a solid foundation for them. With one son already graduated from Cornell, a daughter, who was once a Dairy Princess, currently studying at Cornell and another son who just won football championships in his league, the possibilities are endless. “We like them to keep the door open for possibilities,” Steve said. And with a company like Byrne Dairy on their team, they are sure to be able to keep many doors open.

Rohe Facts: Steve and Trish Rohe, Patrick, 22, Caitlin, 20, Erin 17, Meghan, 13, Sarah and Shane 10.

Rohe Farms, 4207 West Seneca Turnpike Road, Onondaga Hill, New York.

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