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Chester County's longtime farmer Walt Moore is honored

Walt Moore's great-grandfather had modest aspirations in 1909 when he walked his 20 cows down Route 926 to his new farm in London Grove Township.

Ellen and Walt Moore check on some of the cows at their Walmoore Holsteins Inc. dairy, which is the second largest farm in Chester County. Below, his father, Bill Moore. The family farm has 800 cows.
Ellen and Walt Moore check on some of the cows at their Walmoore Holsteins Inc. dairy, which is the second largest farm in Chester County. Below, his father, Bill Moore. The family farm has 800 cows.Read moreMICHAEL S. WIRTZ / Staff Photographer

Walt Moore's great-grandfather had modest aspirations in 1909 when he walked his 20 cows down Route 926 to his new farm in London Grove Township.

William Moore just wanted to increase his Chester County herd by a few cows.

"My great-granddad had 20 cows, my granddad had 40, my father wanted to grow to 60," said Walt Moore, 44. "He did that in two years."

Today, the Moore family homestead, which has 800 cows, is the headquarters of Walmoore Holsteins Inc. dairy farm and a milk transport company. At 1,250 acres, it is the second-largest dairy farm in Chester County, and produces milk used in some well-known products on area supermarket shelves.

Last month, Walt Moore was named a master farmer in recognition of his farming skill, business success and community involvement. Moore is one of 55 Philadelphia-area farmers to receive what is akin to the Oscar of agriculture since the award started in the 1920s.

The honor, which recognizes farmers in the mid-Atlantic region, is cosponsored by American Agriculturist magazine and the Extension Services in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and West Virginia.

"What is interesting about the Moores is that they have been able to grow their business in an extremely competitive area where there are alternative land uses," said John Vogel, editor-in-chief of American Agriculturist. "They feel very strongly that keeping farmland productive as opposed to [using it only] as green space is what we need in society."

The Moores have agreements with the state and county to prevent most of their property from being developed for commercial or residential uses in the future.

"We feel good about that," said Walt's father, Bill Moore, 75, who still works on the farm. "The community needs diversity. All houses isn't a good thing. We need [places for] food production."

The Moore family is one of 286 dairy farmers in Chester County. There are 339 in the five-county area and 8,333 in the state.

Last year, Walmoore Holsteins estimated sales of $2.4 million. It weathered a crippling drop in milk prices in 2009 during a recession, which forced some farms to close. Walmoore stayed healthy by using savings to help get through the downturn. Prices have now rebounded.

But even as one large challenge was met, the biggest might be on the horizon. Who will carry on the Moore legacy?

As a member of the family's fourth generation of farmers, Walt Moore embraced his dairy heritage at age 6 when he told his parents - Bill and Sally - that he wanted to go to Pennsylvania State University, his father's alma mater, study farming, and come home to run the family business.

At that age, Moore was mowing the grass and sharing chores with his two older sisters. He had been christened into the lifestyle as a toddler by tagging along with his father and riding in the cabin of a tractor.

"I was wired this way. It's built in you," said Walt Moore, who earned his bachelor's degree in agricultural science from Penn State. "I like being outside, working with animals, with the equipment, with the people."

Moore can begin his day as early as 5:30 a.m. and might end it at 9:30 p.m., especially during harvest season. The farm grows food for the cows, breeds them, raises them, and milks them.

The farm often hosts tours as part of its effort to educate people about where their food comes from, said Ellen Moore, 49.

Many don't know the process that begins with inseminating cows, delivering their calves, and then milking the mothers during a lactation period of about 10 months, Ellen Moore said.

The Moores, who have 12 employees, have modernized their operation with new barns, which include a maternity area, a cow bedding system in which the cows recline on sand, and a milking facility. Milking is a 24-hour operation.

Temple Grandin, the Colorado State University professor of animal science who was the subject of an award-winning HBO movie, toured the farm last year.

On Tuesday, the milk from each cow was being tested for milk protein, butterfat and nonfat solids content, which helps to determine the price.

Farms keep records on each cow's production and must comply with government guidelines regulating farming and environmental practices, nutrient management for the cows, and milk quality.

Most of the Walmoore Holsteins' milk is sold to Penn Maid and transported daily to the company's plant in Philadelphia, where it used to make sour cream, cottage cheese, and other products.

As the Moores look to the future, three members of the fifth generation (Bill Moore's 10 grandchildren) have shown an interest in farming.

But even if they opt out, Ellen Moore said, there's something even more critical.

"The goal is to keep the farm as a farm," she said. "It's more important that [the farm] continues to run than to have a family member running it."