National Future Farmer

they MM^hipped the wnarheting prahlewn
HARD
work, good management,
and efficient marketing underlie
the success of Gaston's Dairy
Farm near Greer, South Carolina. In
addition to being a successful dairy, it
is the home of two American Farmer
Degree holders.
Thomas Gaston, the oldest, received
his Degree in 1955. His brother. Dean,
was awarded his Degree in 1956. Both
are graduates of James F. Byrnes High
School and are now farming in partnership
with their father. A younger
brother, Gerald, 15 years old, plans to
study vocational agriculture and has his
eye on the American Farmer Degree.
The Gaston Dairy Farm is widely
known in upper South Carolina. Not
only among the 350 customers served
by the dairy, but also by farmers and
agricultural leaders who recognize the
good farming practices being used in
the dairy enterprise.
"It is a family enterprise with an un-
believably small amount of outside
help." says Ben E. Blackwell, agriculture
teacher at James F. Byrnes High
School. "You can't go over there uith-
out catching them all working."
Started With One Cow
Dean recalls his dad, Thomas F. Gaston,
started the dairy approximately 10
years ago with one cow. Now they are
milking 38 cows and supply 350 customers
in Greer, an industrial center
surrounded by a fertile farming area.
A look at Dean's program will show
how these American Farmers developed.
It was only natural for him to in-
Marketing their own products saves
time and money for the Sastons and
Dean thinks it's fun to operate a
truck route for local deliveries.
Bv Wilbur McCartha
clude a dairy calf among his first
projects.
Other enterprises that year included
a Berkshire brood sow, two beef steers,
and three acres of corn for feeding.
Later chickens were added along with
additional feed crops of oats and barley.
Each project was increased in size till
he far exceeded the minimum qualifications
for the American Farmer Degree
when he filed his application.
Dean's first projects during 1951-52
returned a labor income of $254.60.
Total income was $896 and expenses
were $642.
During the 1955-56 period, his proj-
ects had increased in scope to 57 hogs,
6 dairy cows, two beef cows, 800 hens,
two boars, 1,000 broilers, and 20 percent
interest in 50 cows. Labor income
for this period totaled $5,290, total income
was $9,060 and expenses came to
$3,770.
In addition to his active farm sched-
ule. Dean has achieved outstanding rec-
ognition in FFA activities at local, state,
and national levels. His leadership ac-
tivities reached beyond FFA work into
his community and church.
Dairying has been profitable and the
family loves it. Dean points out that
their entrance into the dairy business
was not a sudden decision. They grew
into it. Both Thomas and Dean re-
ceived a calf in the Chapter dairy chain.
These calves provided foundation stock
for the dairy.
In addition to his interest in the dairy.
Dean sells about 70 head of No. 1 hogs
annually and now has 400 layers, and
6 brood sows. Feed grown for the
dairy stock include corn, oats, barley,
soybeans, and lespedeza for hay; permanent
pasture of fescue and clover:
and temporary pasture of millet and
sweet Sudan grass.
Direct Selling
One of the outstanding features of the
Gaston's farming operation is their use
of the dairy route for direct selling to
customers. Not only milk and dairy
products, but also eggs, pork, sausages,
and dressed hens to order are sold.
"Without the dairy enterprise, the
other enterprises would be out," Dean
explains.
Advisor Blackwell says, 'Tn my opin-
ion this is one of the few farm families
who have whipped the marketing end of
farming."
Pointing out that a boy's success in
vocational agriculture depends a great
deal on the cooperation of the father.
Blackwell said, "Mr. Gaston has
worked closely with both of his American
Farmer sons, and also with the
agriculture teacher."
Dean and his family note that Mr.
Blackwell deserves credit for time and
work he has devoted to helping the farm
reach its present development.
A visitor to the farm sees a compact,
family-size farm. It's operated with a
love of farming, pride, care, and good
management. He comes away feeling
that "a spirit of cooperation" in the family,
a lot of work, and a farm educational
program have gone a long way
in bringing the Gaston farm up to its
present development,
Vo-ag teacher Ben Blackwell discusses with Dean some of the desirable traits
of dairy cattle. Dean is qualified to speak authoritatively on this topic
since dairy animals and their products helped him win an American Farmer
Degree. They currently play a major role In providing the Gaston's income.
28 The .National FUTURE FARMER