National group visits Marak Farm near Meeker
A group from the American Milking Shorthorn Society gathered at The Marak family’s farm in Meeker as a stop in their annual shorthorn breeders convention.
“It’s when we can get all our breeders together from all throughout the country,” Kate Gulley, Executive Secretary to the AMSS, said.
The Meeker-based farm hosted several AMSS members from all over the U.S. and even some from other countries. Travis Marak led the group in a tour of their pasteurization and packaging facility and further discussed how their farm is set apart from other Oklahoma dairy producers.
Shorthorn cattle are often overlooked by the milking industry as a viable source of dairy in favor of the ubiquitous black-and-white Holsteins.. Those who do believe shorthorns yield better product formed a community to promote their line of work.
Along with the farm tour, AMSS members could participate in an auction and junior cow show and sale in the following days. The convention moves locations annually, with the next region to host being New England. The convention’s rotating location is a way for breeders to learn from and create a dialogue with other breeders with varying levels of experience.
“We have a good product,” Marak said, “It’s super local. It’s really fresh.”
All production, packaging and distribution are based on the Marak family farm. There are few dairy farms, especially in Oklahoma, that house every step of the milk production process.
“It’s been a slow growth,” Marak said, “but we have good customers returning.”
Three generations of Marak men have run the farm that has grown over the decades to become what it is now. They have 25 retail customers including local Anthony’s grocery stores and three Wholefoods locations in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.
“Getting our product into Wholefoods was a big step for us,” Marak said.
Since packaging and distribution is handled entirely by the farm’s staff, which is primarily family, there is only so much they can produce without over-working themselves.
“More cows doesn’t necessarily equal more money made,” Marak said, “nor does it equal a happier farmer.”
While he didn’t express interest in growing his herd in the near future, Marak did remark on how he has thought about the potential of offering farm tours or producing ice cream at some point down the road.
For the time being, they plan to focus on continuing to produce their quality product locally.
The American Milking Shorthorn Society took a tour of the Marak family’s farm last week. The kids, such as Charli Jo Walters (above), who tagged along were able to pet and feed the calves. The attendees spent most of their time listening to Travis Marak (right) talk about the farm’s operations.
Photos/Evan Kennemer