About Our Farm

About Our Farm and Family

Johnston Dairy Farm is a family owned and operated dairy that has
been in continuous operation since 1956. The dairy was first started
by J.H. Johnston in August of 1956 with 17 cows. At that time, the
cows were milked in a flat barn. In 1977,  J.H. Johnston decided it
was time to modernize and the current parlor barn was built.  J. H.
Johnston continued to operate in that barn until his retirement in
1992.  At that time his son, Russell Johnston, purchased the cows
and equipment from J.H.  Russell is still the owner and operator
today.  Russell's wife, Holly, and their children, Ransom and Rush,  
enjoy helping, too.  

Russell and Holly attended the Dairy Farmers of America Young
Cooperators Convention in Dallas, Texas.   They were selected for
the Dairy Farmers of America Steering Committee.  They
represented DFA at the National Milk Producers Convention in Las
Vegas, Nevada, in October.    Russell also recently delivered a
presentation in Augusta, Georgia.  Attendees included Governor
Sonny Perdue.  The presentation covered various aspects of dairy
farming in Georgia and the prospects of Agri-tourism in Georgia.  

In today's world most children do not understand where the food they
eat comes from or how it is made. We would love for them to come
and explore our farm and learn that food doesn't just appear in the
grocery store.

• Currently we milk between 80 and 100 cows a day .
  
• There are 4 employees at Johnston dairy. One full time and 3
  part time.
  
• We grow many crops including wheat, barley, grain sorghum,
  peas, hay, and oats.
  
• Our cows produce around 70 pounds of milk a day per cow
  (thats a little over 8 gallons!)
  
• The cows consume 95 pounds of feed a day, each. They also
  drink up to 40(yes, 40!) gallons of water a day.
  
• Cows sleep as little as 1 hour a day. And, no, they don't sleep
  standing up!
  
• A cow is pregnant for 9 months before she calves.
  
• A cow is two years old before she starts giving milk.
  
• It takes 10 pounds of milk to make 1 pound of cheese.
  
• A calf is weaned from milk after only 2 months. She will then
  gain a pound and a half of weight a day for the next 18
  months.
  
• A cow really has only one stomach, called the Rumen, and it
  has four chambers.  
  

These are a few of the many interesting things you and your group
will learn about at our farm. Please, come and enjoy the experiences
offered at Johnston Dairy Farm.