ABOUT THE FAMILY
First Generation
The Jones Dairy story began when Minor Jones and his wife moved into the home place in 1903. They rented the original 160 acres until 1934 when they we able to purchase the land as their own. Like many farms in the 1930s through 1970s, Minor and his wife, along with their five children, raised and grew a variety of livestock and crops including pigs, beef, dairy cattle, corn, and soybeans.
Second Generation
In 1945, Minor’s son, James Dale, took over the farm upon his return from the war becoming the second-generation owner of the Jones farm. During this generation, James Dale and his wife raised their five children on the farm. They chose to focus on dairy cattle and pigs and it was during this time that James’s son, Patrick, the youngest of the five children, took a special interest in Jersey cows and dairy farming. Together as father and son, James and Patrick worked to grow and modernize the dairy portion of the farm, leading to today’s Jersey dairy farm.
Third Generation
Patrick married his wife Nancy in 1977, and together they purchased the farm in 1982, becoming the third-generation owners. Patrick and Nancy raised their eight children on the farm while they continued to grow and develop the dairy into its current milking herd of 1,500 cows and a land base of 1,200 acres.
TODAY
Two of Patrick and Nancy’s children, Aaron and Nathan, are involved full-time in the management of the dairy, and each has two children who enjoy being at the farm.
Patrick and Nancy’s other six children live and work throughout Iowa, Illinois, and Arizona, and stay involved in the farm when time allows. The home place is often bustling with some or all of their 13 grandchildren, and the farm serves as the hub for family gatherings.
1,500 Cows
1,200 Acres
