Registered Holstein cattle is a tie that binds the Silveria family. Johnny Silveira began farming with his father Jose while finishing his senior year of high school.
“My dad and I, we both worked at a dairy,” Silveira said. “I always loved cows, always loved working on the business outside, and kind of talked him into starting a business with me—and after a few years of [telling] him this is what I wanted, he supported me.”
Today, Silveira’s herd consists of 1500 Holsteins and 400 acres of almonds, along with corn and wheat for silage. It’s a family affair for this dairy operation, and as Johnny says, it’s what makes their dairy unique.
“Both my kids work hard every day out here,” he said. “They love it. They love the animals. They love spending time and working with them. In today’s world, you don’t see a lot of young kids wanting this life, and I do think that’s pretty awesome.”
When Johnny’s children, Logan and Lauren, began showing, they joined the Holstein Association USA in 2017 and started registering a handful of show cattle.
“I think raising our kids on the dairy is good for them,” he said. “We get to teach them how we were raised and keep them close to home, show them our values, and teach them all the respect and stuff that we were taught as kids.”
Silveira Dairy celebrated its 30th year of operation in November 2021.
