Small Herd, Big Heart: Verger Dairy Farm provides loyal following with fresh, wholesome foods

In contrast to the big herds of sheep and black cattle dotting the hillsides of northern Wyoming, Don Verger’s handful of red and white Ayrshire cows graze against the grand backdrop of the Big Horn Mountains just outside of Buffalo. 

Here, Verger Dairy Farm produces milk, nature’s most perfect food, and may be small by industry standards, but just the right size for Don and his family. The farm has gained a loyal local following for its high-quality, sweet tasting milk and farm-fresh produce.

Deep roots in dairy 

Don grew up in the dairy business running a large commercial dairy alongside his father in San Diego, Calif., where they milked roughly 550 cows twice a day. 

After gradually taking over the operation, Don weathered the economic pressures of the mid-2000s when milk prices were low and feed costs were high. Additionally, the devastating Witch Creek Fire ripped through 197,990 acres of San Diego County, California – the second largest wildfire in the state during the summer of 2007.

Don then made the difficult decision to sell out through a state program designed to reduce milk supply and raise prices, and after purchasing property online and later visiting in person, he and his wife decided the Cowboy State was home. 

Don shares, upon moving to Buffalo, he worked some jobs in town doing construction and remodeling businesses, while also building his new home. 

“But I couldn’t get away from the cows completely – I missed them,” he says. “My mom ended up buying two Ayrshire cows for me as a gift, so I drove all the way to Maple Lake, Minn. to pick them up and bring them home.”

It didn’t take long for Don to add a few calves and a bull to the herd. Although, after an incident with said bull, Don switched to artificial insemination. 

“Anyways, I started with two and now I have seven – four cows and three bred heifers that are going to freshen this spring,” he shares.

Keeping it small

Today, Don runs what he proudly refers to as a micro dairy, milking a handful of cows seasonally throughout the year, with milk typically coming in around mid-April once calving season is underway.

“Right now, all of my cows are on vacation, but they’re all pregnant and the first one is due to calve around April 15, so I’ll get back to milking then,” he states. 

Calves remain with their dams for the first two to three months, sharing milk before being weaned. The cows graze the farm’s 36 acres until November, after which they are supplemented with hay sourced locally from Don’s neighbor Bob Ruby.

Don notes he runs Ayrshire cattle specifically for their hardiness and efficiency, which are critical in Wyoming’s harsh climate. He also appreciates the breed’s smaller frame, good butterfat content and sweet-tasting milk. 

When it comes to his herd size, Don says he is happy to keep it small, allowing him to focus on top-notch animal care and product quality.

“I’d like to get more pasture on my property. Each year, I’ve been trying to disc an extra acre and plant grass on it,” he shares. “My goal is to let my cows pasture
longer – into December would be awesome.” 

“I’m just a little guy running a micro dairy. I’m happy with where I’m at as far as herd size and the amount of milk I’m selling. I don’t want to get any bigger,” he adds. 

Fresh from the farm

At its peak, Verger Dairy Farm sells about eight gallons of milk per day directly to consumers.

Don notes milk is primarily sold at the Johnson County Recycling Center in Buffalo where he serves as manager. 

“They have a big fridge they don’t mind me using, so I sell my milk out of it,” Don says. “People come in, drop off recyclables, grab milk and leave cash on the desk.” 

Additional milk is transported to Casper each week where it’s sold at Baker’s Market.

Don also sells eggs from his flock of 50 to 60 chickens, along with seasonal produce grown in his large garden. 

“I grow a huge garden and sell cucumbers, tomatoes, onions and a lot of beans and squash,” he says. “In a good year, I’ll also have cantaloupe and watermelon, and once a year, I grow about 500 to 700 pumpkins for the Buffalo town square.” 

Challenges and accomplishments

Don admits farming in Johnson County hasn’t been without its challenges. He cites Wyoming’s harsh weather as the biggest adjustment he’s had to make after moving from southern California. 

“One of the biggest challenges I’ve had since moving here is trying to get used to the weather. Back home, you can grow a tomato plant year-round, but everything here is so different,” he says. 

Despite this, Don believes the rewards far outweigh the hardships. 

He shares his greatest accomplishment is reaching a point where his farm fits his life – not the other way around – and what he enjoys most is the consistent positive response from customers.

“I love to see smiles on people’s faces when I bring milk in,” Don says. “I’m fortunate in that people love my milk. It makes them happy and they really appreciate it, which makes it all worth it.” 

For more information on Verger Dairy Farm, visit vergerdairyfarm.com or @VergerDairyFarm on Facebook.

Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.