2024 Green Pastures Award Winner – Caverly Farms LLC
Eleven families were nominated this year at the Maine Dairy Seminar and online as Maine representatives for the 2024 New England Green Pastures Award, and three operations were finalists. The selection committee visited these farms in mid-June and selected Caverly Farm for the 2024 Maine Dairy Farm and Family of the Year. Their owners, the Caverly family, will be recognized at the 2024 Eastern States Exposition in Springfield, MA, along with winners of this award from the other five New England states.
The Caverly family’s dedication to dairy farming spans three generations, beginning with Wyman Farm in Benton. Evelyn Wyman and Brainard Caverly, the family’s founders, raised three sons: Frank, Pudge, and E.C. Frank and his brothers established Caverly Farm in 1962, after purchasing land in Clinton. Frank’s marriage to Susie six years later marked the beginning of a family commitment to expanding the farm and its herd. The farm initially housed Ayrshire cows but transitioned to the Holstein breed in the mid-1990s, a move aimed at enhancing genetic selection and increasing milk production.
Currently, the farm is managed by Frank and Susie’s son, Neal, and nephew, Brian, who came back to the farm in 2010. Brian has overseen the genetic selection of the herd since Richard Caverlys’ passing in February 2024 (Neal’s cousin and E.C.’s son). Neal and his wife, Michele, say the farm’s success is due to the combined work of the management team and farm crew, consisting of Alvin Winslow (agronomist), Greg Weber (nutritionist), Ethan Robertson (farm credit), Matthew Rolleston (veterinarian), and their 13 farm workers.
Caverly Farm has 1,300 acres in total. Of this area, 610 acres are dedicated to hay or haylage, 503 acres are devoted to corn crops for silage (200 acres to BMR corn), and 10 acres are established to grasses for silage.
The herd comprises 605 cows and 520 replacement young stock in six barns, all free stalls and deep bedding. The operation produces approximately 14,800,000 pounds of milk annually, with 4.1% fat, 3.02% protein, and 6.12 pounds components.
The Caverly family’s deep-rooted connection with the community is truly inspiring. They have hosted numerous events collaborating with UMaine Extension, welcomed school visits, and organized open farm field days. Additionally, Neal Caverly was part of the MSAD #49 School Board and Building Committee from 2011 to 2023. Susie Caverly has 20 years of volunteer service at the Fairfield Interfaith Food Pantry, where she has been a Board Director since 2019.
Finally, Caverly Farm is a large and efficient dairy operation, but the Caverly’s are looking for more. In addition to welcoming technological improvements and new management practices, Caverly Farm also has areas dedicated to testing new varieties of corn or novel crop products.
They plan to partner with Flood Farms to use their biodigester, and the DataMars® collar system on their herd supports more efficient management, improved reproduction, and ease for their workers. Frank was never afraid to use technology and try new things, and he transmitted this thought to his sons.
Congratulations to the Caverly family, Susie, Neal, Michele, Allie, Bryce, Brian, and Sally, on their continued hard work.
-University of Maine Cooperative Extension (Dr. Jaime Garzon)
