– Every Farmer has a Ben Seaton –
For the love of dairy
Third-generation milk producer Ben Seaton is counting his blessings
Story by Page Haynes Photos by Glen Liford
– Every Farmer has a Story with Ben Seaton –
For the love of dairy
Third-generation milk producer Ben Seaton is counting his blessings
Story by Page Haynes Photos by Glen Liford
Ben Seaton says he’s just where he wants to be — enjoying life with his family on their picturesque dairy farm. He believes farming is one of the best jobs out there. A Greeneville native, Ben operates a multigenerational family farm that produces milk, tobacco, pumpkins, beef cattle, and pork.
“Dairy farming provides a great life,” says Ben, accompanied at the barn by his father Frankie, wife Dana, and daughters Laney, 6, Clara, 2, and Sidney, 8 months. “Not many people get to eat three meals a day with their family. We get to work at home together every day. I’m glad I was raised on a dairy farm, and I’m glad to raise my kids here. It’s a great place to raise children. It naturally teaches them strong work habits and responsibility.”
Ben says he and Dana milk about 70 dairy cows, primarily Holsteins with some Jerseys and crossbreds, and maintain around 100 beef cows, mainly Hereford-Black Angus crosses, while also developing a registered Angus herd through embryo transfer.
His great-grandfather, Perry Seaton, started the family dairy a mile down the road, selling milk in 1928 to the historic Pet Milk Company plant in Greeneville, which closed in the 1990s. His grandparents, Ray and Mary Ruth, branched out in 1955 and started their own dairy. They both worked on the dairy until late in their lives. Ray actively worked until age 96. Ben praises the decision-making efforts of his “papaw” Ray, stating that he “built an operation that his son (Frank), his grandson (Ben), and hopefully the next generation can utilize to continue making a living.”
Daily operations start around 5 a.m., with milking done in a remodeled single-eight parabone parlor, and labor shared among Ben, Frank, Dana, and 18-year-old neighbor Bobby Hiett. The parabone parlor is a hybrid dairy system combining features of parallel and herringbone layouts. Cows are arranged at a sharp angle, allowing for udder attachment with fewer milking units.
While dairying is challenging at times, Ben remains optimistic and says the work is always there.
“Farming provides a good quality of life. I wouldn’t want to do anything else.” — Ben Seaton
Dairying is a treasured family affair at the Seaton dairy near Greeneville. Ben is joined by his father Frankie at the top of the hill to check on the dairy cows.
“It’s constant; people are going to need milk,” he says. “But I still have faith in the small dairy farm. The challenge one day may be getting our milk picked up. As more dairies fall away, the trucker must travel farther to get a load of milk. However, I plan to continue in the dairy business as long as I can.”
He notes that Greene County once had numerous dairies — his father says he could see seven from a nearby hill — but the Seaton dairy is now the last in the immediate area.
Though the dairy is still going strong, in response to the decline in tobacco, the Seatons have diversified by expanding into beef cattle and pumpkins. The family now grows about six acres of pumpkin varieties, with direct sales to the public.
“About four years ago, Dana wanted to grow our first crop of pumpkins … but I didn’t! So, we compromised … and we grew pumpkins,” Ben chuckles. “And we’ve done well with them. Now we’re taking the tobacco out of the fields and replacing it with pumpkins.”
With pumpkin sales increasing, Dana has fulfilled her dream of opening a small farm store near the road. The family calls the venture the Seaton Farms Store and plans to market pumpkins, beef, pork, and purchased produce there. They hope to open the new building this summer.
Ben serves as a director of Greene Farmers Co-op, which supplies his custom dairy feed and provides essential inputs and support. He urges others to take an active role in their local Co-ops.
“I’ve served on the board for four years and learned a lot about how Co-ops work. It’s also good to have a Co-op in your area. They usually stock everything you need and have staff who can help with your operation. Jason Crawford, our outside salesman, is always helpful in answering my questions, especially about crops.”
To younger people considering farming, he says it can be difficult to enter without a start, but it remains a rewarding life he would not trade for any other career.
“Farming provides a good quality of life,” says Ben. “It’s seven days a week; 365 days a year, but it’s a good life. I wouldn’t want to do anything else.”
Dairyman Ben Seaton, center, is joined by farm helper Bobby Hiett as he talks to Greene Farmers Cooperative Outside Salesman Jason Crawford about his wrapped hay crop, adding that Jason is always helpful in answering his farming questions.
By Page Haynes,
Contact phaynes@ourcoop.com
By Glen Liford,
Contact gliford@ourcoop.com