Byron and Heidi Wells are dairy farmers in Kansas who love what they do and hope to pass their legacy on to their children. Learn more about this family.

Byron and Heidi Wells

Byron and Heidi Wells, dairy farmers in Sedgwick County, have five kids: Breanna, Hailey, Bridget, Heath and Bethany. They are active in various sports, 4-H, FFA and church. Heidi is a registered dietitian who works full time as the foodservice director for Renwick and Cheney school districts, coaches high school track and a competitive softball team and serves on the boards of the Sedgwick County Farm Bureau and the Midwest Dairy Association. Byron is a fourth-generation dairy farmer and took over the family dairy business from his dad and uncle this past January. He served three terms on the Sedgwick County Farm Bureau board and is a 4-H livestock superintendent for the dairy project.

What does winter look like on your operation?

Winters can be brutal when it comes to the health of our animals. We are a drylot operation, which means our cows are kept outside when they’re not in the milking phase. We have built up some windbreaks and other areas for the cows to shelter from the wind, rain and snow. We spread straw in the lots and the calf huts to provide bedding and some warmth for the animals, and we make sure they have access to feed and water on a regular basis. In the milk barn, we take extra precautions to help prevent things like frostbite and mastitis. Our baby calves are monitored closely to make sure they are drinking, eating and staying as warm as possible during those bitterly cold days.

What is the hardest and best part of your job as a farmer?

The hardest part about being a dairy farmer is the hours. The days and nights can be long, and it is truly a 24/7, 365 days per year commitment where the outcome is based off the quality of hours you put in. The best part of my job is being able to share my passion for agriculture with my family.

What does sustainability mean to you?

For us, sustainability has always been creating and maintaining an opportunity that is viable enough to be handed down to the next generation.

Where do you see the future of your operation going?

Heidi has had dreams about opening an ice cream parlor and general store dating as far back as when she was expecting Breanna in 2006-07. She had similar dreams with each pregnancy, and they have stuck with her through the years. Heidi is the dreamer, and I do my best to rein her in (laughing). However, I’m starting to see her vision and slowly coming around to the idea. We will just have to see where the future takes us.

How do you ensure the safety of your product?

Ensuring the safety of our product comes naturally because of the regulations that are in place for dairy farms. We receive state and federal inspections, and the outcome of those inspections determines the classification of your milk. The higher the classification, the more money you receive for your product. We also have an animal nutritionist who specializes in dairy. He runs nutrient analyses on our feed sources and develops feed rations (diet plans) to fuel our cows for optimal performance — similar to what Heidi does as a registered dietitian when she develops nutrition plans for athletes striving to reach optimal performance in their sport of choice.

What’s your family’s favorite protein? And what is your favorite way to prepare it? 

Beef and dairy. For Byron, it's ice-cold milk in a glass and a ribeye on the grill. For Heidi and the kids, it’s a steaming hot pan of cheesy beef lasagna.

What’s one thing you’ve changed on your operation since you started?

We have improved the accuracy and consistency of our herd health record keeping, which has improved pregnancy rates and the overall health of our cows.

What would you do if you weren’t a farmer/rancher?

This is a tough one because I have wanted to be a farmer since I was little. One of my good friends’ dads was/is an architect. Growing up, I thought of him as a second father figure and admired his career. So, if I wasn’t farming I would want to be an architect.