Kay-Ben Farm began in 1916 when Edward Young purchased the land in Gorham, Maine and moved in one of the first herds of registered Holsteins in the state. By 1938, the farm held the highest herd average for milk production in Cumberland County with 12,000 pounds of milk per cow, per year. In 1953, Alton and Katherine (Young) Benson purchased the farm. They continued to genetically improve the herd with their foundation cow, Kay-Ben CR Amanda (Alta) EX-90 at 18 years of age. Alton and Katherine received the Progessive Breeders award five years in a row from 1958 to 1962, and again in 1964 and ’65. Alton was also recognized for his work in conservation. In 1954, he received the New England Green Pastures award and several other awards for protecting the environment. These values were passed on to his son, Eddie, who began to take over the operations management of the farm in 1994. Eddie launched a composting business as the result of a recycling initiative and need to diversify in order to subsidize the rising costs of dairy farming. He began working with the local waterfront by agreeing to take in shellfish and urchin waste that was being regulated from getting dumped back into the ocean. He mixed it with cow manure that came from local farms, including the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals. The product, Surf and Turf compost, is now available in several garden centers throughout Southern Maine. He also focused his work on breeding when his children, Kati, Erica and Eben joined 4-H and began showing. He started by purchasing calves for them to show at local fairs, which began with Kati’s first show calf: Lylehaven Foundation Sabrina. Sabrina went on to win Jr. Champion of the 4-H show at Eastern States, 2nd in the Pine Tree Futurity (First Jr.) and several other awards throughout her life. She was in the top 100 CTPI cows, and today has two sons in AI. Several other heifers bought for showing became foundation cows on the farm. Today, Benson Farm LLC continues to make strides in breeding for excellence and the recently certified organic compost business is growing. Watch for our new bagged Surf and Turf compost this spring! |
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