Jo Gaul: Tribute Farms

Jo Gaul, along with her husband, Peter, and sons, Frankie and Josh, owns and operates a grass-fed dairy farm in Benton, Missouri, called Tribute Farms.

Each family member has a specific role in the operation of the farm.

"My husband, Peter, is the business manager," Gaul says. "Our oldest son, Frankie, is the operating manager. He oversees the feeding, grazing and on- farm operations. Our youngest son, Josh, is the herd manager. He oversees the herds and manages the milking and breeding."

Gaul's role on the farm is a vital one as well.

"I take care of the animals' health, including vaccinations and health intervention, as well as the biosecurity, the care of the facilities and the calf raising," she says.

Cutline Email/Stock:FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.comCutline:Jo Gaul is owner of Tribute Farms in Benton, Missouri.Cutline:

The dairy farm houses approximately 1,500 cows, including 900 cows for milking, more than 200 baby calves and more than 200 replacement heifers.

The Gauls feed the cows off their farmland.

"We raise our own foliage and grasses to feed the herds," Gaul says.

This is the fifth year Tribute Farms has been operational.

"The herds are maturing, and the farm is really starting to come into its own," Gaul says.

Jo Gaul is owner of Tribute Farms in Benton, Missouri. (Fred Lynch)

The name, Tribute, is an acknowledgment of a lot of people who helped get the farm up and running, she adds.

"It is a tribute to the incredible efforts of many people, including builders, contractors, field support, masonry support and industry support," she says.

The Gauls hail from New Zealand, and Jo was raised on a dairy farm there.

"I really like working outdoors and doing the physical work," she says. "I enjoy working with the animals and with a team of people. I love working with my family on the farm."

Gaul admits there are a few downsides to running a family farm.

"The weather can be harsh and it can be tiring, and it's sometimes hard to get time off," she says. "And sometimes I just need to go to Macy's or somewhere and look at something pretty!" she jokes.

Before working on the dairy farm, Gaul was a nurse in New Zealand for 28 years.

"I worked as a nurse practitioner in prisons for 13 of those years," she says.

The family moved to the states eight years ago to pursue the idea of owning a dairy farm.

"It offered a great opportunity for grazing, land wasn't as expensive and milk prices were attractive at the time," Gaul says. "It was the right move for us at that time and [starting the dairy farm] was a two- to three-year process."

The Gauls operate their dairy farm at medium milk production instead of high milk production.

"This allow the cows to be productive longer," Gaul explains.

Gaul is 58 and has been married to her husband, Peter, for 38 years. She is active in First Baptist Church in Dexter, Missouri, and enjoys riding horses in her free time.