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Hello Everyone.

You have probably heard by now about the fire at Comp Dairy in Ashtabula County that occurred Sunday night. Thankfully, no one was hurt and the majority of the cow herd was unharmed. The fire was mostly contained to the milking parlor, which was rendered inoperable to milk the more than 1,000 head herd of dairy cows. Having a fire on a farm is stressful enough, but finding a home for that many milking cows in less than 24 hours was a Herculean task.

Most dairy farms build their milking facilities (pump, parlor, bulk tank, barns, etc.) to fit their specific needs, which is usually the size of their own herd. While they may be able to accommodate a slight increase in herd size, it’s not common for a dairy farm to have capacity to double their milking operation in the blink of an eye without major modifications and construction. When the call went out that Comp Dairy was looking for a temporary home for their milking herd, there was no single farm that could accommodate the entire herd. Multiple local and regional dairy farms did their best to make space to help a fellow family farm during this difficult time. Ultimately, the cows found their way to one of 14 farms, where they are being cared for and milked.

The response showed the resilience of the farming community and the willingness to help those in need. It truly made me proud to see the outpouring of support for the Comp family. Volunteers helped clean up after the fire, sorted cows, hauled cows and jumped in wherever else they could. Getting cows to those farms would not have been possible without a seemingly never-ending fleet of cattle trailers, with many making multiple trips from Comp Dairy to the herd’s destinations. I talked to many volunteers who were up for more than 24 hours, and many were running on only a few hours of sleep.

Hopefully the cows will be back home soon and life will return to normal for the Comp family and their employees. Many people have asked how they can assist in the recovery effort. As I’m writing this, there are efforts to organize donations to directly support the family. As in any emergency, there is an urge to help people in need, but please make sure you are making donations through an official channel, as these situations also create opportunities for scams.

If you have any questions about how you can help the Comp family, please contact our office at 330-638-6783, or contact Mandy Orahood at Ohio Farm Bureau by email. 

Submitted by Lee Beers, an extension educator, agriculture and natural resources at the Ohio State University Extension. He can be reached by email.