Dakin Dairy Farms increases its focus on education

When Jerry Dakin wanted to sell his land in Myakka City to farmers instead of developers, his four nephews — Garrett, Grant, Ethan and Jason Dakin — took over.

The farm was transferred to the brothers on May 1. Garrett Dakin said they’ve been working nonstop since to give the farm another life. 

“The community didn’t want to see this place turned into a housing development,” Garrett Dakin said. “We saw the reaction from the community (to the possible sale), so we stepped up. Now, we’re going to need the community’s help, too. They don’t want the houses, but we need some consumers. It’s a big circle.”

The brothers have big plans to revamp the farm over the next three years, but some of those changes already can be seen. 

The playground area — that hosted those visiting — has been completely revamped with sod and landscaping. It features some cool new toys, including a wooden John Deere jungle gym. 

An old grain cart was converted into an arcade-style basketball game, and hand pumps were set up with PVC pipes to fill a canal for a rubber duck race, only in this case the ducks are cows. 

The sides of an old A-frame barn were lifted up. Now, that barn serves as a petting zoo. There are goats, calves, a miniature donkey, chickens, turkeys, bunnies and Rudy, an old circus bull. Rudy is so calm he has no problem keeping a red fedora on his head. 

Photo by Lesley Dwyer

“I’m so thankful that the boys took over,” Tours and Events Coordinator Shannon Mullen said. “It was a little nerve wracking thinking it might go to developers. They they have put their heart and soul into this with their families.” 

Dakin said it’s not just the brothers doing all the work, the wives are chipping in, too, especially when it comes to events. 

The farm threw its first harvest festival in October and is gearing up for Christmas with a milk and cookies event with Santa on Dec. 13-14. 

“Our goal is to get as many people as we can to see this place,” Dakin said. “We want the community to know where the food on their table is coming from. We want them to know it’s a secure, healthy, great product, and you’re able to watch it be made.” 

Lewis Vassaur is a retired rice farmer from Altheimer, Arkansas. His son lives on Crosby Road near Grant Dakin. 

“I saw some good looking cattle and said, ‘Let’s go down and see those farmers,’” Vassaur said. 

So three generations of Vassaurs took a farm tour on Nov. 27. There were about 50 people on the tour. 

Grant Dakin said they’ve probably doubled the tour numbers since they took over the farm. The week prior, 300 people toured the farm. A lot of schools visit the facility for field trips. 

Visitors see how the cows are milked and how the milk is then bottled, labeled and boxed for shipment.

Upon seeing the processing facility, Vassaur said Dakin milk is fresher and tastier because it doesn’t have to sit around waiting to go to a processing facility someplace else.

Photo by Lesley Dwyer

Dakin said milk coming from Dakin Dairy Farms is delivered to stores two to three days earlier than by other milk producers. On a week like Thanksgiving when even big operations like Publix shut down, milk can sit for days waiting to be processed.

Dakin couldn’t share many details because he has signed a non-disclosure agreement, but he said the farm was moving toward new technologies to process their milk. 

Quality control is the immediate focus, but expansion is the ultimate goal. The brothers own three other farms, two off State Road 70 in eastern Manatee County and one in DeSoto County. As of now, only milk from the cows on site is processed through the plant. 

“I want to see all four of the dairy farms go through this milk plant,” Dakin said. “But that’s going to mean that we’re going to have to have consumption.”

The brothers are looking into different products, such as drinkable yogurts and individual milks packaged in pouches instead of jugs. Dakin said it’s a matter of deciding which avenue to take.