The Rovey family in Glendale, Ariz. is a prime example of, determined people who took a tough situation and made the best of it. In Episode 18 of “Leave a Legacy TV,” Clinton Griffiths visits the Arizona dairy farm to learn how the Roveys encourage the next generation to cultivate success.
For generations this family has been involved in the Arizona dairy industry.
“I took over the farm from my father when I got out of college back in 1978 and we were milking 200 cows at that time and we’ve built it to 2,000 cows today,” says Paul Rovey, the family patriarch.
From 200 cows to 2,000 cows, mostly jersey and a few brown Swiss, the dairy has continued to grow and expand. Sheep live on the farm along with some big horn Watusi cattle.
The operation’s success is founded on family. Four out of Paul’s five kids live and work on the farm.
“The key is family, keeping family first,” Debra Rovey, Paul’s wife, says. “Those ties run deep and that way you can get through the adversities that come along.”
The next generation intends to continue to farm and the Roveys value their ability to offer livelihood to their children.
“In this day and age, it is hard to start up from nothing, so we feel fortunate that we have the ability to pass it on,” Debra says.
The plan is for the dairy to stay in a trust for all of Paul and Debra’s children. In addition, Paul plans to help each child pursue the area of agriculture they are most interested in. He realizes that they might not all want to dairy forever.
“There is a world of opportunity out there wherever you want to focus, let’s do that,” Paul tells his children.
Overcoming Urban Sprawl
During the time the dairy began and even up until the Paul took over the dairy in 1978, it was located in the country. Town was a distance away and they never thought about losing land to urbanization.
“Back in those days [his childhood] it was way out in the country, it was a trip to go to the city and now the city has encompassed us,” Paul says.
Today that is not the case. The family realizes they won’t be able to farm only grandpa’s land forever so they are buying additional properties in other places.
“We’ve been through some very tough times and realized we’re in a very volatile environment,” Paul says.
For that reason the family is making the most of every opportunity and not limiting themselves to the family homestead.
To learn about how the Rovey children feel their parents prepared them for success, watch the entire episode:
