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Opinions and Philosophies of a Self Made Dairyman. Pete Gelber Barrington Dairies Montezuma, Georgia. Agenda. Life History, influences Buying Bankrupt Dairies Economic and life philosophies Opinions on labor Visions for the Future. A Different Childhood. A Positive Experience.
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Opinions and Philosophiesof a Self Made Dairyman Pete Gelber Barrington Dairies Montezuma, Georgia
Agenda • Life History, influences • Buying Bankrupt Dairies • Economic and life philosophies • Opinions on labor • Visions for the Future
A Positive Experience Great parents Catholic School Education Fear of drugs Hustle and getting with the beat A chance to be mischievous Comfortable with all races of people Dealing with intimidation
Messages from Mom and Pop • Don’t argue with a crazy person or a drunk • Life wasn’t meant to be fair • It’s a sin to be grouchy • When judging people look through their mother’s eyes • Life should be a celebration
How I learned to Milk a Cow From the New York Subway • My first dairy experience age 10 • Degree from Cornell University 1982 • Built a small herd of cows in NY • 1990 Began working up the ladder at Alliance Dairies in Florida • Promoted one disaster at a time to Dairy Manager • 1997 issued phantom stock in new purchased bankrupt dairy • 2007 General Manager and 10% partner in GA dairies • 2013 Owner of Barrington Dairies but rents land from partners
A 25 Year Friendship Evolving Relationship • Boss, mentor • Shared core values and business principles • Best Friends • Potential to Proven • Ask permission to beg forgiveness • Send the Profit and Loss
Why Was I Invited to Queretaro? • Started with a dream • Owner of a 9,000 cow dairy • Perceived strengths • Vision and Culture Changer • Economic Decision making • Enthusiastic Motivator of Labor • Fun and not very serious
Look Before Leaping • Insurmountable problems • Environmental hazards, • Land ,FacilityLimitations • Feed availability • Economic advantage • Priced fairly • Does it cash flow?
Barrington History • Irish Investors @1986 • National Attention • 1990 financial problems • Southern Plantations • Progressive Dairies • New Milk Inc. • 1997purchased first smaller dairy • Great initial success through 2001 • 2002 Purchased other unit (Barrington) • 2002-2006 struggles • Move to GA or sell out • 2007 –present high profits
Common Flaws on Failing Dairies Problem Economic Ramification Feed costs, production High cull rate Heifer growers, high costs Poor crops/ high feed cost EPA fines and sanctions Lots of cap ex • Reproduction • Lameness • Leftover feed • Silo management • Dry cow nutrition • Dead calves • Crop quality and yield • No maintenance program • Cow comfort • EPA issues
No one plans to fail • Infusion of energy and enthusiasm • Set the vision • Change the culture • Correct cash flow • Set priorities • Field a team • Stick up for what is right • Rome was not built in a day