Redefining Rural” means more than defying the norms of a rural school district — it also means wholeheartedly embracing our local resources. Thanks to grants made possible by the United States Department of Agriculture and the New York Farm to School Institute, students from across the Springville-Griffith Institute Central School District are learning and experiencing agriculture in a number of unique and creative ways.
That includes a valuable partnership with local farmers who will be visiting elementary school classrooms to showcase their individual business. To celebrate this collaboration, SGI is proud to showcase the participating farmers who help make our community special.
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Ploetz Dairy Farm is located at 12949 Dowd Rd, Springville, NY. The farm is owned and operated by Jen and Ryan Ploetz and has one full time employee and one high school student who works part time on the weekends. The Ploetz farm is a dairy farm consisting of ninety black and white Holsteins, some Jerseys and a red and white Holstein which are milked in a tie stall facility twice a day. Along with their milk cows they also raise approximately seventy youngstock consisting of heifers and calves.
Farming has been in their blood since birth, and it was always Jen and Ryan’s dream to own and operate their own dairy farm. They purchased their farm from Ryan's parents, Keith & Lori in January 2020. January 2, 2020 was their official first day of farming together. In June of 2020, the Ploetz farm celebrated the 100th year anniversary of the family farm being in business.
According to the Ploetz’ the most challenging part of farming for them was farming through the pandemic.
The most enjoyable part of farming for Jen and Ryan is being self-employed.
Jen and Ryan hope to continue the farm's legacy by producing quality milk for years to come.