Blackfoot Valley Dispatch - The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980

Until the late 1950s and early 60s, milk cows were an essential part of the operation of most ranches. The large numbers of children in the families of those days demanded a lot of milk, as well as cream, butter, cottage cheese, buttermilk, and other dairy staples.

The milking process was detested by everyone. It was a chore that had to be done twice a day, 365 days a year, in forty below zero...