Fourth in a line of Portuguese dairy farmers, Tony Lopes credits much of who he is today to a Holstein cow. When the Gustine, Calif., resident was 6-years-old, he remembers seeing a calf and asking his dad if he could have it. The answer was yes, with the condition that Lopes would have to live with his choice. Tulip, as he named the calf, would soon start him on his journey in agriculture.
As Lopes became involved in FFA, he determined it was time to begin running his herd as a real business. While he housed his cattle with his parents’ herd, he was responsible for paying monthly feed, rent and medical expenses per head. He also received monthly milk checks for the value of milk his cows produced. Due to fairly receptive market conditions in the early years of his project combined with his herd’s genetic progress, he had solid and growing profitability that he then reinvested.
During his sophomore year, he improved his project by focusing on a managerial perspective and determining the best ways to utilize improved facilities and how to effectively manage the labor involved with the dairy. During his junior and senior years, he continued to prioritize the growth and development of his herd.
Currently he is studying dairy science and agribusiness at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo and remains dedicated to the management of his herd.
Lopes is the son of Darlene and Paul Lopes. He is a member of Gustine FFA Chapter, led by advisors Matt Baffunno, Kelly Sanches and Cameron Wyman.
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