Smiths working hand in hand after 50 years in dairy

By CARYL VELISEK
Staff Writer

JEFFERSON, Md. — Clayton and Shirley Smith, owners of OCS Dairy, will be inducted into the Maryland Dairy Shrine on Feb. 25 at the Null Building at the fairgrounds in Frederick, Md.  Married for 53 years, the couple is still out there, together, on the farm, every day, milking, doing chores and taking care of their cattle, just as they have been for more than half a century. And they are still enjoying it, they said.
But milking and caring for their cows is by no means the extent of their involvement in the dairy industry. OCS Dairy has been host to farm tours from Africa and Australia. They have worked with youth by hosting school field trips, judging practices, 4-H events and leasing animals to 4-H members. Both the Holstein and Guernsey breeders have recognized their many accomplishments.
OCS Dairy has received the Maryland Senior Breeder Award and Top Producer for the Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Association. Clayton has served as a delegate to the National Holstein Convention, Select Sires, and director of Frederick County DHIA, and is a former president of the Frederick County Holstein Club and Maryland Holstein Show Committee.
Shirley has served as president of the Maryland Guernsey Association, a director of the Maryland Dairy Shrine, and has donated much of her time helping with awards and junior programs for the Maryland Guernsey Association.
Their breeding program centers mainly on type, Clayton Smith said, and they work at improving the herd genetically.  They have been rewarded over the years by reaching several milestones. Among these, they bred the OCS Dairy Val bull that sired many show winners. In 1978, the Smith family exhibited their first All-American heifer and since then has shown several more All-Americans in the Holstein and Guernsey breeds.
To merchandise the herd, the Smiths hosted their first production sale in 1974. They hosted 14 sales over the years, most fell on Valentines Day. Through the sales, they sold 1,367 head of Holsteins with assistance of the sales crew that included Doty Remsberg, Norman Hill, Denny Remsberg and sales bookkeeper, Mrs. Helen Remsberg. At the time of the sales, the Smiths milked between 170 and 180 cows and usually sold 100 cows a year.
“OCS Dairy has sold animals to herds all over the United States, as far as Colorado, New Mexico and California,” Smith said, "and to Italy, Japan, Africa and other countries, over the years.
Smith also recalled when he and Marion Anderson of Centreville, Md., accompanied 30 other breeders from all over the United States in 1981, on a 17-day tour of Holstein farms and facilities in Japan.
“It is one of the highlights of my association with Holstein cattle,” Smith said.
Sharing some family history, Smith said his grandfather, J.W. Cordell, came to Maryland in “about 1915, from Virginia and cleared some land to plant crops on the farm that lies along the mountain range.”
In 1917, the family started shipping milk to Washington, D.C.
“My mother, Annie Cordell, was responsible for hooking up the horses and taking a couple of cans of milk down to Lander every morning,” Smith said.
She put the full cans of milk on the dock at the train station and brought the empty cans home.
In the early 1930s, the family built a 24-stall diary barn and started shipping to Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association.
In 1925, Annie married Oscar C. Smith and they bought the 275-acre dairy farm for $15,000 from his grandfather. Clayton Smith took over the home farm when his father retired in 1965 and milked 60 Holsteins.
Since then the herd has been diversified from Holsteins to also include Guernseys and Jerseys.
Shirley, a former Adkins, was also raised on a dairy farm so she came by her involvement in the dairy industry naturally.
Today the Smiths milk about 75 cows and raise 60 to 70 replacements. The family farms, rents and crops a total of 500 acres which includes 100 acres of soybeans, 100 acres of corn, 150 acres of wheat and barley and the remainder in hay. They milk in a 16-stall California style parlor.
On 60 Holsteins, the Smith’s rolling herd average is now 23,604 pounds milk, 4.1 percent fat, and 970 pounds fat. For the 13 Guernseys the rolling herd average is 17,876 pounds of milk, 5.1 percent fat, and 912 pounds of fat. And for the 10 Jerseys, the average is 21,188 pounds of milk, 5.8 percent fat and 1,227 pounds fat.
Clayton and Shirley Smith not only have a strong pride in their cattle and farming operation, but their pride and commitment to their family is very evident.
They have seven children, 14 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. The children have always participated in the farming operation and have shown cattle.
Their oldest daughter, Debbie, is married to David Hardesty of Harvue Farms in Berryville, Va., where they milk 300 head and show at all the top shows. They bred the Harvue Frosty cow that was Supreme Champion at the world Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisc., two years in a row. Their children, Danny, Matt and Leslie, have all exhibited Holsteins.
The Smith's oldest son, O.C., is co-herdsman and crop manager at the home farm. He and his wife, Michelle, have three children, Britany, Chase, and Cody.
Their second son, Chris, is married and works as a registered plumber. After Chris came Gaylene, who is married and a teacher and girl's varsity basketball coach in Burnswick, Md., and who assists at shows and on the farm on weekends when she can. Her daughter, Daisy, also shows Jerseys.
Next in line is Oakley, who is a paid fireman in Virginia. Following Oakley came Crystal, who is married to Gary Dell.
Together, Crystal and her husband manage MD-Delight Holsteins in Westminster,  Md., where they milk 130 cows, and show their cattle at the big shows. They have four children, all of whom have been involved with the livestock.
The youngest Smith child is Clay, and he and his wife, Kelly, both help out on the farm when they can. Clay takes the show string to the shows and fits cattle and his son, Chance, shows Guernseys and Holsteins.
Smith said he was really surprised at their selection to the Maryland Dairy Shrine.
“I want to thank the committee and all the people that supported us, including those who have helped us over the years, for our selection to the Shrine which we consider a great honor,” he said.