Marilyn and Duane Hershey stand with their 15-year-old son, Robert, in the milking parlor at Ar-Joy Farm, LLC.

Ar-Joy Farm's state of the art milking parlor, a double-12 parallel setup, allows two rows of 12 cows standing side-by-side to be milked simultaneously. Two workers clean the cows' udders with an iodine solution before attaching the milking units. Each cow is milked three times a day to maximize production and to keep the cows comfortable. It takes about 5 hours to milk the 525 cows.

The Hersheys raise all of their Holstein calves on the farm. Here, Marilyn Hershey encourages a week-old calf to eat a nutrient-rich grain to help her grow and stay healthy. The calf barn offers a clean, dry, roomy pen for each of the 60 or more calves.

Land O' Lakes, the cooperative that buys the Hershey's milk, empties the 6,000 gallon refrigerated milk tank at the farm each day. The milk is pumped into the refrigerated tanker truck and delivered to the processing plant.

Ar-Joy Farm Truly a Family Affair

Name: Duane and Marilyn Hershey

Farm: Ar-Joy Farm, LLC, Chester County, Pa.

Family: Sons Stephen, Kelby and Robert; daughter Kacie

Farm History:

Ar-Joy Farm was established in 1965 when Art and Joyce Hershey purchased 140 acres and started milking cows in southern Chester County. When Art Hershey entered the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1982, his son Duane took over the operation.

In 2001, Duane and his wife, Marilyn, built a new dairy facility and expanded their herd from 80 to 525 Holsteins cows. They farm more than 450 acres, growing alfalfa and grass for hay and corn for silage.

In the past year, the Hersheys took advantage of the On-Farm Profit Team program facilitated by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's Center for Dairy Excellence. The program encourages all of the farm's consultants - animal nutritionists, veterinarian, financial lenders and others - to meet regularly with the Hersheys to devise and follow through with plans to help make and keep their business profitable.

"We discuss all issues and problems to make sure we're all on the same page," Duane said about meeting with the team to make sure goals are met for this progressive dairy.

Family affair:

Aside from six hired employees, Ar-Joy Farm is truly a family affair. Duane and Marilyn oversee all facets of the operation, including herd health, feeding and recordkeeping. All of their children, with the exception of their oldest son who attends college in New York City, are involved in the day-to-day workings of the farm.

The biggest challenge for the Hersheys after moving into the new dairy facility four years ago was realizing they could not do all the hands-on work themselves. "Marilyn and I were involved in all aspects of the operation in the old facility," Duane said. "We had to learn to allow the people we hired to do their work within their areas of expertise."

The Hersheys employ one worker as a mechanic, who helps with the crops, and also a Hispanic workforce that does all of the milking. Marilyn's dad, Mast Stoltzfus, feeds the nearly 70 calves twice a day with the help of Marilyn and the kids.

Overcoming adversity:

This family is no stranger to tough times. When their son Robert was 4 years old, he was diagnosed with leukemia. After undergoing an intensive three-year treatment program, Robert, now 15, is cancer-free. The family found support through The Four Diamonds Fund, whose aim is to conquer childhood cancer by assisting children treated at Penn State Children's Hospital in Hershey, Pa., and their families through care, support and research.

As a result of their ordeal, Marilyn was inspired to write a children's picture book about what they and similar families went through. Illustrated by a friend and self-published, the book, "Oncology, Stupology...I Want to Go Home," encapsulates stories and experiences that Robert and other kids in the hospital shared. The book is sold through hospitals across the country and internationally to help children cope with their disease.

Writing is more than a hobby for Marilyn, who penned a weekly online column directed toward farm women, with faith and humor. In addition, she has written a technical article for the November 2005 issue of the American Agriculturalist about the components in milk and their effect on how farmers are paid for their milk.

"I've always enjoyed writing," Marilyn said. "I'd rather write emotionally than technically, and my true love is writing for women and children." She believes that farm women are a unique group that experience daily challenges and joys to which non-farm women are unable to relate. "Farm women need to stick together," she said, helping to cope with life on the farm as a worker, wife and mother.

Community involvement:

The Hersheys believe in giving back to their community and the dairy industry. Duane serves as president of the local school board and as treasurer for the Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania. Marilyn volunteers at the annual All American Dairy Show in Harrisburg in September by taking photographs of the exhibitors and their prize-winning dairy cows.

Together, Duane and Marilyn serve as advisors to the local county 4-H dairy club, Jr. Holstein Club and junior youth group at their church.

The Hersheys have "seen it all," yet they emanate a quiet strength, compassion and intense gratitude. They are intelligent and hard-working, gaining strength from their faith, family and community. Not to mention, the whole family has a great sense of humor, which energizes everyone who comes in contact with them!