Legacy in Every Drop
By Ahmerah Thompson; North Carolina State Extension Program Associate
Nestled in the heart of Snow Camp, North Carolina, Ran-Lew Dairy is owned and operated by fifth-generation owner, Randy Lewis. The Ran-Lew land has been in the family since at least 1850, and started selling Grade A local milk in 1949 under the operation of Lewis’ grandmother. Lewis bought the farm in 1980, started milking in 1981, and has been an active contributor to the dairy industry ever since. Ran-Lew is best known for its lively owner, its delicious cream-top milk, and its legendary barn dances. The whole Ran-Lew operation was turned on its head on May 8, 2023 when a bull on his property attacked Lewis. Lewis suffered many injuries to his ribs, lungs, and bones but never lost his spirited and spunky personality.
Rich and Creamy: The Story Behind Cream Top Milk
Lewis and his late niece first applied for a non-SDBII grant to start yogurt production, but after her automobile accident in 2012, Lewis switched gears and applied to just bottle milk instead. Through the grant, he hoped to take a lower process approach to the dairy industry and make clean-label milk that included no stabilizers or homogenization while keeping the creamy top layer. Lewis has continued this approach ever since.
“Milk ain’t broke, it don’t need fixin’” – Randy Lewis.
Ran-Lew Dairy has been dedicated to producing fresh cream-top whole milk, chocolate milk, buttermilk, soft serve ice cream, and with the help of the SDBII grants, they saw an opportunity to start thinking about and planning yogurt production again. Lewis is hoping that yogurt will be the turning point of the farm and will be profitable enough to leave a good foundation for the next generation of Ran-Lew.
Celebrating Success: Recent Grant Awards and Their Impact
Ran-Lew Dairy has received a wide variety of Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative (SDBII) grants to help the longevity of the farm.
The SDBII awarded funds to help Lewis carry on his niece’s dream of expanding into the yogurt market. Lewis applied for the Specialty Processing Equipment Grant to purchase the equipment that will go in a new yogurt-producing facility. This yogurt product is intended to fill a gap in the fluid milk market. Lewis’ mission of diversifying his profits and encouraging regional milk production will be able to be carried out through this grant.
With no heirs to be a natural source of a succession of Ran-Lew, Lewis applied for funding in the 2023 Dairy Business Planning grant cycle to be used for dairy farm and plant succession planning. Another Dairy Business Planning Grant was awarded to build on the previous planning grant while evaluating the feasibility of a new direct-to-consumer enterprise, developing product-specific business plans and marketing resources, and ensuring that there are proper legal resources available to continue at a larger scale. At the time of these grant cycles, The bull accident previously mentioned occurred and put into perspective the importance of succession planning, and highlighted the significant financial toll that legal assistance can have on an operation.
“The DBI was instrumental in getting all that set up for me, and providing the way to do that, and I think that’s a very important part of that process, and I’m happy and impressed that they put that in to try to keep more land in farming and less land in growing houses.” – Randy Lewis.
As the operation entered the value-added market, Lewis saw a need to purchase and install two bulk tanks to improve the raw milk storage capacity, transportation efficiency, and long-term viability of the operation. This need was met with the 2023 Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant.
A Brighter Future
Ran-Lew Dairy is excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. The SDBII grants signify more than just financial support; it’s an affirmation of Lewis’ hard work and dedication to “ensuring the farm stays a farm”. Lewis has plans to turn the farm into a wedding venue, host film festivals and concerts, house a Ran-Lew dairy museum on-site, and continue to expand the value-added products that Ran-Lew offers. With the strong-minded and determined management Lewis has carried out in the last 40 years, we don’t doubt that Randy Lewis will leave his legacy in Snow Camp and throughout the Southeast!