'We Got Engaged Up at the Milking Parlor:' Modern Dairy Farmers Sutton and Kris Rucks

By Dalia Colon

Americans are drinking less milk these days, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Still, if you’ve enjoyed a pint of ice cream or a post-workout glass of chocolate milk lately, then you have a dairy farmer to thank.

If you’re in South Florida, there’s a good chance that farmer is in the Rucks family.

Sutton and Kris Rucks own Milking R dairy farm and ice cream shop in Okeechobee. The couple run the business with their two adult children and a staff of around two-dozen employees.

A lot has changed since Sutton’s grandparents purchased the farmland in 1956. But much remains the same, including the 12-hour workdays and endless troubleshooting to ensure the wellbeing of their 1,500 milking cows.

In this conversation, Sutton and Kris discuss how dairy farming has evolved over the years, the challenges of being dairy farmers in a world full of milk alternatives and reasons for the dwindling number of dairy farmers in Florida. They also address the role of women in the dairy industry and the importance of teaching kids where their food comes from.