Dairy MAX: A World of Goodness Local. Family. Farming. Meet the Webb Family of Western Colorado
“Milk is the most tested, healthy, nutritious option you can choose for your family.”
The Webb family has been dairy farming for six generations on the Western Slope of Colorado. Jim Webb and his brother-in-law, John Gibson, now run the family dairy farm and cheese company, Rocking W Cheese.
Jim’s family has been in the Uncompahgre area since before the turn of the century. He was born and raised on the family dairy farm and decided after college he wanted to be a dairyman. Jim met his wife, Willyn, during his last year of college, and they now have three children they raised on the farm – Skylyn, Joyclie and Missa.
The Webb family milks 600 cows and farms 600 acres of corn. They ensure their cows are happy and healthy by working closely with a nutritionist who formulates the cow feed to make sure the cows are well taken care of. They’re always working towards a higher level of sustainability by capturing waste from the dairy and applying it to their fields to increase yields and soil fertility.
Safety of the product is a top priority.
“Milk is the most tested, healthy, nutritious option you can choose for your family,” says Jim.
The Webbs added cheese making to their operation in 2009. Artisan cheese, a popular product in today’s local-focused food market, was the family’s way of expanding the business.
Although opening a cheese shop during the recession was difficult, the Webbs stuck it out. Jim and John presented the cheese to Kroger by bringing a cooler of cheddar and jack while threatening to sit in the lobby for a week until someone tasted their cheese. Their hard work paid off and Rocking W varieties are now available at King Soopers, City Market, Safeway and Albertsons. It’s also sold in some specialty markets, delis and restaurants.
Learn more about the Webb family’s history.
Brought to you by Dairy MAX, a regional dairy council funded by dairy farming families across Colorado, southwest Kansas, Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, western Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming. For more dairy insights and programs tailored specifically for schools, health professionals, partner businesses and dairy farmers, visit DairyMAX.org.