Large dairy operation takes shape near Pierce

PIERCE — Let the milking begin.

Construction is complete on a new milking barn out at Longs Peak Dairy LLC in Pierce and the owners are gearing up operations to handle up 6,000 cows producing 300,000 pounds of milk per day.

Greg, Barry, Eldon and Arlan Marrs teamed up with Rick Podtburg in 1998 to join their operations to increase their competitiveness in the market. What resulted was an operation with 1,300 milking Holsteins, a heifer-raising farm and 200 dairy steers with locations in Fort Lupton and Johnstown.

The families were looking for growth possibilities to remain competitive in the…