A life that began amid a herd of dairy cows and a
family legacy culminated for Marvin Nunes at an awards ceremony on Oct.
5, at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. "The dinner was
outstanding," Nunes told The Light, "and yes they did
serve beef."
The third-generation dairy owner was honored as Dairyman
of the Year at the expo, which drew more than 65,000 in the industry.
The award, one of four given, took Nunes completely by surprise. "There’s
a hell of a lot more qualified folks in the United States than me,"
Nunes said. Reading the award aloud, the plaque commended Nunes for
being the third generation of dairymen, one who is committed to the
future of the dairy industry. The award is signed by two presidents
– Roger Ripley of the World Dairy Expo, and George W. Bush.
"It’s hanging up in my office," Nunes
said, "it’s hard for me to believe. I have to look at the
thing every once in awhile."
Third in line
Nunes is a past president himself – of the California
Holstein Association, and the Alliance of Western Milk Producers. Currently
he is on the board of Holstein Association USA.
"My family and I are very honored," Nunes
said. He owns Ocean View Farms in Windsor. The next generation of Nunes,
his son Daryl, handles the day-to-day operations. His daughter-in-law
Pam is in charge of promotion.
Cows are a way of life for the Nunes family. Marvin
was raised at the historic A Ranch on Point Reyes, a short distance
from the lighthouse. His father George was a dairy farmer there, and
his brother George Jr. still runs it. Grandfather Manuel Nunes, who
immigrated from the Azores in the early 1900s, was the first Nunes to
operate a dairy – first in Dillon Beach and later on his own ranch
in Novato.
School a little close to home
Growing up on the A Ranch, Marvin attended school
at the Point Reyes Schoolhouse just a short distance from their home.
"The school was actually attached to the building," Nunes
said, adding that this helped to keep him in line. "If I ever acted
up, the teacher would just call out the window to my dad." The
school was moved between the A and B Ranches in 1945, and is now a living
space.
After graduating from Tomales High, Nunes attended
Cal Poly in San Luis Obisbo and took a degree in Dairy Science in 1957.
Immediately following graduation, Nunes enlisted in the Army.
After a two-year stint, Marvin got a call from the
Red Cross that his father had died unexpectedly. He came home and began
to work at the A Ranch, which his brother George took over in 1964 and
still operates. Marvin was in charge of another family ranch, E Ranch,
until Ocean View Farms was purchased in 1972.
Generations of excellence
Ocean View Farms milks 300 registered Holsteins that
average 27,000 pounds of milk a year. The farm motto, "Generations
of excellence," embodies Nunes commitment to superior animals.
Of the 300 Holsteins 72 are classified as excellent and 185 as very
good. "It takes multiple generations to get to excellent,"
Nunes said.
Nunes insists that the motto only applies to the Holsteins.