Multi-generational farm to receive Master Breeder recognition

Lawton’s Jersey Farm of Newark Valley will be honored as the 83rd recipient of the Master Breeder Award of the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) at the Jersey Breeders’ Recognition Banquet in Springfield, Missouri, on June 20. Tim and Debbie Lawton will receive the award on behalf of the farm. 

The Master Breeder Award is bestowed annually to a living AJCA member, family, partnership, or corporation that, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, has bred outstanding animals for many years and thereby made a notable contribution to the advancement of the Jersey breed in the United States. Lawton’s Jersey Farm is a fourth-generation dairy farm. Clair and Sylvia, 1st generation; Merle and Margaret, 2nd generation; Tim and Debbie, 3rd generation; Mike, 3rd generation; and 4th generation is Nathan, Ryan, Chelsie, and Johnathon.  

“We are thrilled to have earned the highest laurel a Registered Jersey Breeder can receive.”

The Jersey story began in 1938 when Clair and Sylvia Lawton purchased a farm, a few Jersey cows, and some chickens with a dream of providing the community with fresh cream and eggs. 

With the input of their son, Merle, the dream morphed into building a registered Jersey herd and marketing milk through a processor. To achieve that vision, cow lines were bred to produce long-lasting, productive cattle that could pay the bills and look good doing it. 

That remained the paramount goal for more than 50 years. In the early 1990’s Tim took over the genetic decisions of the farm when component pricing took effect. He shifted to a breeding program that focused on production and component values while still producing show cattle that could do well at county fairs. Tim also began marketing the herd’s genetics across the nation and in two countries. 

In 2010 Ryan’s passion for breeding and exhibiting Jerseys at the fairs and desire to create cattle that could compete at larger venues was acknowledged and led to another shift in the genetic vision and breeding philosophy. Type traits weighed more heavily in mating decisions, and the cow families with the best conformation were selected to begin this exciting journey.   

For over 25 years, Lawtons have been a nationally ranked top-ten herd, frequently ranked first. The home of national production records, including 35 placings in the Living Lifetime Production contest, two of those winners, 224 production records enshrined in the Production Hall of Fame, and a production class winner at the World Dairy Expo. Show accolades range from many champions throughout local, state, and national shows, with the most recent earning the Premier Breeder and Exhibitor banners at the 2025 New York State Fair.  

Recently designated a New York State Dairy of Distinction and a Susquehanna River Basin Environmental Stewardship recipient, the Lawton family continues to build positive community relationships. 

“Engaging with community members helps educate and build bridges about the important role dairy farming plays in our food and eco systems,” the family stated.