Welcome to the website for Lyon Jerseys, located in central Iowa, about 60 miles northeast of Des Moines.

For more than 80 years, three generations of the Lyon family have been milking and breeding Registered Jersey cattle. The family has farmed the fertile Midwest ground since brothers Bob and Earl Lyon formed a partnership in 1921. Jerseys made their debut as 4-H projects in 1924, then developed into a full-time dairy enterprise.

Today, Lyon Jerseys is a partnership of G. Joe Lyon (Earl's son) and his son, Eric, and nephew, Stuart.

Joe and the late Norma Lyon, center. Stuart and Debbie Lyon, left, and  their children, Tim, Ben and Kari. Eric and Terry Lyon, right, and their children Tom, Todd, Ted, Ty and Erin. Jersey cow and calf were sculpted by Norma and reside on a hillside south of Toledo, at the intersection of Highways 30 and 63.

Lyon Jerseys is enrolled on the AJCA's REAP program and has been a contributor to Equity since its inception in 1976. The herd has a 2015 AJCA lactation average of 17,901M, 937F and 649P on 295 lactations.

Emphasis has always been placed on developing an efficient Jersey cow that produces profitably. Top-end JPI bulls are used in the breeding program, with a focus on high components and outstanding type. The herd is a founding member of Dairyland Jersey Sires and uses young sires in the herd mating program.

The farm is home to 65 Excellent and 278 Very Good cows. After the February 2016 herd appraisal, the average score stands at 85.2%.

Over the years, the Lyons have bred a number of production and show winners, sent bulls to A.I., and sold cattle across the country, both privately and through high-visibility consignment sales such as the All American Jersey Sale and the National Heifer Sale. Lyon Jerseys is proud to have consigned the high-seller of the 2010 Pot O'Gold Sale, Lyon Impuls Eternity, who sold for $10,750 to Sidney Avila, Dalhart, TX. Avila placed fourth in the 2013 Pot O'Gold Production Contest with "Eternity."

Lyon Jerseys sells its milk to Swiss Valley Farms, a leader in retail market development and the first cooperative in the Midwest to offer a protein premium. The farm uses no rBST.

The Lyon family is active in service to the community and a variety of agriculture organizations. They have received many awards in recognition of this dedicated service.

Joe Lyon was named Guest of Honor by the Dairy Shrine and he and Duffy received the Iowa State Fair's first Outstanding Lifetime Accomplishment Award in 2004. Eric and Stuart were given the AJCA's Young Dairyman Award in 1988. Lyon Jerseys received the AJCA's most prestigious recognition - Master Breeder - in 2015. CLICK HERE to read about the farm and the award.

Members of the Lyon family receiving the AJCA Master Breeder award at the AJCA-NAJ Annual Meetings in 2015.

The late Duffy Lyon is also well-known as sculptor of the Iowa State Fair butter cow. She faithfully crafted the cow each and every year from 1960 until she retired in 2006. The Midwest Dairy Association selected Duffy as Iowa's honorary chairperson for June Dairy Month in 2006 in part for her efforts in creating the fair's number one attraction. Duffy received the Woman of the Year award from World Dairy Expo in 1990 and the Pioneer award from National Dairy Shrine in 2002.

Duffy and her full-size Jersey sculpture that greets visitors to her hometown were featured on the cover of the June 2007 issue of the Jersey Journal. To see the image, CLICK HERE.