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Farmer powers dairy operations with electricity from cow’s methane waste, diversified business by opening pumpkin patch and Christmas tree patch for visitors
November 20, 2010 (Lakeside) – Dave Van Ommering, co-owner/operator of Van Ommering Dairy in Lakeside, was honored as the 2010 Farmer of the Year for San Diego County at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido on Thursday night.
He currently operates Van Ommering Dairy in partnership with his brother, Robert. He was president of the San Diego County Farm Bureau from 2005 to 2007 and is currently on the board of directors.
In 2005 Dave Van Ommering installed a methane digester on the dairy; a first in San Diego County. Capturedmethane produced by decomposing waste from the cows is used to generate electricity to power the operations of both the dairy and the family’s home.
He has also worked to diversify the family business by doing more than only collecting milk. In 2000 the Van Ommering’s opened Oma’s Pumpkin Patch where visitors can pick their ownpumpkins. In addition to the pumpkin patch, in 2009 Dave opened Oma’s Christmas Tree Patch which is open from mid November through December.
Beyond working to preserve the family business and promote San Diego agriculture, Van Ommering is active in his hometown of Lakeside. He was a board member of the Lakeside Planning Group from 1994 to 1998 and was president of the Lakeside Chamber of Commerce in 1997.San Diego County Farm Bureau is a nonprofit trade organization with approximately 5,000 members. It has operated since 1913 with the mission to represent San Diego County agriculture through public relations, education and public policy advocacy in order to promote the economic viability of agriculture balanced with appropriate management of natural resources.
For more information on the dairy, pumpkin patch and Christmas tree patch, see: http://omaspumpkinpatch.com/
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