Last Dairy Goes Dark
Remember when buying local wasn't just a trendy slogan? For Southern Nevada's last dairy farm, that motto was their lifeline – until government policies and big industry players changed the game.
Ponderosa Dairy, home to 10,000 milking cows and 200 hardworking Americans, is throwing in the towel after years of fighting an uphill battle against rising costs and unfair pricing practices.
The kicker? They're converting their 2,000-acre farm into a solar facility – a story that perfectly illustrates how government overreach and market manipulation can transform our communities.
“We're already losing money,” former Republican state Assemblyman Ed Goedhart, who manages Ponderosa, explained back in 2023. “Now you're going to take it from a drip, drip, drip to a spurting artery.”
When Government Goes Sour
The dairy's troubles began when the Clark County School District (CCSD) – the nation's fifth-largest school system – and milk processor Meadow Gold dealt them a double whammy.
First, during COVID, CCSD backed out of their agreement, forcing Ponderosa to dump millions of dollars worth of milk into a lagoon.
Then, Meadow Gold slashed their milk prices by nearly 15 percent.
Goedhart shared with NN&V:
“When you can't get paid Class 1 prices for your milk, and there's no enforcement, no follow-up, no consequences – well, it was only a matter of time,”
He added:
“You don't get very far suing the government.”
Death Star vs. The Dairy Farm
Here's where it gets interesting for conservatives: Despite federal and state regulations requiring minimum milk prices, there was zero enforcement. The dairy cooperatives found loopholes, while government agencies looked the other way.
When CCSD put out new contracts, they included no preference for local producers – not even for the dairy that stood by them during COVID.
“When they wield their mighty sword,” Goedhart noted, referring to CCSD, “there's not going to be a single percent allowance for preferential bidding for a state locally sourced producer.”
In a particularly candid moment, he referred to the school district as “the Death Star” in this story, highlighting the overwhelming power of the massive bureaucracy against a local business.
Goedhart reflected on how simple policy changes could have saved the local dairy industry. But without those changes, the result was inevitable.
He said:
“When something is that predictable, at the same point in time I can also say it was entirely preventable,”
Silver Linings in Solar Power
The result? Ponderosa is now finalizing an agreement with Balanced Rock Power to convert the dairy into a solar facility. For Goedhart, who spent decades in the dairy business, the transition stirs mixed emotions.
Goedhart told NN&V:
It's sad to see the dairy closed down because I spent 30 years in the dairy business,”
But, he's quick to defend the solar developers, whom he sees as “white knights” in this situation. He shares that he's particularly concerned about potential community backlash.
Goedhart said:
“I don't want them to get painted with a black eye. I don't want people to make an incorrect assumption that they are the ones who put us out of business.”
He sees the solar transition as making the best of a difficult situation, explaining:
“I'm glad there was a use for the ground. The solar people are providing use from the land that would be naked, barren land. They'll provide some value for it, creating renewable energy.”
Looking ahead, the transition brings some silver linings for both workers and the environment.
Cream of the Crop: A Commitment to Community
The solar company isn't just taking over the land – they're stepping up for the community.
Ted Degroot, managing owner of Ponderosa told the Las Vegas Review-Journal:
“We remain committed to supporting our employees with the training they need to qualify for new jobs,”
The plan includes partnering with groups and unions such as IBEW to transition skilled dairy workers into solar installation jobs, and a new gold mine opening in nearby Beatty could provide additional opportunities.
Even more impressive, the solar company is voluntarily retiring some water rights back to the state. Goedhart highlighted how they're going beyond what's required, saying:
“To preserve water resources headed into the future and make it into a win,”
Rather than let the land go to waste, the project will repurpose already disturbed ground instead of tearing up virgin desert – a smart use of resources that benefits everyone.
The Last Drop
But here's the bigger picture conservatives should consider: When government policies make it impossible for local businesses to compete fairly, we all lose.
Today it's a dairy farm; tomorrow it could be any other local business caught between regulatory requirements and market manipulation.
What can conservatives do?
Start locally. Attend school board meetings. Question why local suppliers aren't given preference in government contracts. Support state legislation that enforces existing price regulations.
Most importantly, share stories like this one – because once local producers disappear, as Goedhart warned in 2023, “you can't just turn the switch back on.”
For now, Ponderosa's cows will keep producing milk until the solar transition begins. But their story serves as a warning about what happens when government agencies fail to enforce their own rules while simultaneously making it harder for local businesses to compete.
It's not just about milk – it's about the future of American enterprise itself.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.