DFA Cheese Store
Owners: Dairy Farmers of America
Field Representative: Elbert Qualls
Manager: Sarah Qualls
Location: 506 E. Stephenson, Harrison, Ark
Company History: The DFA Cheese Store is located on the site of the old Carnation Milk Receiving Plant. In 1981, a cheese store was opened by the Mid-American Dairy Cooperative. In 1997, the store changed ownership when several dairy cooperatives combined to form the Dairy Farmers of America. Sarah Qualls is the manager of the Harrison location, and Elbert Qualls is a field representative for Dairy Farmers of America. Both Elbert and Sarah are former dairy farmers and enjoy doing what they can to help dairy farmers make a living.
Products and Services: The Cheese Store carries a variety of dairy products that include several different cheeses and ice creams, as well as summer sausages and bacon. In addition to the dairy products available, the cheese store also carries dairy cow and dairy barn supplies. “We can special order just about any part a dairyman might need, as well as fix just about anything that needs to be fixed around the dairy barn. I deliver supplies, as well as do field work, service work, maintenance work, whatever,” said Elbert. As a field representative, Elbert covers a large part of Arkansas and some of southwest and south central Missouri.
Changes in the Dairy Industry: “When I came back to Arkansas in 1989, there were approximately 1,000 dairy farms in the state. There are about 130 dairy farms left in the state today. There are a lot of changes in the things dairy farmers do as far as feeding and the equipment they use compared to years ago. A lot of them go online to buy, sell and look for things. They are forward contracting now. They put their milk out there, and they know exactly how much they are going to get for it. They also are forward contracting their feed,” said Elbert.
Business Philosophy: “We have worked on both sides of the dairy business. Dairying is a lifestyle. We have been in this business so long that everybody, our dairymen and our customers that come in are like our family. We are on the third generation with some of them,” agreed Elbert and Sarah.
By JoAnne Rowland
