A multi-generational dairy operation near Melba, Idaho, has earned one of Canyon County’s top agricultural honors. Siska and Justin Reece, who own and operate Moo-Riah Dairy along with five separate business ventures, were named Canyon County Farm Family of the Year by the Caldwell-Nampa Chamber Agribusiness Committee — a recognition that reflects decades of family history, hard work, and calculated risk.
Roots Stretching Back Generations
The story of the Reece family farm is inseparable from the story of Siska’s family heritage. Her grandfather farmed Jersey cows in Holland in the early 1900s before relocating to the United States after World War II, where he established a dairy operation in California. Siska’s parents later brought that agricultural spirit to Idaho in 1994, initially to launch a custom harvesting business. They purchased the Melba property roughly 30 years ago, where they first focused on seed production before adding a dairy component in 1999.
Siska grew up alongside five brothers, several of whom pursued formal training in dairy science and agricultural mechanics — a foundation that would prove invaluable as the family operation expanded. She and Justin, high school sweethearts who now raise five sons together, have owned and managed the dairy for seven years. The farm sits off State Highway 45 near Melba and encompasses roughly 400 acres.
A 3,000-Head Operation Built on Innovation
Running a working dairy of this scale demands both precision and adaptability. Siska oversees the dairy side of the operation, managing a herd of approximately 3,000 Jersey cows — the same breed her grandfather favored generations ago in Europe. Justin handles the harvesting and mechanics end of the business, growing crops including corn, triticale, and alfalfa to support the operation.
The Reeces have not been content to simply maintain existing practices. The dairy was among the first in Idaho to implement a computer system to track individual cow milk production data, giving the family a competitive edge in efficiency and animal management. That kind of forward-thinking approach has helped sustain the business through the pressures facing Idaho dairy farmers today, including water supply constraints straining the Snake River corridor and ongoing uncertainty around federal farm policy.
Together, the family manages five distinct business projects tied to the farm — a scope that reflects both ambition and a willingness to diversify in an industry where margins are tight. As Idaho farmers continue pushing for a more favorable federal farm bill, operations like the Reeces’ that have built multiple income streams are better positioned to weather volatility in commodity prices.
Copper Cow Creamery Brings the Farm to the Community
Two years ago, the Reece family opened Copper Cow Creamery, a retail destination located off State Highway 45 near the dairy. The creamery sells iced coffee, milkshakes, and milk made with products sourced directly from Moo-Riah Dairy, giving local customers a direct connection to what is produced on the farm. The venture represents both a business opportunity and a way to educate the broader Canyon County community about where their food comes from.
It was not a move the family made without some uncertainty. “We decided to go in headfirst and dive in, and we haven’t looked back since,” Siska Reece said of launching the creamery.
Recognition From the Caldwell-Nampa Business Community
The Canyon County Farm Family of the Year award, presented by the Caldwell-Nampa Chamber Agribusiness Committee, is designed to honor farmers whose contributions extend beyond their own property lines. Paul Nelson, speaking on behalf of the committee, noted that the Reece family goes beyond simply producing milk. “The Reece family exemplifies the values celebrated by this award,” Nelson said. “As a multi-generational farming family, they have built and sustained a successful dairy operation while actively promoting agriculture throughout the community.”
What Comes Next
With five sons growing up on the farm, the next chapter of the Reece family’s agricultural legacy is already taking shape in Melba. The combination of a working dairy, crop production, multiple business ventures, and a community-facing creamery suggests the family has built something durable — a model for how Canyon County farm families can adapt and thrive even as the industry faces mounting cost pressures and resource challenges across the Treasure Valley.