GENOA -- More than 250 farmers from across the country and around the world continued their tour of upstate farms Thursday, including visits to operations in Cayuga County.

Alta Genetics organized the tour, which began Wednesday and concludes Friday.

"The goal for this is to grow in the large family farm business," said Gary Gardner of the Calgary, Alberta-based Alta. "This particular group of farmers in this area are exceptional."

New York has a reputation for large-scale family farming done in an environmentally and efficient manner, he said.

"People from all over the country want to see it," Gardner said.

The company that specializes in artificial insemination originally planned on about 100 farmers showing up. The response proved overwhelming, Gardner said.

Beyond the marketing aspect, the tour also supports some of Alta's customers by making examples of them.

"We want to be a partner with these dairies," Gardner said.

Throughout Thursday morning, visitors listened to Ridgecrest Dairy owner/operator Dave Galton and dairy manager Dan Osborne speak about their methods for herd and land management while roaming the grounds, some with translators.

"I'd like them to come here and see the high quality of the cattle we have," Osborne said before five busloads arrived for the second stop of the day. "We run a really clean, well-presented dairy."

For the complete story, read Friday's edition of The Citizen.