Ten Mile Grade Dairy

The Nickerson family has deep roots in the dairy business, and they’ve been farming in Hardee County for more than 60 years.

Dairy farming became a Nickerson family trade that started in New York long ago and settled in Hardee County when Earl Nickerson and wife Clara started their own dairy farm in the 1950s. After that, Norman and Phyllis Nickerson eventually would start another farm in the area.

Their sons Chris and Joe would later become partners and build Nickerson Brothers LLC under their father’s guidance. Now each of them has expanded into two new entities allowing for the current fifth generation of Nickersons to carry on the dairy farming tradition.

Today Ten Mile Grade Dairy in Zolfo Springs operates as a rotational grazing style on a little more than 1,600 acres, and milks approximately 2,300 cows twice each day.