Born in 1953
Married in 1976
Children: Josh, Seth, Jared Lee, and Summer Davis Major
Grandchildren: Carter Lee and Addison Rose Major
Roy and Diane met during their last semester at MTSU. Roy is a Wilson County boy raised in the Norene community. Roy's parents Will Allen and Sammie Bradshaw Major and brothers Allen and Dan milked cows and raised tobacco on their Century Farm. Tobacco crops, custom work and Wilson Farmers Coop helped Roy earn his degree in ag business and education. And even though he was offered a teaching job at Lebanon, he stayed on the farm. Diane, however, was raised in a subdivision in Murfreesboro with roots in the Twelve Corner Community. She graduated with a degree in secondary education with plans for teaching and coaching but decided that this farming occupation was worth a try. There were a few of Roy's family and friends who did not think this was a good idea. But proving those people wrong has been fun.
After their marriage in 1976, they rented the Robert Rose homeplace from Mr. Bob Donnell in the Doaks Crossroads community. Three years later, they purchased the farm. Diane quickly learned that her education was just beginning. Roy began milking Grade B in a side shed of the old barn and in 1985 a new Grade A facility was built. The old house soon became home to three sons. After 44 years Roy and Diane still reside in one of the most historical homes in Wilson County. The one Diane picked out from the road and never intended to leave.
Roy served as a State FFA officer, Noble Ruler of AGR Fraternity. He currently serves on the Wilson County Planning Commission, Tennessee Dairy Producers Association and the Tennessee Dairy Promotion Board and Farm Bureau member. He has been honored as the Wilson County Conservation Farmer of the Year.
Diane raised all the baby calves, set tobacco, drove trucks and tractors, coached baseball teams, and coached the 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl and the Dairy Judging teams who qualified for national contests.
Currently you can find Diane at the Wilson County Soil Conservation Office always listening to stories about the history of Wilson County agriculture. Diane is a long-time member of the Livestock Committee for the Wilson County Fair, Treasurer of the Wilson County Agricultural Hall of Fame and the Hale Moss Memorial Scholarship, and the coordinator of the 19-year Farm Days for all second graders in Wilson County.
Major Dairy now includes 650 acres that are owned or operated with 240 milk cows. Originally the milking herd was commercial Holsteins. But as the boys got older, change was coming. The Al program brought a registered herd program. Pop-A Top is the prefix for all the registered herd that were bred by Major Dairy. Many years of selective breeding has produced Holstein and Brown Swiss that have been winners in local, state, regional shows. And we have even added a few Jerseys for granddaughter Addison.
The daily management of Major Dairy is now led by Seth and Jared with Josh being there for the morning milking and silage chopping. Summer, Carter, and Addison are actively involved in many aspects if the dairy.
Major Dairy has seen some tough times but has never lacked for encouragement and help of family and dear friends. Their lives have been enriched by the extended Major family, Adams Grove Church of Christ family, the Clinton and Lucille McPeak, and all the friends of the boys who have brought wonderful times and memories to Major Dairy and the part-time employees that have worked so hard. The Major family is a strong supporter of small family farms and the life experiences that are learned living and working on the farm.
Cows and crops bring great pleasure to Roy and Diane, but the pride of watching their sons growing into caring men takes second place only to the joy of watching Carter and Addison grow up on Major Dairy.
