Check Out NaRisa Waldo’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to NaRisa Waldo.  

Hi NaRisa, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Several years ago, our family suffered loss, the kind that catapults you into something new out of necessity. In an effort to honor my late grandmother and help my daughter-in-law survive the pain of losing a child, The Waldo Way was born. 

I left a tenured position at the University of Texas at Tyler in the College of Nursing to build a raw milk dairy farm from the ground up. Leaving a steady, guaranteed salary and position of instant respect for the unknown. Indeed, high risks have been taken over the past ten years as I began this business! Maintaining a “status quo” is not a comfortable place in life for me. 

Starting a business is risky for anyone, but starting a business as a woman in a male-dominated industry is even a greater risk. A thought that never even entered my mind. 

Through lots of trials and tribulations, through many highs, and lows, we are now in our 10th year with two locations! 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
That ice storm a few years back was by far one of the biggest struggles we have encountered over the years. We went days without power, our equipment frozen, our cows and our small staff freezing for days on end. We were blessed to come out on the other side without losing any of our cows, but that was certainly by the grace of God. 

We have always had the good problem of very high demand on our goods. People come from everywhere to buy our Raw milk and other goods. 

No road is completely smooth, but no matter the obstacles we’ve faced, we are honored to still be here after 10 years! 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The Waldo Way became the first fully “robotic” dairy farm in the state of Texas. Against all odds, for “the first one” it should not have been a woman and it should not have been a “raw milk dairy.” But here we are! 

We are known for our Raw A2 Golden Guernsey Milk, which is gold in color from our rare Guernsey cows. We have expanded our milk products to yogurt, kefir, buttermilk, chocolate milk, butter, etcetera to granola that is shipped across the nation as a commercial product. Our beef jerky is now being carried in multiple stores across Texas, and we have opened a second location in Tyler, Texas. 

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
One must be “selfless” to succeed in animal husbandry. Cows require consistency from their owner. Milking cows need humans to care for them on Sundays, weekends, holidays, rainy days, sunny days, and those days with ice on the roads. There are no sick days or vacation days. I have truly embraced my animals, my job, and my lifestyle. And I love the fact that my cows are super dependable. They show up for work each morning and provide us with the most amazing product on earth: life-giving milk. 

The most important success factors in growing my business is confidence in my abilities, faith in what God granted me as the steward of this land, the cows, and all the amazing people who have supported and encouraged me along this journey of opening a raw milk dairy business. 

The successes of our brand is and has always been about quality products and not so much about the quantity. In my opinion, quality cannot be compromised for real lasting success of one’s business endeavors. Especially those businesses that are small and serve a niche market. Quality in products, animals, land, and family. Always striving to take the “high road.” 

Successes are defined by the individual. I have complete gratification in a job well done. The original concept and business plan 12 years ago incorporated a wholistic approach to operating. We currently provide nourishing foods and education to those who visit our farm in addition to sharing our tremendous respect for our animals and our land. At the end of each day, I am overwhelmed with joy knowing who we are and what we do, and how it contributes to the health and wellness of so many. 

In order to be successful and accomplish these many tasks on the farm one must find a work/life balance. 

Work hard, play hard has been my motto. Work-life balance is a difficult thing when it is your whole life while you live at your work. Owning a farm and producing all of the products is a very all-consuming business. On the farm, there is a continuous flow of milk, managing milk, and making products. Due to the perishable nature of milk, and outside demands, one must find balance. 

For me, preforming these daunting tasks every day is so rewarding that I find myself addicted to this life and I want to work all the time. To create a balance, I literally must be pulled away. Most of the time this comes from my caring and loving family who create the balance for me. We always get together and celebrate at least once a month. A very important piece for me is going to my private gym created in my Milk House where I remain connected to my work, but it is a place where I can focus on my strength training and be challenged by lifting weights. This remains part of my wholistic design for my business. It is about the foods we eat and being our healthiest selves. 

Additionally, I was inspired by my grandmother who was an astrologer, and she taught me many valuable lessons through this art and science. I am a practicing Vedic Astrologer who uses this science extensively. It has provided me with many crucial insights along my educational and business pursuits. Taking risks, the animals, food, health, business ownership, and higher education are all “in my chart.” I currently conduct Vedic Astrology readings which helps me mentally break away from the “farm” into another realm. Astrology gives others validation in who they are and where they are going. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thewaldoway.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewaldowaydairyfarm
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewaldoway
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewaldowaydairyfarm3890

Image Credits
Ashley Morgan Photography