Childhood

 Dallas Eugene Burton was born on August 22, 1950, at the Stubenhofer Home in Strong City, Kansas. He was the son of John E. and Eldora Mae (Sherffius) Burton. He grew up with an older sister, Velva, an older brother, Dennis, and two younger brothers, Vaden and Delwin.

The Burton family operated a dairy farm just south of Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, before purchasing land and a home southeast of town in the early 1950s. This farm in the beautiful Flint Hills would become the backdrop for Dallas’s earliest memories and his lifelong love of dairy cattle. The family raised dairy cows for many years and later farmed the land until selling it in 1990.

From a young age, Dallas was drawn to dairy cattle. Working alongside his father, he learned the value of hard work, perseverance, and a deep appreciation for quality livestock. He and his siblings attended Chase County High School and were active in 4-H, where Dallas further developed his passion for the dairy industry.

These early experiences on the family farm would later shape his remarkable career — from establishing his own Pennyoak Holsteins to co-founding the renowned Burton-Fellers Sales team with Ed Fellers and later Burton Consulting, LLC.

Below, enjoy these photos of a young Dallas and his family, mostly taken on the family farm in Chase County, Kansas.