Ralph Prime was a dairy farmer and Brown Swiss breeder for many years in Augusta, Maine. An Army veteran in World War II, Ralph bough his first Brown Swiss in 1943 and married Rosa Willey.
In 1945, they established Roseledge Far, raising registered Brown Swiss. Ralph, Rosa and their 3 children farmed together for 30 years before Ralph retired in 1975. Ralph's son, Curtis, and daughter-in-law Linda, took over ownership and the farm operation in 1975. During these years and afterward, Ralph and Rosa were very active in the Maine and New England Brown Swiss Associations. Ralph was on the 1980 100th Anniversary Committee of the National Association in Springfield, Massachusetts. He was very active with the National Dairy Shrine Club and other dairy farmer organizations at the local and state level in Maine for many years, both while farming and in retirement.
They exhibited their registered Brown Swiss at many New England and Maine fairs. The Primes started a local 4-H Club in 1950 named Work to Wine, and led this club for more than 25 years. Ralph was a Windsor Fair trustee, and the livestock superintendent for more than 20 years. His son, Curtis, later took over as superintendent. His grandchildren, Dana Prime and Carol Davis, are still presently co-chairs of the livestock department there.
Ralph passed away in January 1989. His grandchildren continue to farm, breed and show outstanding Brown Swiss and Holstein cattle in Maine.