I have always wanted to be on television. I am thinking I would be a good fit for American Pickers or Antiques Roadshow.

However, the most appropriate one is Hoarders. Being part of a multigenerational farm brings lots of knowledge and experience – and lots of stuff.

I was recently at my desk in the farm office looking for a place to stash some older DHIA records. As I journeyed through drawers that I have not opened in 14 years, I found a lot of old records and many things that just need to be thrown away.

However, one gem that turned up was a three-ringed binder that has my grandfather's name, J Willard Bowman, and a sticker that reads “Voice Of The Dairy Farmer.” It is from a 1965 American Dairy Association (ADA) Virginia meeting. It was an exciting discovery since I have been serving on the same board since 2015.

Image Joanna Shipp has of her grandfather during his dairy farming career. Image provided by Joanna Shipp.

It was interesting to see a reminder of farmer-emphasized promotion programming from 60 years ago. Sadly, while the binder survived nearly six decades, its contents did not. Still, that sticker offers a huge clue about the focus and importance of our early promotion programs that have always underscored our farmer voices.

As I have participated at the local and now national dairy checkoff levels, I have seen firsthand how farmer voices direct and influence our programming. Sharing my story with the national Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) and local Dairy Alliance staffs helps showcase the unique needs and individuality of farmers and the U.S. dairy industry as a whole.

The DMI board of directors are currently in a three-year Unified Plan cycle that helps us focus our resources on a long-term strategy, so we are taking action rather than planning to take action.

Building the 2026-28 plan starts with our collective farmer voices on strategic areas that are important to us, including health and wellness research, restaurant partnerships and exports.

But being “the voice of the dairy farmer” does not stop at the board planning level. The farmer-founded U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) continues to grow opportunities for U.S.-produced milk, and its strategies include mission trips across the world to introduce our industry to new markets.

These trips always include dairy farmers, and I was able to visit Chile. While there, other farmers and I learned about the Chilean milk market while sharing our stories and unique perspectives on farming in the U.S. Our voices showcased the quality of U.S. dairy to another international audience that is seeking to bring our products to their consumers.

I also have the privilege of serving on the checkoff-founded Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy board of directors. The Innovation Center is a robust pre-competitive forum that convenes hundreds of members of the dairy community, all committed to contributing to the long-term viability of our industry.

The organization is led by a board of chief executives and chairs of dairy companies and associations. The farmer cooperatives and processors on the board represent about 65% of U.S. milk production and associations include DMI, USDEC, International Dairy Foods Association, Milk Processor Education Program and National Milk Producers Federation.

This is another venue where the voice of the farmer is heard alongside industry leaders, particularly through operating committees and task forces. Each team brings an action-focused mindset and strong knowledge base to the table so we can build alignment on what matters most and drill deeper into solutions that benefit everyone while adapting to an ever-changing consumer and customer landscape.

Everyone shares a common goal of wanting the full dairy chain to be vibrant, and there is recognition that success starts at the farm level.

I was glad to find this small piece of promotion and family history. I will print this column and add it to the binder and return it to its place in the desk. Maybe my own grandchildren will share the joy of sifting through my stuff and finding it in another 60 years.

Hopefully, then, the “voice of the dairy farmer” is still going strong.

This column was authored by Joanna Shipp, who is a Virginia dairy farmer and chair of the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board. To learn more about your national dairy checkoff, visit the checkoff website or to reach us directly, send an email.