The program provides tools and resources to dairy owners and managers to help them identify strengths and opportunities related to employee engagement and build a plan to address and improve weaknesses.

Whether joining a peer group or building an advisory board for your farm, dairy producers are finding value in learning from other producers and business owners facing similar challenges and seeing their businesses from new perspectives.

What sets successful dairies apart from the rest of the industry? According to agricultural economist Bruce Dehm, president of Dehm Associates LLC, there are four key indicators of success: efficient milk production, low or profitable cost per hundredweight, effective management, and financial stability/sufficient cash flow and equity.

Building skills for a lifetime with an emphasis on teamwork, a trip to Toronto in November for the TD 4-H Classic begins with dedicated volunteers such as Bobbi-Jo Uhr.

"Reach out to mentors, ask for help and accept constructive comments in the spirit of growth." - Steph Murphy on achieving goals in the barn, in leadership and as a judge.

Every day on the farm, we have one goal: Keep the cows happy. Everything dairy farmers do centers around this so they produce milk. Taking care of the cows is my number one priority.

We’ve seen a lot of headlines and news articles lately about trends and changes in the workforce. From the “quiet quitting” trend to tightening labor markets in nearly every industry to the transition back to the office after the COVID-19 pandemic, it is a new day in how we approach and work with our teams. 

Emma Finch is a 21-year-old student at the University of Guelph studying crop and animal sciences. She, like many Ontario youth, is an accomplished showperson.