We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.
When Caitlin Kasper tried her hand at showing Jerseys in the 10th grade, little did she know it would ignite a passion for promotion that would lead to a whirlwind of activities.
Caitlin grew up on a dairy farm south of Owatonna, Minnesota, and she entered the showring, as well as participating in dairy judging and dairy bowl, at the urging of her siblings.
This article was #18 in PDmag's Top 25 most-well read articles in 2010.
Summary: In 2003, Darin Dykstra of Dykstra Dairy moved two-thirds of his family’s dairy cows from Chino, California, to a new dairy in Maurice, Iowa. His now 3,000-cow facility is located just a few miles from the headquarters of his processor – Wells’ Dairy. With the help of great employees, the Midwest Dairy Association, his wife, his church and Blue Bunny ice cream, he is able to keep his dairy ever-ready to give dairy tours.
Because this article was so popular, we asked Darin Dkystra a follow-up question:
Each May six finalists are put to the test in one of the country’s most rigorous job interviews to see if they have what it takes to become the next Alice in Dairyland.
As a full-time public relations professional employed by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), Alice works with the media, speaks with rural and urban audiences and teaches students about all aspects of Wisconsin agriculture, which is a $59.16 billion industry.
So what does it take to become Alice?
One day a few years ago, my son brought home a sport’s bag he got at school in freshman gym class. On the bag was a new, at least to me, dairy slogan: Milk – The Ultimate Sports Drink.
One Google search later and I had information about the topic and the seed of a promotion idea.
“Being a solo practitioner gives me many opportunities to interact with dairymen. Not every time that I go to the dairy do I find the dairyman, the owner, but most of the time they are around when I visit. Some of my procedures I do with the owner, so we have good contact and very direct communication.
“My situation is a little different from a large clinic that has 15 to 20 vets where everyday there is a new vet that goes to a dairy. In big rotations you lose the ability to talk and address all of the issues, all of the concerns, all of the new ideas, all of the problems brought about by change.
We all understand the value of maximizing our time and resources, and that includes the people in our lives. Friends and family members are quick to lend a helping hand and make our lives easier, but do you ever ask your veterinarian for more help?
Your veterinarian certainly doesn’t have all the answers, but their experience, knowledge and network of contacts are resources that can positively impact your operation and employees.
The 2009 dairy industry crisis caused everyone to re-think previously held dogmas, analyze all inputs for value and return on investment and seek alternatives to business as usual.
When I started in a veterinary practice in June 2009, one of the clients I inherited was struggling as everyone else and even remarked, “You picked a heck of a time to start in this business.” Thus began my challenge to improve dairy profitability during tough economic times. One area of focus was reproductive performance.
Many farm people have never stopped and actually analyzed why animals behave as they do and, more importantly, what this behavior may mean to their own personal safety. Often animal handling practices are developed from watching others as we grow up on the farm. All too often this results in the perpetuation of poor practices.
On a dairy farm, only the cows produce income. Everything and everyone else – veterinarian included – is an expense to the bottom-line profit margin. How a veterinarian works with a dairy is based on whatever return on investment the dairy owner thinks he or she is receiving from the use of that veterinary practice.
As we learn more about the negative impact heat stress has upon cattle, technological advances provide options to make your dairy operation more profitable during summer heat. Some technologies include capital investments, such as fans, misters, shades and other cooling apparatuses, to reduce the ambient temperature in the cow’s environment.
