People issues can be a make-or-break proposition for your dairy. How do I know this? I’ve spent more than 38 years in the dairy industry. Wow, the time has gone by fast. I still have a desire to go to the barn at 4:30 every morning, and I love it as much as I ever did.

A reader asked me to write about the emotions of quitting farming. Let’s take the approach of identifying the farm culture attributes farm founders appreciate. Imagine what it might feel like when the following qualities are present or missing on the farm team.

I have been the Quebec dairy specialist for DuPont Pioneer for two years. My primary role is to support the company’s sales representatives technically with forage and inoculant knowledge.

I have chickens on the living room wall. My husband is disgusted by chickens. “It’s a quilt,” I say, “Get over it. Why do you hate chickens so much?” I think his objection is “We are blessed” embroidered on the quilt next to the chicken fabric seems like an oxymoron.