As a young female farmer in her late 20s with a bachelor's degree in biology, public speaking seems like it is just part of who I am. Growing up in the era that I did, and as a student in the science field, it seemed as if multiple times throughout the year, I was speaking in one of my classes or giving a talk on a science project.

 For the past few years, Pennsylvania dairy farmers and industry enthusiasts have been hard at work through legislation and education efforts to offer whole milk as a choice in schools.

An effective transition cow program is a critical element in managing a dairy farm. Over the past 10 years, dairy farms are paying closer attention to how cows are managed during the transition period.

In today’s fast-changing dairy industry, continuing education has never been more important. However, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for the training and development needs of each member of the dairy team.

It seems that the one constant in our dairy farms and farming families is change. Whether it’s the changing roles of family members in an operation or the way technology and new research findings are continually modifying how we care for animals, land and water, keeping up with and managing through these changes requires a commitment to learning in all forms. 

I like to say when I joined National Dairy Council (NDC) 27 years ago, I came for the product, but I stayed for the people.