As the dairy industry expands and moves to larger operations, it opens several new avenues of opportunity. For Dan Cooper it was the perfect, though unsuspecting, outlet that combined his interests of biomedical technology, medicine, the outdoors and animals.

The key to success in a rapidly changing world boils down to two basic components: open minds and new ideas. Theo Scholze brings both to his farm and uses producer blogging to encourage fellow dairymen to do the same.

One California dairyman is expanding his definition of “milk quality” beyond somatic cell count to better capture what customers and consumers are really looking for in his products.

How did you get started in photography? Kasper: Growing up, I always loved taking pictures of our animals on the farm. Kittens, ducks, piglets, calves and cows … everything got their picture taken. I entered the photography project for 4-H more times than I can count and loved showcasing my work.

Across America, ice cream shops give flavor to small towns, large cities and even college campuses. Members of the Progressive Dairyman editorial team, along with a couple of our producer bloggers, shared their favorite places to find a sweet treat and the varieties of ice cream that tickle their taste buds.

Ask Doug Boop for his thoughts on the future of the dairy industry, and you’ll receive a thoughtful smile followed by a single word: challenging.

It’s an agriculture tradition as old as dirt itself – teaching and preparing the next generation of farmers, advocates and industry leaders for the world they will inherit.

This famous, or better yet, infamous Mark Twain quote has been the rallying cry for many an ambitious youth. It goes, “I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.” This was the case for eastern Tennessee dairyman Matt Mitchell.

Most parents gift their toddlers with toys and cuddly teddy bears. However, little Kaila Wussow’s parents, Ron and Nicole Wussow, wanted to give her something a bit more lifelike.