Ann Chaney Kalmey didn’t write the letter that many now know her for in order to gain attention – she wasn’t even writing to any particular person. In her mind, she was just writing a “venting letter” that she was going to throw away. The letter she never intended anyone else to see were words from the heart about what things are like on the 125-cow, 480-acre dairy she operates with her husband, John, near Shelbyville, Kentucky.

In our March 21st issue of this year, Progressive Dairyman launched a new column written by dairywomen. The first contributor of what we now call “HERd management” was Emily Zweber of Elko, Minnesota. Over the past eight months, we’ve featured an additional eight female voices through this column. We asked our contributors to open up about their farms and their opinions about a dairywoman’s role in the industry today. See responses from Terri DiNitto of Marcy, New York; Ellen Durrer of Modesto, California; Karma Fitzgerald of Shoshone, Idaho; Kim (Wilson) Grewe of Cumberland, Wisconsin; Brenda Hastings of Chardon, Ohio; Holly Hull of Preston, Idaho; Ashley Messing-Kennedy of Bad Axe, Michigan; and Joanmarie Weiss of Frankenmuth, Michigan.

A lot of start-up companies hire high-priced marketing agencies to develop a compelling story about their business, paying professionals to script a narrative that can generate well-placed stories in magazines and newspapers. Sonoma County dairywoman Karen Bianchi-Moreda had a great story – she just needed the business to go with it. In fact, she said, it was her family’s story of survival, hard work and perseverance that compelled her to start a farm business that showcases her ancestors’ rich history of life on the land in the Sonoma-Marin dairy belt.

What started as an assignment for a college internship has turned into an Internet sensation for an Illinois student. Erin Ehnle began her Facebook page “Keeping it Real – Through the Lens of a Farm Girl” last January. At the time, she was one of 15 social media interns on the staff of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board. Ehnle says the interns were in charge of creating positive ag messages for use on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

All across the country dairy farmers are again struggling to stay in business. The milk-to-feed price ratio is the lowest it’s ever been, making it increasingly more difficult to make ends meet. As we know, the solution to the problem is very simple – all costs of production must, as a whole, be lower than the price of milk. And wouldn’t we all sleep a little better knowing we’re getting … hmmm … maybe $30 per hundredweight (cwt) for our milk?

HOW WE MET: I came across Sharon at World Dairy Expo. She was working as a volunteer for Downtown Madison Ambassadors and agreed to answer some questions while pausing a few times to assist visitors with maps and tourist information on the Madison area. Sharon Fallon, 65 Madison, Wisconsin Retired teacher

Age: 49 Location: West Concord, Minnesota, in the southeast part of the state My dairy’s history: I grew up dairy farming with my mother and brothers. Through those years, my own herd of cows and heifers grew. In 1999, I bought this farm and married Curt Oeltjenbruns and we combined herds. In 2009, we sold the cows and were approached by another dairy to raise heifers for them.

Age: 24 Location: Council Bluffs, Iowa Current job title: Seed and agronomy adviser Employer: WinField Education: A degree in animal science from Ohio State University I was active in my college’s dairy club as ... president during my senior year of college.

Age: 30 Location: Morris, Minnesota Current job title: Director of animal health Employer: Riverview LLP Education: I have a B.S. in dairy science from Iowa State University and a DVM from the University of Minnesota. I was active in my college’s dairy club as ... an officer. I also participated in educational events, intramurals and social activities within the club.