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Leadership often involves taking the road less traveled, and in some cases, it means being the very first to traverse an uncharted path.
Such was the case in 2010 when the California dairy community voluntarily announced participation in the National Dairy FARM Program: Farmers Assuring Responsible Management, a comprehensive animal well-being education and verification program.
Organic Valley Grassmilk is the first refrigerated milk said to be produced from cows that are 100 percent grass-fed. New in the U.S., the product is the innovation of the week from Datamonitor’s Product Launch Analytics.
The cows that produce Organic Valley Grassmilk eat only fresh grasses and dried forages, like hay – no soybeans or supplemental grains.
I just printed the first draft of the La Grand Tenney history book that I have been compiling for the last seven years. It contains the life histories of each of my husband, Reg’s, brothers and sisters and their spouses. It was an ambitious project but every word is worth it.
Senior, University of Kentucky
Communications and Youth Programs Intern for the Holstein Association USA
Based in Brattleboro, Vermont
Background
Q. In what area are you pursuing a degree?
I'm majoring in agricultural communications and integrated strategic communications with a public relations emphasis.
Q. What is your agricultural background?
I have lived on the same 163 acre farm in Upton, Kentucky my entire life. I started showing Brown Swiss in 2002.
Senior, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Marketing and Communications Intern with Filament Marketing LLC
Based in Madison, Wisconsin
Background
Q. In what area are you pursuing a degree?
I’m pursuing a bachelor's of science degree in agricultural sciences with an emphasis in life sciences communication, agricultural business and marketing.
Q. What is your agricultural background?
I grew up on my family’s farm, Honey Creek Heritage Farm, near Sauk City, Wisconsin. A few years ago, my parents transitioned from a dairy operation running 120 registered Holsteins to a 35-head Red Angus beef cattle lifestyle farm. Growing up, I helped my father milk our cows and showed heifers through 4-H in our local fair and at the Wisconsin State Fair.
Q. What previous internship positions have you held?
My previous internships include working for Voyager Press/MBI Publishing as a freelance photographer where I captured livestock and animal photography for five internationally published books: How to Raise Cattle, How to Raise Pigs, How to Raise Sheep, The Complete Book of Butchering, Smoking, Curing, and Sausage Making and Wisconsin Local Food Marketing Guide.
Junior, University of Wisconsin - River Falls
Marketing Services Intern with Vita Plus
Based in Madison, Wisconsin
Background
Q. In what area are you pursuing a degree?
I am pursuing a bachelor’s degree in agricultural marketing communications with a minor in agricultural business.
Q. What is your dairy background?
I grew up on my family’s registered Holstein dairy operation near Unity, Wisconsin. Currently, my dad and two brothers are milking about 300 cows. I assisted with feeding calves, yard work and tractor driving during the harvest seasons.
Q. What previous internship positions have you held?
I served as the intern for the Wisconsin State Fair agricultural department. After exhibiting at the fair for eight years, it was a great opportunity to see and assist with the behind the scenes activities.
Your age: 68. I’m a third-generation Jersey dairyman.
Your location: Eastern New York, just 15 miles from downtown Albany – nearby but not pressured by a suburban community.
My dairy’s history: Dutch Hollow Farm was started in 1976 after being involved with my family’s farm for 13 years. We started with 55 milking-age females, mostly growth of my original 4-H project animals, along with some purchased females.
Your age: 59
Your location: Seneca, Kansas
My dairy’s history: Sue and I started milking 20 Jerseys in 1988 and have grown our dairy (Heartland Jerseys) to 470 cows, 370 heifers and 230 bulls and steers. We have one of the higher GJPI and JPI herds in the nation. We have bred for production and type and have been progressive in the things we do on our dairy.
Your age: 24
Your location: Jefferson, Oregon
My dairy’s history: Desert Park is a registered Jersey farm established in 1983. My dad started out milking 350 cows on a dairy he leased in Mesa, Arizona. He expanded and bought a dairy west of Phoenix in 1993 where we milked 1,300 cows.
Later, we downsized the dairy to make it more family-oriented and moved to where we are today, in Oregon, where we milk 450 registered Jerseys.
After considering more than 70 amendments, today the Senate approved the passage of the Farm Bill with a 64-35 vote.
There was no effort to significantly alter the dairy title, although two dairy policy amendments had been proposed.
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