Not only is June a great time to indulge in numerous dairy treats, but it is also the perfect time for us to celebrate what we as dairy producers do throughout the year, as well as teach consumers about the dairy industry.

Spring is often thought of as a time with tulips in bloom, buds on the trees and green grass again. While these may be some of the highlights of spring, I feel that as a season, it is so much more than that.

As a dairy farmer, there are many joys that I get out of my career, but there are a small handful that easily rise to the top of my list. Those being: educating consumers on where their food comes from, every day is made up of the same chores but no two days are the same, and taking care of these wonderful creations and believing in tomorrow as a farmer.

What do you think of when you hear the terms "dairy farm" or "dairy farmer"? For most, I think the images that first come to mind are black and white cows, milk, red barns, long days and/or physical work. All of these are very true, but there is so much more to dairy farming than just those keywords. Those five things being cows, family, determination/perseverance, faith and hard work.

As kids, we are often told to try new things. Whether it is a new food, or a new activity, or sport. Starting something new is supposed to be an opportunity to expand your horizons, see what you’re good at or enjoy and learn from your mistakes. Even in our adult lives, trying new things is a great way to continue learning, but sometimes as adults I feel like we are more intimidated to say yes than when we were kids.

At times, I felt that just being a dairy farmer wasn’t enough. It is more than enough. As a full-time dairy farmer, especially a young female in the industry, there are so many opportunities for growth and development, and being able to work alongside family with animals that help feed the world is such an amazing opportunity.

Are you excited for Halloween but tired of handing out the same types of candy year after year? If this seems familiar to you, I have several ideas to make this Halloween season unique and healthy. 

What started off as me having the desire to share my knowledge and passion of the dairy farming industry with students at my former elementary school has now grown into a nationally recognized program. Little did I know making that connection and then continuing to grow and expand upon it while incorporating more ag enthusiasts would lead to so many new connections, friendships, lessons and experiences.

As a dairy producer, I thought it would be interesting to see how different consumers view the dairy industry. For this session, I have interviewed one person with no dairy experience, two with family backgrounds in dairy but no regular experience, and one with heavy farming involvement but not a dairy farmer specifically.