“As dairy producers, we need to make bringing people to the farm part of our job,” says Kevin MacLean, owner of Ripplebrook Farms. For MacLean, building consumer relationships isn’t just about an occasional conversation with consumers, it’s a conscious effort to connect them with the source of their food.

Many of us in the dairy industry endure the late nights, early mornings, less-than-ideal weather circumstances, faulty equipment and other inconveniences for one reason – the love of cows. The same certainly could be said for Tim Shearer and Irene Vietinghoff of Lynmark Farms, who earned the third-ever Canadian Milking Shorthorn Society (CMSS) Master Breeder award in 2025.

In the first round of the 2025 National Hockey League draft, the Nashville Predators used the fifth overall pick to select Ontario’s Brady Martin of the Soo Greyhounds. Martin proudly shares his upbringing on a dairy, hog, chicken, beef and crop operation.

In Listowel, Ontario, brothers Dave and Doug Johnston manage 160 milking head of Holsteins in robot and tiestall barns. Fifth-generation dairy farmers, the Johnstons are proud producers of Canadian milk and have made it a point to invite, educate and encourage consumers to learn more about the dairy industry.