On my first day working for Progressive Dairy nearly four years ago, our office manager handed me a keyring with a key to the building and a charm engraved with the word “DREAM.” It was and still is so fitting because being an editor here has been my dream since I was in seventh grade reading all the dairy magazines to study for 4-H dairy bowl competitions. That charm is still on my keyring and takes on even more meaning every single day: While I’m living my dream, I get to tell stories about others who are also living theirs.
These are my favorite stories to tell and exactly why I love this job. It truly is an honor to tell your stories, so thank you so much for trusting me to do that in our magazine and on the Progressive Dairy Podcast.
These dairy farmers I’ve interviewed had big dreams and made them come true with a lot of hard work, grit, determination and enthusiasm. There are so many examples, including Idaho dairywoman Siska Reece, who has wanted to start her own creamery since she was 15; first-generation Washington dairy farmers Ryan and Haylee Mensonides, who dreamt of connecting the public to local agriculture through farm-fresh dairy products while supporting other small businesses; or the sheer thrill that was clearly evident on Abbie Herr’s face as she handed the famous bottle of milk to the winning driver of the 2025 Indianapolis 500. Most of these people have wanted to do whatever it was for a long time, and they worked hard to make it happen. How exciting is that?
As a side note, did you know you can view digital versions of our past magazines online by clicking on the magazines tab and logging into your free agproud.com account? You can also search for these articles on our website if you no longer have your print copy (keep in mind, you will need to be signed into your account to access farm feature articles).
For another story about dreams coming true, check out our cover story to learn how the next generation of the Dakin family has transformed their community relations efforts since taking over management of their Florida dairy farm in May 2024. Within six months, the four Dakin brothers and their wives hosted their first fall festival, followed by a Christmas festival called Milk and Cookies with Santa, to connect with their community and share what they do on the farm. Their story is inspiring in so many ways. Read the article to learn about their Christmas festival. We also have a few other Christmas articles in this issue to help fuel your Christmas spirit this month.
As we approach the beginning of another new year, this is a great time to reflect on how your goals and dreams are going, the progress you made in 2025 and how you want to pivot or move forward in 2026. I get excited whenever I start planning for all the fun and great things the new year will bring. This planning, however, doesn’t need to be limited to the beginning of a calendar year. It’s important to revisit it monthly or at least once a quarter to help stay on track and adjust as needed. You might even consider gathering a few friends to have regular check-ins to keep each other accountable. It can be as simple as a group text with a few guidelines like checking in on the first of the month with updates on the past month’s goals and plans for the next few weeks.
If you are a young person – or maybe young at heart – reading our magazine, I hope you feel at least a little bit inspired to chase your own dreams. With hard work, grit and a positive attitude, you can make them happen. There are a lot of us cheering for you.
Merry Christmas and cheers to an amazing 2026!
