The holidays are upon us. For most people, this means more family gatherings, holiday parties and of course, food. Lots and lots of food. For dairy farmers, all of these seasonal activities make the days even busier since the cows don’t take the holidays off.

I have been a part of the Jerome, Idaho, FFA chapter since I started high school. The first thing that got me interested in this student-led organization was the Dairy Foods Career Development Event (CDE). Despite my dislike for science and original lack of interest in the dairy industry, I immediately fell in love with this CDE.

Who are the people behind the Proud to Dairy blog posts? Let’s get to know Lauren Schlothauer, a college student from New Mexico who has blogged about the passion she has developed for the dairy industry.

As we head into the Christmas season, I’ve been thinking a lot about traditions. This is my first Christmas as a wife. My husband, Scott, and I began compromising on family traditions last Christmas as an engaged couple, but this year it feels a little more official.

1. You have a ton of places to hide gifts. The hayloft, an unused grain bin, and the baler you won’t be using until next summer are all great places to hide gifts until the big day. Shh, don’t tell my kids.

I had started the milking early on Christmas morning so the family wouldn’t have to wait long to open presents. On the way to the parlor, I passed the sick pen. 1225 sat in the dim light, her eyes sunken and her chin in the straw.

Christmas 1988 is a Christmas I’ll never forget. It certainly is one of the best ones I’ve ever had. It is such a unique one that every time I think back to it, I can’t help smiling and thanking God for His great goodness to me. This is not your typical Christmas story.

If Santa were a farmer, people might actually believe their food came from somewhere other than the grocery store. Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve been torn. Now, I don’t want to break anyone’s ideas or tell you Santa actually does or doesn’t exist, but what always makes me curious is: Do you think Santa could be a farmer or not?

I pulled up to the dairy and parked in my usual spot. I got out and fumbled around as I put my 7-week-old into the stroller. My husband was combining soybeans in the field next to the barn, so we began to stroll around as we watched the cloud of dust rolling behind the machine with the most beautiful orange sky in the background.

I have a love-hate relationship with the word “millennial.” I love being a millennial for the positive connotations, but I hate the negative stereotypes that seem to come along with it.