As some of you may know, I took some time off to complete my master’s degree and recently rejoined the editorial team at Progressive Dairy. Although I’ve only been back a few months, it is different from my first turn at this role in 2020 to 2022.

Recognizing that not every message floating around the internet is for everyone, and that it is our responsibility to discern this, does not mean it is easy to move past the noise that tells you that you are not doing enough.

Personally, I like to take the slow days and long hours of darkness in January to review the past 365 days and make a plan for the next 12 months. As you look back, you may be surprised at what a difference a year makes.

Use the start of a new year to select a goal, a win, that you want to accomplish in 2024.

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to listen to motivational speaker Dr. Rick Rigsby as he encouraged a room of dairy producers to grow their influence in the industry in a way that makes an impact, not just an impression.

I remember when we bred cows based on what traits we needed to improve on. No computer programs or apps on our phone, just a bull book with proven bulls in it and a cow standing in front of us that needed help improving her udder and milk production.

I recently attended a major gathering of dairy farmers, and boy, the conversation wasn’t all that great.

When I was young, the social event of the summer season was the annual Black and White Show. We had many top-name judges – Heffering, Trevena, Stewart and a young man named Lowell.

As World Milk Day is recognized on June 1, may you take stock of where your dairy story began, how far you’ve come and what it truly means to celebrate this life we call dairy farming.