Whether it be small talk or a general conversation where I am asked what I do for a living, and I tell them I am a dairy farmer, often I get a very puzzled look in response. I’m not sure if it’s because I am a young female who doesn’t fit the “typical” dairy farmer image, or if it’s because I am “just” a dairy farmer, not something more elaborate. Either way, after stating my occupation, this typically leads into several questions about what I do, dairy cows’ lives and general farm interests. 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.
I am currently in my fourth year serving on the board of trustees for my county Farm Bureau. One program I am heavily involved in is ag literacy and public education on farming. Over the past few years, I and a group of other Farm Bureau members have visited numerous local schools, libraries, public events and after-school programs. At each of these, we target a younger school-aged group of children, and sometimes their parents, and we read a farm-related story, do a coordinating craft and then allow time for questions. It is so overwhelming to me the intelligent and curious questions that these participants ask. Most of the time, they genuinely do not know even the most basic facts on farming, where their food comes from or how it's produced. To be able to explain this to them step by step and tell them everything that is involved to get it from farm to table is so rewarding. Being able to make that connection for them, and for them to get to meet and talk to real farmers and understand that what their families are consuming is safe and was produced in a way that did everyone justice, is so incredibly rewarding.
When I’m not busy with ag literacy, I’m typically doing the day-to-day chores that are necessary to farm. Every day, twice a day, I milk the 100 head of dairy cows that fill the barn and feed calves. Those are the bare minimum tasks that I do twice daily. I fill the rest of my days cleaning waterers, vaccinating cows and calves, dehorning calves, dry treating cows and anything else that needs done. Basically, my daily routine is standard and at this point has become a monotonous schedule. By no means do I mean that in a bad way, but the steps to milking the herd, setting up and tearing down the parlor and prepping cows are the same every day, so it just pretty much becomes second nature. Even though these main tasks are the same, each day really isn’t the same. A new calf, a cow in the wrong pen, a sick cow to treat or a day with multiple feed deliveries are all things that make each day different.
To be fully transparent, dairy farming is hard. It is hard both physically and mentally. There is so much more that goes into dairy farming than just milking cows. It’s the calf that suddenly gets sick, and off feed, yet nothing really seems wrong. Or the cow that slips and you just hope and pray she can get back on four feet after resting for a few minutes. Or the weather. This year has been a real battle with the weather. Planting has been a work in progress over two months due to the heavy rainfalls we’ve had. Just when the ground is finally dry enough to fit, or plant, we get another downpour of rain that sets us back once again. As farmers, we know that all these things are out of our control and the only thing we can do is to have faith that tomorrow or next season will be better. As always, though, I remind myself that the newborn baby calf, the beautiful new fresh cow or the smell of a freshly cut hay crop are the things that we live for. Those are what make our job the best.
No matter what season we are in, and no matter what challenges we are faced with, farming truly is one of the best parts of my life. Having the privilege to walk into the barn each morning and care for a herd of cattle that produce a product that makes it from farm to table in just a couple of days is genuinely a joy. Not only is it a pleasure to take care of the cattle and the land, but the connections I have made within the farming industry are truly irreplaceable and have set such a strong foundation for the rest of my life. Whether you are actively farming, a retired farmer or looking to get into farming, I challenge you to seek out one thing that piques your interest in the industry and to let it be a way to bring more joy into your everyday life.
