Not only is June a great time to indulge in numerous dairy treats, but it is also the perfect time for us to celebrate what we as dairy producers do throughout the year, as well as teach consumers about the dairy industry.

As I write this, I can hear the crunching of roof and tin being pulled away from our old dry cow barn on our dairy farm. The barn has been here for longer than I have. Shortly after we purchased our own herd, the barn became a dry pen. So, for the past 21 years, the barn has served as the place where basically all our animals calved.

Recently, I heard Dr. James Hewitt, a human behavior scientist and author, speak about the concept of regenerative performance. He spoke about how many of us are spending most of our time in middle gear. We need to approach our work more like a performance athlete would approach their training process.

I spent the day after Mother’s Day helping our hoof trimmer. Since our herd is relatively small, we do not have sort gates and chutes that maneuver cows in a different direction when needed.

Every family has their own quirky ways to pass the time. In my circle, one of our favorites is a simple game that usually results in a heated debate: If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? The answers usually vary – pizza, steak (specifically, a perfectly cooked medium rare filet mignon), crispy fries or even dill pickles – but my dad had a more serious and considerate response that made me pause: milk.

As little kids growing up on the farm, we are always taught to stay busy. My dad used to tell us that if it was light outside, we should be outside doing something. Then, as we became adults working on the farm, we were told to have a plan. “Don’t get so caught up in the farm that you forget to focus on the farm,” they would say.

As kids, we are often told to try new things. Whether it is a new food, or a new activity, or sport. Starting something new is supposed to be an opportunity to expand your horizons, see what you’re good at or enjoy and learn from your mistakes. Even in our adult lives, trying new things is a great way to continue learning, but sometimes as adults I feel like we are more intimidated to say yes than when we were kids.

Time is an invaluable resource that, once lost, can never be regained. Whether you’re a farm manager trying to complete all your tasks in a day, or a busy mom juggling kids, cows, and an off-farm job, mastering time management can significantly enhance your productivity, reduce stress, and improve your overall quality of life.

When I was growing up as the oldest daughter in a single-parent household, I knew that I probably wasn't going to get the help I needed. Whether it was with my homework or around the house, I just powered through and put a lot of pressure on myself to do it well so I wouldn't need help in the future.

In the hectic world of dairy, we all know there’s only so much bandwidth for saying “yes” in a day. And it seems like the opportunities never end – a new organization to volunteer for, a new task that needs to be completed, and so on and so on.