One blizzardy night nearly two decades ago left sixth-generation dairy farmer Sara Bremer Hewitt stranded in town. Seventeen years later, that spontaneous shopping trip has grown from a small yard display into a magical half-mile drive-through Christmas experience at Bremer Farms in Hastings, Minnesota.

“As dairy producers, we need to make bringing people to the farm part of our job,” says Kevin MacLean, owner of Ripplebrook Farms. For MacLean, building consumer relationships isn’t just about an occasional conversation with consumers, it’s a conscious effort to connect them with the source of their food.

A modern dairy building with automated systems and a viewing corridor will soon replace the aging dairy facilities built in 1972 at Waterman Dairy at Ohio State University in Columbus. Initial conversations about renovating the facilities began in 2019 while working on the master strategic plan for the college.

From Wisconsin to Switzerland, Australia and beyond, Dan Wegmueller has built a life and a dairy farm around more than just cows and milk. With a global perspective and deep family roots, Wegmueller is reshaping what it means to be a dairy farmer in the 21st century.

Step onto Lowe Family Farmstead near Kuna and you’ll find a conventional farm growing feed corn and wheat. And if you come in the fall, you’ll find a corn maze, hayrides, livestock interactions and dozens of other on-the-farm activity options.

In a quiet corner of Minnesota, in a home bursting at the seams, lives the Guinness World Record holder for the largest collection of cow-related items. What began as a simple admiration for dairy cows has transformed into a one-of-a-kind collection that spans over 21,805 unique items and fills every room of Ruth Klossner’s house.

Ranchers shifting from cattle production to other endeavors are driven by many reasons and goals. Operations must have a solid plan backed by knowledgeable direction and commonsense experience for a greater chance of success.

Hansen Dairy’s "A Very Dairy Christmas" is a holiday event like no other, offering families a unique blend of festive cheer and farm life. Set in a cozy winter wonderland on Hansen’s dairy farm, this event goes beyond the typical holiday experience.

Free hot chocolate and an opportunity to view dairy cattle brings people across southern Ontario to Summit Station Dairy of Lynden. Braving the unpredictable late December weather, attendees can enjoy a free tour of the 500-cow dairy during the annual Dairy Farm Open House.

This fall, my cowboy and I went to the Oregon Coast for the first time. Since his family is from Georgia and Tennessee, we’d driven to see the Atlantic Coast once or twice. Yet we’d never experienced the ruggedness of the Oregon Coast.