Farmer Resilience
The downturn dairy economy makes it difficult to plan for growth. We have to remind ourselves that future plans don’t have to be yes or no, sometimes the answer is simply not yet.
The well-known Larson name is one made up of strong morals and integrity. The Larson family milks thousands of cows in Okeechobee County, Florida, making them the largest family dairy in Florida.
Head to the Lone Star State, and everything is bigger, or so they say. That doesn’t only refer to big hats and big hair, it also applies to dairies, as the average size in the Panhandle hovers around 4,000 cows.
Growing up with a long line of strong women, Jessica Pralle-Trimner, a Wisconsin dairy farmer, does not back down from hard work and wholeheartedly believes women play an integral role on dairy farms across the U.S.
Travel to the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, and you’ll meet Hayley and Stephanie Painter who not only made the Forbes 30 under 30 list, but have also created one of the fastest growing yogurt company in the U.S.
Farm kids have learned to quickly survey what needs to be done and take the lead to get it done. No questions asked. This is one reason farm kids stand out. They have learned to get tough during tough times.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, I think of the many strong dairy women we have working on farms all across this great nation. For all of you farm girls out there, continue to shine bright.
One thing adversity teaches us is how to persevere. Dig deeper. Plow harder. At least this is what dairy farmer, Todd Benedict, has learned when he faced two nightmare situations—a barn fire and losing his milk market.
Happy heavenly birthday to my father, Bob. He would also have said that all of you, too, have found success, as you are part of the 2% club that is feeding the world.
All I can say is God bless American dairy farmers. You work hard despite the hardships that come your way. We need dairy farmers to continue to push forward to produce nutritious dairy products to feed the world.
Success is often shaped by values, found through hardships and the stimulus for momentum. If we learn anything from our 2023 Milk Business Award winners, it’s there is no cookie-cutter formula to achieve success.
Elle Purrier St. Pierre was fired and fueled to become the best version of herself. The Vermont dairy farmer recently broke her own U.S. record in the women’s indoor mile at a race in New York City.
I encourage you to look at the star players on teams, and when you get to know more about them, more times than not, you’ll learn they learned all they needed to excel in sports from growing up on a farm.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is no stranger to supporting farmers and is known to hold a special place in his heart for dairy, having served as president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC).
I challenge you to find another industry that offers the same blessings as the dairy industry. Editing will not only remind you of the goodness, but it also will provide you with the fuel to tackle the year ahead.
Sadly, the future includes fewer farms. If you are part of that statistic, likely you’ll always identify as a farmer, but find something to get you out of bed once the cows leave and provides you a sense of purpose.
What about the moments in between the times the sun rises and sets? The moments that aren’t as bright and certainly are not Instagram-worthy, but they do help shape our children for their future.
Three National Young Cooperators share about their journey with training and leadership development that has helped propel them forward.
It’s easy for kids to think that money grows on trees. However, kids who grow up on a farm have a front-row view of understanding the true financial cost it takes to run a family business.
This past January, Val Lavigne became one of Dairy Management Inc.'s (DMI) newest board members. Leading up to this point, Lavigne has always been intrigued with checkoff and involved in her local efforts.
Matt Budine has found better solutions and motivated positive changes to young dairy professionals that have gone through the Dairy Challenge, and more than 1.1 million cows touched by Progressive Dairy Solutions.
Sometimes the biggest inspiration comes in the smallest packages. This certainly holds true for Brynn Grewe. The pint-size dairy farm girl serves as a true inspiration, as she embodies strength, grit and perseverance.
Many of us are in the fast lane with kids graduating and we’re getting a lesson on just how fast time goes. Thank your children for all the help they do on the farm and start thinking about who their replacement will be.
Working with family can be both challenging and rewarding. However, tensions can build if clearly defined roles and responsibilities are not established for each person. The good news is there are ways to navigate.
Sometimes life doesn’t go the way it was planned. Most farmers understand this all too well. But sometimes life’s curveballs provide opportunities to grow and learn. This holds true for the Dinderman family of Illinois.
It’s no wonder farmers experience higher levels of anxiety and depression because of the many factors they deal with that are out of their control. But how does that affect their family? A new study sheds light.
Think of your own success story, even if your path wasn’t straightforward. The industry is great because of all our great leaders who have continued to push hard, driving their businesses forward.
Farm life is far from simple, and this especially holds true for dairy farms that operate 24/7, 365 days a year. The rate of suicide among farmers is three and a half times higher than among the general population.
I wonder what is the magic formula that will allow dairy farms to continue making it. I don’t have a magic 8 ball that can tell us that, but what I can tell you all is that part of the formula requires resiliency.
Time is such a thief of joy, especially when it comes to raising kids. One day, you bring them home from the hospital with all the hopes in the world and then next you realize they become all that you have imagined.