Latest News From Rural Life

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.

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.

NBA superstars Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith learned how to hand milk a cow on live television thanks to a Madison, Georgia dairy farm, Big Sandy Creek Farm.

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.

It’s important the friends, family, and business professionals close to farmers are prepared and able to effectively communicate in a mental health crisis.

Two farmers speak up on the importance of addressing stress.

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.  

Shatto Milk has created its own swag line that includes, “Mahomes Dairy Cow.” Their flagship cow, Casey, has been transitioned into looking like the Kansas City Chief’s quarterback, Patrick Mahomes.

On January 25, 300 farm workers protested Washington’s agricultural overtime law that went into full effect on the first of the Year. This comes after a two-year phase-in.

Midwest Dairy, and other promotional groups around the country, are meeting consumers where they are at, to tell them all about dairy’s goodness.

From improved telehealth services to reimagined small-town hospitals, the National Rural Health Association is working to help folks in farm country tap into more and better medical care options.

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.

Whether it’s whole milk, 2%, eggnog or chocolate, Santa sure loves to drink the good stuff – real milk from real, hardworking dairy farm families!

USDA has granted Mr. Claus and his reindeer a special permit to enter the U.S., ensuring a seamless journey for the joy they bring each holiday season.

Fifteen years into growing a farm and a family together, everything changed for Ron and Sherri Prins and their four young kids. A diagnosis made the couple lean on their faith and on one another more than ever before.

One of the things I love most about Christmas trees is the power they evoke to simply remember. Here are some special livestock-themed Christmas trees filled with memories to last a lifetime. 

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.

I often think farmers talk so much about being advocates that we sometimes we forget to ask if our children would like to be advocates for an industry that has helped raise them and one that they have grown to love, too.

At 96 years young, Paul Dotterer still runs the chopper during harvest season on his family's dairy farm - and he enjoys every minute of it.

As the holidays approach and we gather around the table for a family meal, try not to use the opportunity to gather as time for a business meeting. It’s very important to create separation between family and business. 

Succession planning can be a complex and emotionally charged process. Achieving consensus among family members, committing to the plan and understanding potential consequences are vital to secure the future of the farm.

While candy is always a go-to option, why not get creative and hand out some delicious dairy-themed goodies this Halloween instead?

Earlier this month, AgriTalk host, Chip Flory visited with two dairy farmers at World Dairy Expo to talk about the challenges that face dairy, as well as what opportunities lie ahead in the years ahead. 

God bless grain cart drivers. They are great mind readers, understanding all those hand signals that are hard to interpret and hard to see, and the person who generally takes all the blame.

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. 

Grilled cheese is a staple food for children across America. But two Wisconsin brothers decided to take their version of grilled cheese sandwich to the next level.

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.

The Tauers’ workforce is different than most. They work with the University of Minnesota through their training program as a host farm for foreign interns, who work with the family for six months to a year at a time.

Farmers have learned to live by one of life’s biggest lessons – always expect the unexpected. But sometimes even the unexpected can still cause us to pause and scratch our heads.

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.

Travel to Carpenter, Wy., and you’ll see two-thirds of the state’s 9,000 dairy cows, who are milked at Burnett Dairy. You’ll also get to see an upcoming second-generation dairy farmer, Reese Burnett.

Emma Kuball, a 19-year-old college student from Waterville, Minnesota, representing Rice County, was crowned the 70th Princess Kay of the Milky Way in an evening ceremony Aug. 23 at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. 

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.

In the aftermath of a mass shooting earlier this year on the campus of Michigan State University, the university’s dairy has served as a place for comfort by inviting students to de-stress by petting MSU cows and calves.

A few things you can count on if you make your way to Des Moines, Iowa for the Iowa State Fair—corn dogs, livestock shows and the iconic Iowa State Fair butter cow. 

There is a reason why dairy farmer Kip Siegler’s YouTube channel is growing. His upbeat personality and his ability to show viewers firsthand what it is like to farm in fast-paced videos resonates well with his audience.

Childcare presents a unique challenge for producers looking to balance farm and family. Is there a way to allow children to free-range without compromising safety, mental health and productivity?

With the exclusion of firefighters and other personnel responding to emergencies, the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) is now issuing a permanent heat rule effective July 17 for outdoor workers.

Workers who help produce sour cream for brands, including Taco Bell, Wendy’s and Hello Fresh, have gone on strike. Teamsters Local 662 members at New Dairy Select Milk, a subsidiary of Borden Dairy are striking.

Producers feel exhausted dealing with the highs and lows of the industry. Add in the current state of the dairy economy with low milk prices, and it’s not too surprising that mental health is also impacting producers.

Louise Malecha wears her titles as a badge of honor—that of a farm mom, farm wife, nana, businesswoman and entrepreneur. With her newly released second book, Malecha can also add published author to her long resume.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office, a California man has been sentenced to more than six years in prison due to his involvement in a nearly $9 million cow manure Ponzi scheme.

Dairy farmer Charles Krause traveled to Southeast Asia where he and fellow dairy producers learned more about how the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) mission has helped increase demand for U.S. dairy products.

Gar-Lin Dairy Farm is thrilled to have Luke Bryan make his way back for the second straight year as a tour stop at their dairy farm in Eyota, Minn. Gar-Lin Dairy Farm will again host the show on Sept. 23, 2023.

When Guy Fieri rolled into Kentucky to film his All-American Road Trip television hit earlier this year, he brought his whole entourage. They showcased Chaney’s Dairy Barn on their hit tv show.

Two things have had a huge impact on Jeff Corle’s life—music and dairy cows. After high school, Corle headed south to Nashville, to pursue his dream of working in the music industry.

Tucked in the rolling hills of a quaint New England town, Fairholm Farm in Woodstock, Ct., a century-old farm’s recipe for success also includes technology and securing additional profit sources.