Rural Life
While the letters “FFA” stand for Future Farmers of America, FFA is not just for students who want to be production farmers. FFA also welcomes members who aspire in numerous other careers.
A dozen years ago, Walnutdale Farms experienced something a farm never wishes to happen. The Michigan dairy lost its milking parlor in a fire in 2010. Since then, the family dairy has grown in more ways than one.
The American Psychological Association finds the degree of stress placed upon farmers so unique it has given it its own name, “Farmer Stress.”
New England dairy farmer, Melissa Griffin shares a love for music and cows and says that working together in an orchestra is similar to working together as a family unit on a family farm.
While many are planning the perfect Valentine’s Day, I’m sure my special day will be spent in a barn. I chuckle at the thought, especially considering that is indeed how I met my husband, Scott—in a cow barn.
In Wisconsin, Vir-Clar Farm has worked hard at building a positive, family-like culture on their Fond du Lac dairy, which includes implementing a ride-share program that is a win-win for their employees and the dairy.
The idea of taking a vacation or a day off can seem near impossible, but really can be the single best thing a farmer can do. A change of scenery, time to rest, and a chance to talk about something other than the farm.
Park the tractor. Even if that means you’re in bib overalls and are literally walking from the cow barn to the school gymnasium. Sit in the stands. When your children spot dad in the gym, their smile will stretch wide.
In 1984, Farm Journal’s personal ads connected Pat, a farm girl from Iowa, with Doug, a dairyman from New York, sparking a love story that led to marriage and the fourth generation of Fuller Acres Farm.