Young Farmers
Nominate the innovators and advocates redefining dairy. Apply by August 1 for a chance to win an all-paid trip to the 2026 Milk Business Conference in Scottsdale, Ariz.
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This California dairyman blends a 100-year legacy with vision tech and automation to help slash lameness and prove data-driven care is the future of cow comfort.
Lessons forged on a wrestling mat and a ranch serve as a powerful reminder to separate your worth from your work. In the face of life’s hardest hits, it is the courage to share our stories that helps us find the way forward.
Wybrand Vander Dussen, 2025 Milk Business Young Producer Award winner, carries his family’s multigenerational dairy legacy with inspiring resilience, passion and a heart for the future.
New Heart Brings New Life: 13-Year-Old Dairy Exhibitor Returns Stronger After Life-Saving Transplant
At just 12 years old, Lexi Anderson was diagnosed with a rare heart disease. After a successful heart transplant in early 2024, she is back to showing dairy cattle and playing sports. Read how her determination — and a life-saving donor — gave her a second chance.
Through the perspectives shared by these pioneering producers, it becomes clear progressive dairy farming is a dynamic blend of embracing change, leveraging technology and honoring essential values.
Young dairy farmers are redefining the milk industry, not just on the farm but also by collaborating with startup and scale-up innovations.
The 2025 Milk Business award recipients exemplify the best of the dairy industry, from technological advancement to inspiring personal stories.
The Golombiecki Dairy stands as a living testament to the power of family and tradition, echoing timeless lessons while embracing new possibilities.
Although the champion animals often make the reels and headlines, I would argue the most important things happening at shows are less talked about.
Genetic excellence is a cornerstone of Fir Ridge Holstein Farm’s success strategy.
The Heinrich family from Maquoketa, Iowa, was recently honored with the Way We Live Award at the Iowa State Fair.
When the school calendar coincides with the state fair, it creates a significant strain on farm children and families.
Fairs provide an invaluable time to engage with the public about agriculture. But watch out for detractors attempting to sway public opinion and protest these events.
Growth in Ben Smith’s dairy operation isn’t just about expanding the acreage or increasing the number of cows. It’s about capturing opportunities that align with their values and boost efficiencies.
While farmers cannot entirely evade challenges, they can certainly overcome them. This truth echoes through our farm repeatedly, and every day as I survey our land, I am reminded of the enduring strength of the American farm family.
This Milk Business Young Producer Award recipient is generating income by selling surplus fresh cows.
Life lessons passed down remain a powerful force that can inspire and shape future endeavors, ensuring the values and legacy of agriculture persist through generations to come.
Reflecting on our past, as well as looking forward, it’s crucial to continually embrace life’s lessons with openness and enthusiasm. It’s this mindset that propels us forward, allowing us to contribute positively to our industry and the wider world.
Little did Sydni Mell know the resilience and courage ingrained in her upbringing on the farm would become vital tools in facing unwelcome adversities that awaited her after high school.
As generations become further removed from the farm, the need for people who can educate and inspire future livestock leaders has never been greater. Dan Hoge shares his secrets to reach the next generation.
Farm life can help ingrain timeless values into the next generation, as demonstrated by three teenagers who committed to daily duties at the dairy.
Amanda Freund, a Connecticut dairy farmer is headed to “Shark Tank,” where she aims to propel her creation, CowPots, into the mainstream.
While Lindsey Worden has remained with one employer since college, her passion for dairy could “easily fill a barn.” She illustrates that with a readiness to embrace change and seize opportunities, tremendous achievements are attainable. Her leadership at the Holstein Association is paving the way for innovations benefiting producers and the industry for years to come.
Community connection is at the heart of this family dairy.
Writing and recounting the journeys of dairy farmers from across the nation has been a substantial blessing. These stories are more than just accounts of labor; they are testimonies of passion, ingenuity, and a commitment to a way of life that feeds the nation.
At just 11 years old, Reed Marcum had an idea for a project: Collect toys and give them to children in his community. Eight years later, the toy drive has given away more than 64,000 toys at an annual event people wait in line for hours to attend.