Growing up, the National FFA Organization ruled the county. I was incredibly involved growing up through school, and today, I serve as our FFA alumni president. To say FFA has been my home would be a bit of an understatement. I have always been a huge supporter of the agricultural world. Any way I can promote and teach the world about their food, I always take the opportunity. So, now, I have started a new venture in an organization that I didn’t have when I was younger.
Back in August, our annual county fair was held. I always go down to see how many exhibitors are showing, which vendors are participating in the fair, and just to see folks I haven’t seen in a while. As I went over to the livestock tent, four younger girls came running over to me. I knew all of them from coaching softball, so I wasn’t surprised they came running over nor was I surprised when they all jumped on me. However, I did not expect it when one of them looked up at me and said oh so sweetly, “Coach Courtney, can we start a dairy club?” I really didn’t think about it before I said, “Of course, kiddo. Why not?”
Did I truly think about this before I agreed to it? Of course not. I impulsively said yes because it is difficult to say no to a kid that looks at you like you are the most important person in the world. Our 4-H program has been rebuilding over the last five to 10 years. It took a couple of months, but on November 12, we had our first club meeting. We had over thirty kids come to my farm for the meeting, and several parents came just to meet a cow. Most of the kids that showed up had never seen a cow or been on a farm before.
My goal throughout this entire process is to show kids where their milk comes from as well as to give them an inside look of what goes on at a dairy farm. I am involved in so much in the community, but 4-H is a new adventure I’m excited to start. To have a club that kids can join and have a great time learning about the agricultural world is a dream come true in my mind. So, I started a dairy club. Let the journey begin. Stay safe, folks.
The author is a sixth-generation farmer and fifth-generation dairy producer in southwest Virginia, where she and her family own and operate a 145-head Holstein dairy. Courtney is involved in agriculture organizations throughout her community and is a graduate of Virginia Tech.