Consider my dairy story. As a third-generation dairy farm kid, I've always been immersed in agriculture. My early experiences were also somewhat isolated. We lease land in the San Pasqual Valley Agricultural Preserve, just outside San Diego, Calif. It’s far from the rest of the California dairy industry and most of my urban classmates were generations removed from farming. Growing up on the last remaining dairy farm in the city, I had hands-on opportunities to develop my own registered subset of the herd. I wanted to become part of the broader dairy community to connect with others facing similar challenges.
Building a strong network
At a young age, I met mentors who encouraged me to pursue dairy-related opportunities across the state, nationally, and even globally. I got involved with Holstein Association USA and the American Jersey Cattle Association. In 2021, I was named National Jersey Queen. The chance to collaborate with respected researchers as an undergraduate led me to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. On campus, I participate in a wide variety of pre-professional clubs. I’ve seen firsthand how exposing youth to various career opportunities develops their potential. For example, I started college with an interest in consulting. Once I began getting involved with nutrition internships, I developed a passion for that segment.
Now, in my final semester before graduate school, growing my dairy industry network is my top priority. Since completing my degree work in December, I’ve packed my calendar with tours, conferences, skill-a-thons and expos. This pivotal moment between classroom and career is a chance to broaden my perspective and serve as a bridge between established and next-generation dairy industry leaders. Building upon these relationships and making meaningful connections sets us all up for success.
My internship as Farmer Communications intern at Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin is also supporting my professional development by strengthening my marketing and promotion skills to reach audiences removed from agriculture. Engaging beyond the industry and putting advocacy in action enriches my perspective.
Regional differences, common goals
Although I’ve seen many regional differences while developing my herd in California and studying and working alongside experts in Wisconsin, the Netherlands, and New York, the diversity of my experiences has also delivered a realization. Other parts of the country may have different markets, struggles, and politics, but all dairy farmers want to see the continual development of our industry.
We all want better public awareness of the valuable role farmers serve. We all want a strong economic outlook. We all want a sustainable future. Dairy advocacy is not about how we advance just one farm in one specific area. It's asking how we can advance all farms across the country.
