Ever since I was a kid, June has been my favorite month. Growing up, it was the time of year when the pools were opening, school was ending, and I was able to kick back and be the pesky little kid running around the farm causing mayhem. It wasn’t until I was a little older that I learned that June was also dairy month. Now, when June comes about, I immediately kick my advocacy work up a notch to tell the world how great the dairy industry is and will always be. I become excited to host field trips, write articles for the local papers, and post fun dairy facts throughout the month. Even though I do this regularly, June truly is a special month because how many other industries can say they have a whole MONTH to themselves?
Every June, I ramp up my Facebook page and post one dairy fact a day, a dairy cow, a cooking video, an experiment video, or everyone’s favorite, reading with the cows. I try to make my Facebook page fun and engaging. I even have planned live chats and funny videos for folks to enjoy. I enjoy making parodies of songs to go along with different jobs throughout the farm. I made a milking video where I danced and sang along to the song “Break Your Heart.” Did I have fun making the video? Absolutely! Did I look like a complete goof? Oh, of course! It was fun and engaging. Afterward, I had kids sending me videos of them copying my “sick” dance moves. It was amazing to have so many folks who engaged in a simple, silly promotional video.
Overall, June is a wonderful time for us dairy farmers to get our name out there and promote the industry we all know and love. I am not saying we all need to create a music video or anything along those lines, but since it is our month, promote it, celebrate it, make it your time to show off. We are building the next generation of milk drinkers. Let’s show them how amazing milk truly is and how wonderful the folks are that help put it on the shelf each and every day.
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.