Earlier this spring, the Wisconsin Beef Council came out to tour the farm. Even though we’re dairy farmers, we’re still in the beef business; we’re an important part of the beef food chain.
This group was unlike a lot of the other groups that come out to the farm. They were dietitians and nutritionists, so very science-minded. Right after I gave my introduction and overview of the farm, they were asking about the milk price and how it’s calculated. Usually on tours, we don’t get that deep until the end, so I knew this group was going to be really engaged. They wanted to have conversations where they could get real answers from a real farmer.
It was great being able to talk to them about animal care, among other things. Even though they are on the beef side, they still need to be aware of how well our animals are treated. Our cows serve two purposes. The first is to make milk for as long as possible. When they no longer produce milk, they go to the beef market.
The group shared how beneficial it was for them to talk directly to a farmer. When they get asked questions, they generally defer to the answers they find on the Internet. Being able to get on a real farm was important for them. Now, when they get questions, they can speak directly from their own experience and their face-to-face discussions with a farmer.