A few weeks ago, I had the chance to spend the day in Chicago at a meeting of the American Dairy Science Association to address dairy industry groups and university researchers. I was asked to speak about what I know best: running a modern dairy farm, caring for animals and producing quality food. I focused my talk on the consumer, because we as dairy farmers need to lead the conversation with consumers. Farms have grown and changed, but many people still think of the dairy farm as the red barn.
Freestall barns keep cows cool in summer and warm in winter
Though we may have larger farms, and our red barn has turned into a freestall barn, the truth is the important things haven’t changed. We still want to take the best care of our animals, because it’s the right thing to do. We still treat every cow as an individual and give her individual care, because it’s the right thing to do. We still wake up before the sun rises and end our day after sunset, because it’s what we’ve got to do to get the job done right.
Working closely with employees ensures the best animal care
I also talked about the importance of training our employees thoroughly. At a large farm, our employees are our first line of support in caring for the animals and creating a wholesome product. I want my employees to have the know-how and understanding that I do, so I make sure they are trained right. There was even conversation with researchers about how to reach out to the many people in the dairy support industry – everyone from hoof trimmers to calf growers – to help them better understand the needs of the animals and how to contribute to their well being. At the end of the day, we farmers are the ones who need to be telling our own story to our friends, neighbors and community members. We need to be talking the talk, because we’re already walking the walk.
