The Farmer Body Workout

It's summer, and we all want washboard abs and muscles to go with our farmer tans. But have you have felt like the girls in the barn are just out to ruin your summer workout plan? "Oh, you wanna work out?" says Bessie the milk cow, "Guess I'm going to have a baby JUST when you're getting ready to leave. No abs for you, Farmer Ted!"

Well does the Cow Chronicler have a solution for you! Developed with the help of my personal trainer/not-so-little little brother, I have a work out plan that you can do at home on the farm!

ARMS

We all complain about carrying the watermelon up the front stairs. Instead of whining, turn that hard-to-carry melon of goodness into an extra "oomf" during your squat routine! 

Down.....

...and up!

Those kittens are adorable until they won't leave you the heck alone. Use these balls of fluff as an extra weight to push you even harder through that one push up. (Cause let's be real, you're not going to make it past one push up with cats on your back). Now do some bicep curls until one bites you. A calf has probably gotten loose somewhere on the farm at this point anyways.

LEGS

Fighting with a sibling about who's feeding calves tonight? Squat out the anger kids.

.....squat it out





















.............Worked for Karate kid, didn't it?

  

Wanna be the fastest wheel barrow driver in the 4H barn this year? Give this one a try... Just don't throw your back out.... and watch out for those meddling kittens who like laughing at your struggle.









That bag of sawdust? Do a few lunges with it. Grunt like it weighs 50 pounds... people won't think you're as tough if they know how much it actually (doesn't) weigh.

  

ABS & CARDIO

Nobody's using the tractor? Good, because you and your workout partner are going to use it to get that to get that 6 pack that you can't buy at the local beer distributor. 

Do your show heifers need to lose a little weight too? You know what, do it together. It's like the new version of halter breaking, except... not at all.

Now get up off that tractor and go get that farmer body you've been dreaming about!

Milk... Just Drink It

 

If there's one thing I've realized through use of social media, it's that people want to be offended. That even includes myself, as I thrive off of battling false information. However, it will constantly blow my mind that people can turn one thing into something else so absurd. For example: milk. Milk catches a lot of heat for being "bad" when in reality, it is truly one of nature's most perfect foods.

A blog called What Not To Eat: 15 Unhealthiest Foods On The Planet was sent to me, and some of the items listed I can totally agree with; having a candy bar after each meal and several sodas (diet or regular) on a daily basis isn't going to make you live forever. However, #8 is when my face went from normal to a cherry tomato.


8. Cow's Milk

When you drink a glass of milk, you may be consuming more added extras than you bargained for. Non organic livestock are routinely administered antibiotics and growth hormones, traces of which are regularly found in milk. But that isn’t the worst of it.

Due to the sheer volume of milk each animal is expected to produce, many go on to develop udder infections. This means that pus leaches into the milk. In tests, one liter of Californian milk was shown to contain 298 million pus cells.


Oh. My. God. Really, again with the antibiotics and milk pus? LOLZ (a term meant to express anger, sarcasm, and laughter all in one word.... the Y generation is weird). Let me break this down for you, and let you know what's REALLY going on with milk.


"When you drink a glass of milk, you may be consuming more added extras than you bargained for. Non organic livestock are routinely administered antibiotics and growth hormones, traces of which are regularly found in milk. But that isn’t the worst of it."

1. First off, farmers administer antibiotics to help sick cows. Kind of like when your kids/family/friends/whoever you care about is sick and you want to help them... you give them medicine. When cows are administered antibiotics, it is done so that there will be NO traces of the antibiotics in the milk product that you'll be consuming. Just ask the FDA and USDA. It's like, the law guys.
2. Hormones, hey guess what, they're a normal thing. They will be found in milk that has been produced by any cow on this planet (not much research on cows not on planet Earth, unfortunately). Farmers will use hormones to help cows increase their feed/production efficiency, allowing less cows to make more milk, decreasing the carbon footprint (isn't that what you people want?). And in NO way does it change the quality of milk or harm the cattle or human consumer. In fact, you can't even tell in a milk test if there are "added" hormones. That's straight science, yo. And ladies - you'll be drinking the whole farm by the time you match the hormones in that birth control you're taking ;-) #RealityCheck

"Due to the sheer volume of milk each animal is expected to produce, many go on to develop udder infections. This means that pus leaches into the milk. In tests, one liter of Californian milk was shown to contain 298 million pus cells."

1. There will be cows who get sick, and that's just life. One of the biggest concerns for a dairy farmer is that his cows will face a disease called mastitis. Cows udders are cleaned and checked for this disease EVERY TIME they are milked. If there is a case of mastitis, they're milked last after all of the healthy cows and the milk does NOT go into the milk supply. It is obtained separately and then properly disposed of.
2. Before milk is collected and shipped to milk plants, it is tested to meet several health requirements. If the bacteria count is too high, or there is ANYTHING wrong with the milk, it does not make it to a milk processor or to the consumer at all.
3. A farm isn't a factory plant. We can't tell a dairy cow "Hey Bessie, you better up that number of milk cans or you can say bye-bye to line manager!" Dairy cows are provided with the nutrition, comfort and overall care that allows them to produce what THEY are capable of without putting their health in danger. Farmers are humans with hearts, you know.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is.... Nelly drinks milk, and so should you.

Dedicated to Dairy - In the Classroom

In the world of agriculture, we are always battling false facts and crazy fads that consumers are introduced to. To fight the wrongs, we need education. And with education, we need teachers.

Without the agricultural educators, finding success in educating our "tomorrow" is going to be very, very difficult. And judging by the personality I carried through high school (I was a terrifying 14 year old.. sorry mom and dad!), dealing with teenagers can't be very easy either! Sheri Boardman, a dairy girl born and raised, has dedicated her career to teaching youth about the importance and truth in agricultural and dairy industries. Enjoy!

1. Introduce yourself!

My name is Sheri Boardman, I am a High School Agricultural Teacher/FFA Advisor in Connecticut where I teach a little bit of everything from animal science to plant science and agricultural mechanics to biotechnology in an Agricultural Program with 4 teachers. I was raised on Carlwood Farm, in Canaan, CT where my mom and grandfather operate a 65 cow registered Holstein partnership. In my spare time (haha!), I also work at my boyfriend Greg's Family Dairy Farm, Maple Downs Farms II, in Middleburgh, NY. Both family farms are 2 of the 1,200 proud Farm Family Owners of the Cabot Creamery Cooperative where we are very proud of the high quality milk that our happy cows produce. I continue to enjoy being able to house my  small herd of registered Holsteins at my mom's farm, and love every opportunity that I have to be able to milk cows, bale hay, or pull a calf with Greg at his farm. 

 

2. How are you dedicated to dairy?

The dairy industry has been in my blood since I was born. My mom had me on a show halter of my very 1st Holstein calf when I was 2 1/2 years old and I can say ever since then, I've been dedicated to this industry! Providing great care and treatment for my dairy cattle has always been something that I have been dedicated to. There is no prouder moment than when you can successfully deliver a new born calf and provide it with its mother's first milk. Just as every farmer is dedicated to their cows, there is also a commitment to feeding people that we as farmers care so much about. The commitment also includes sharing our story with people at church, at a school board meeting, or at a county fair. There are several opportunities that I choose to stay committed to the industry, as I have chosen to get involved with our Agri-Mark Young Cooperators Program by attending leadership conferences and advocating for farmers at Cabot Cheese events. I also continue to exhibit cattle with my family at local shows, where we share our story and promote the dairy industry.  

With the guidance of my parents and grandparents, I grew up being very involved with 4-H and FFA which truly instilled responsibility, dedication, and leadership in me at a young age. I have always taken an open opportunity to educate people about dairy cattle and where their dairy products come from ever since I was a young 4-Her exhibiting at local fairs. As an alumni of 4-H and FFA, it is our time to give back to the youth of our future, so I am proud to be dedicated to the youth of our dairy industry as well.  As an agricultural teacher, a member of the Agri-Mark Young Cooperators Program, and an owner of dairy cattle,everyday I continue to stay dedicated to the welfare of our dairy cattle and advocating for our industry! 

3. Can you tell us a little bit about your career?

As a middle school student, I filled out an application to attend Housatonic Valley Regional High School in Falls Village, CT to be able to attend an agricultural high school. Little did I know, that my agricultural teacher, Karen Davenport, would have such an impact on my future career choice in just a few short years of high school. In high school, I was very active in the National FFA Organization as a leader at the local level, I competed at Nationals in the Dairy Cattle Evaluation Contest, and I expanded my herd of Holsteins at home as part of my SAE (Supervised Agricultural Experience) Program.  I always had the vision of becoming an agricultural teacher, once I realized that I could educate future generations about agriculture and incorporate so many hands-on experiences into learning as a career.  

I attended SUNY Cobleskill for 2 years, where I am grateful for the tremendous hands-on learning experiences I had in all my agricultural coursework there. In 2012, I graduated from Cornell University where I had spent 3 years finishing up my undergraduate work as double major in Animal Science and Agricultural Science Education and finally completing my dream goal of a Masters of Arts in Teaching. I thankfully landed a teaching position back near home, in a neighboring district from where I grew up and have been there for 2 years. The National Blue and Corn Gold colors have stuck near and dear to my heart, as an American Degree recipient myself, being an FFA Advisor and Agricultural teacher is one of the toughest jobs that I will ever love! 

4. Why do you believe that agricultural education in schools is so important?

Agricultural education in schools is more important than ever in our world today as farm and ranch families comprise just 2% of the U.S. Population. People want to meet a farmer and want to know where their food comes from. With agricultural programs in schools, students are able to learn at a young age how to produce food for themselves and better understand farm management practices in order to make educated decisions as a consumer and/or a producer. I have a unique opportunity to educate each 7th grade student in my school for 10 weeks about agriculture. One of the units that I love teaching them is the animal science unit, where we learn where milk comes from and we make ice-cream at the end of the unit. It is so fascinating for students to see that milk comes from 4 different teats on a cow's udder and that milk can be made into so many different healthy snacks. Being able to provide our youth with real world, hands-on agricultural experiences is so beneficial to our future even if  students do not intend to pursuit a career in agriculture. Once they are exposed to Agricultural Education, they are better equipped with life skills, leadership abilities, and personal growth that fosters career success. 

5. What do you find most rewarding about teaching?

The most rewarding aspect about teaching is certainly the students that I am surrounded with each and every school day. My kids choose to take agricultural classes, so they want to be in class. It is a beautiful feeling to be able to inflict positive growth in students and watch them excel in various areas over time. Being able to share my passion for agriculture with my students is something that I still cannot believe I get paid for. 

6. If you could tell the public one thing about your involvement in the dairy industry, what would it be?

If you ever have a question about anything regarding agriculture, do not hesitate to contact a farmer or someone at your local cooperative extension agency! We know how easy it is to just "Google-it!" Take the time to hear an explanation from a producer about why a certain management technique is practiced, or maybe you want to know more details about why cows eat a special diet and a farmer may direct you to someone who they work with closely, such as their Animal Nutritionist who may be better equipped to answer the question.  Whether you are passionate about the dairy industry or not, my advise to you is to get involved in something that you are passionate about! Continue to educate yourself because the world around you is not standing still!

Dedicated to Dairy - On the Farm

There are hundreds of different career opportunities in the dairy industry. You can be a writer, graphic designer, nutritionist or an ice cream guru. However, none of these careers would be possible without the backbone of the dairy industry - the dairy farmer. It's kind of like "what came first, the chicken or the egg?" Except we know which came first ... the dairy farmer and then the thriving dairy industry.

For dairy month, I had the privilege of working with Rod Hissong, a dairy farmer residing in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. As you can see below in his interview, it's no secret that his passion lies with his cows and entire farm, making him dedicated to dairy. Enjoy!

1. Introduce yourself!

My name is Rod Hissong.  Along with my brother Rick and I we operate Mercer Vu Farms Inc. in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania.  I am a graduate of Penn State University with a degree in Dairy and Animal Science.  My wife Amy (who is the farm bookkeeper, hence making her all of our bosses!) have two children Carter who is 6 and Maggie who is 1. 

2. How are you dedicated to dairy? 

I grew up on our dairy farm and have been involved with the dairy industry my whole life.  I grew up milking cows, feeding calves and just about anything in between.  During those early years I learned the value of hard work and many life lessons that have served me well later in life.  It takes those kind of lessons and dedication to run a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week operation.  When your success or failure depends on a cow and her welfare depends on you, there are no days off.  They take a dedication and an investment in time like very few jobs. 

      

3. Can you tell us a little bit about your business? 

Mercer Vu Farms was originally started by my grandfather who bought our original home farm after returning home from service in WWII.  He and my grandmother started with 7 cows and eventually grew the farm to 60 cows when my dad joined the operation in the 60’s.  My dad built a milking parlor and barn in the 70’s bringing cow numbers to 120 total.  My brother and I returned home from Penn State in the 90’s and started to develop a plan for what it would take for us to continue the operation for our generation and beyond.  In 2002 we built a new milking parlor, freestall barns and waste handling facilities for 800 cows.  Since then the business has continued to grow to the current size of 1735 total milk cows, 1700 head of young animals, 2800 acres of crop ground (growing corn and alfalfa for cow feed), 35 full time employees, a milk hauling business that hauls 50 million pounds of milk annually to Land O Lakes and one farm dog! 

4. What do you like most about being involved with the farm? 

It is hard to say that I like one thing the most.  It is an accumulations of many things that I like about the farm… I enjoy the challenges and rewards of running a growing business that produces a valuable product to consumers.  I enjoy working with good people and good animals and seeing their development and eventual success.  I even enjoy learning from our failures to make our business and our team stronger.   I enjoy the beauty and satisfaction of working the open land that provides our animals feed and us with some beautiful countryside.  I enjoy working alongside family members for a common goal.  With my family being young I have enjoyed that I can bring them to the farm with me and expose them to life lessons that happen daily on a dairy farm.  I am one of the few people who get to be involved with an industry that doesn’t consider their job “work.”

5. What's your number one goal for your business? 

We have a mission statement at Mercer Vu that is a pretty good summary of all of our goals, 

To produce high quality milk efficiently, safely, and profitably as to benefit management, employees, cows, the environment and the community in which we live.  

We work hard to follow through with this mission and I feel we have been fairly successful and living up to it.  In any business these days there is very little margin for error.  For a business to be successful they need to stick to their core values and that is something we strive for every day. 

6. If you could tell the public one thing about your involvement in the dairy industry, what would it be?

There is a lot of misinformation and misrepresentation out there about the dairy industry and especially larger farms.  While there are always examples of bad behavior in all industries I think our entire industry has been tarnished by a few bad examples that has been provided by sources that have many ulterior motives.  I know on our dairy and on other dairies that I have traveled to across the country, I could not be more proud of how we care for our animals, our environment and our communities.  If you do not take care of your cows or the environment they will not take care of you.  Sustainability, all natural and all the hot buzzwords of today are words that our dairy has lived by for generations and continue to live by every day no matter our size.

Dedicated to Dairy - Painting the Scene

It's not everyday that you find a person with incredible talent using a paint brush. It's even more rare when you find that talent paired with a charming and kind personality and true passion for an industry. Bonnie Mohr is one of the most well known icons in the dairy industry, and rightfully so. A painter and wife to a dairy farmer, Mohr's work ranges from cows to motivational and inspiring pieces (for those who don't necessarily consider bovines appropriate wall decor, which I think is absurd).

After enjoying my interview with Bonnie Mohr, check out the links below to Mohr's Facebook and official website. Trust me, if you're a "cow" person or a "not-so-cow" person... you won't regret it!

Bonnie Mohr Studio Official Website & Facebook Page 

1. Introduce yourself!

Formally Bonnie Mohr, many know me as the “cow lady” or “cow painter,” which I think is a wonderful and flattering thing. I am the second oldest of eight kids and grew up near New Ulm on a dairy farm. I am married to a dairy farmer—John Mohr—and so I became a dairy farmer’s wife and a mom to our five children (Amanda, Katelyn, Taylor, Jacob, and Zachary). I have always been active in the dairy industry, beginning with a career early on at Holstein World and eventually fulfilling my own journey of becoming an artist. I love my life and feel blessed every day to be able to use my God given talents and skills to be an artist advocate for the dairy industry and more recently, expanding my subject matter and contact to include inspirational art.

2. How are you dedicated to dairy? 

My work is a reflection of who I am; I paint the sites and scenes or rural America and the face of the dairy industry and its lifestyle. It is all about the life I've lived and what I believe—it is the things that bring me joy and happiness. I am an advocate for this lifestyle by supporting the events and happenings of dairy farmers and the dairy industry through my artwork and personal contributions.  I am appreciative that there are people who love the same things I do, as it’s the people who buy my work who give me a reason to paint. Success and happiness lie in working hard and believing in what you do. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to not only grow up on a dairy farm, but also to raise our family on one. There really is no greater place in the world to raise a family and to teach your children about responsibility, family values and working together, laying a foundation and preparing them for the life that lies ahead.  Whether they end up in the dairy industry or otherwise, it’s a great way to prepare them for life with the daily life lessons that occur on a dairy farm.

3. Can you tell us a little bit about your business?

Art was my favorite subject in high school; I don’t think for a second that I was born a genius artist or any extraordinary talent. I have just had a love, fascination and interest for color ever since I was a child. I went to school for dairy production and agriculture communications. Evenings and weekends, however, I continued to pursue my desire of wanting to learn to paint. To feed this hunger, I went to art shows on the weekends and slowly but surely taught myself how to paint. About 30 years ago I began showing my work around and Select Sires commissioned me to paint one of their bulls. It was then that I decided to leave my job and give painting a try; John was very supportive and encouraged me along the way. From there, it was a slow process of developing my skills, painting style, and establishing myself as an artist—I knew it was cows that I really wanted to paint. Because there were very few other artists painting cattle, there was a market for it. I really learned everything on my own—it was a series of trial and error.

Throughout the beginning stages of my career, we also bought our farm, moved out to Glencoe, and started a family. The first 15 years of my career is a blur of sorts; I was helping on the farm, up at night with babies, and at that time I had no employees, so I was also the one answering the phone and taking orders—in addition to painting. At a certain point, I realized I had grown enough and was able to start up the studio and hire some employees, eventually leading to the launch of our website and a catalog to show my work. The more I painted cows, the more my skills developed, the more true-to-life my paintings became, and I knew I was painting what I was supposed to, and that brought great satisfaction to me. I was painting who I was and what I loved.

Over the course of time, I painted all the different breeds. The highlights of my career have been painting the Ideal Holstein cow and bull for the Holstein Association, updating the Dairy Breeds of North America poster, and the Hoard’s Dairyman Foster Mother of the Human Race image. In the last ten years, I’ve broadened my subject matter and have painted various rural American scenes, and most recently inspirational artwork, which has become a very big part of my work. This is a growing area for me because it is a measure that has the potential to touch everyone in the world. I have felt a calling to branch out to try new and different things; I am thankful that my work brings joy and happiness to people.

In addition to having an art gallery on our farm, I do a few shows during the year. World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin being the biggest (this will be my 29^th year!). I also have a website (www.bonniemohr.com), and my work can be found in various shops and galleries all over America, as well as internationally.

4. What do you like most about your artwork/business? (the combination of art and the dairy industry, it's peaceful, etc) 

As I look back, I am surprised that the gold treasure we all seek in life was right in my own back yard. The joy and reward of being a dairy farmer and living the dairy farming life has become the staple of who I am and how I make my living. It is ironic that you grow up thinking you have to search the world over to find the treasure, when in reality, it was right there the whole time. I love the fact that I can be sitting in my chair painting and look out the window and see cows in the pasture. I love that when I have my windows open in the morning, I can hear the cows mooing and the tractor and TMR (totally mixed ration) mixer driving across the yard. I love that I can hear the sound of my children right outside of my window working and growing, laughing and playing. That is a real joy that a lot of people never get to have—that true meaning of family and life right here, right now. On the business side of things, I have always had an interest in marketing and have always been a “people person.” A big part of selling your product is believing in your product; that’s why it is so easy for me to have a passion for what I do—I believe in what I do.

5. What's your favorite painting that you've done? 

“The Beautiful Cow.” I believe I captured both the inner and outer essence and beauty of the dairy cow. Those cows look like they are in cow heaven. They are so peaceful—the look I captured exemplifies that they are happy, well taken care of, and loving their life, too. As dairy farmers and stewards of the land, that is our job…to take care of everything we’ve been given. The look on their faces say that they are joyful and happy; they are basking in the sunshine in a lush pasture on a warm summer day—if there’s a cow heaven, that’s it right there! I also wrote a verse for this painting which summarizes my, and I believe most dairy farmers, passion for cows, and why we live this lifestyle

The other reason this piece is so special to me is because I donated this original painting  to the Holstein Foundation, which ended up raising almost $20,00 for them at auction. It was my opportunity to give back for the gifts I’ve been blessed with and the wonderful life I’ve had. I think from time to time, we all need to give back, and that’s why “The Beautiful Cow” makes me especially happy and proud.

The Beautiful Cow 

6. If you could tell the public one thing about your involvement in the dairy industry, what would it be?

I believe I have been a positive spokesperson to both dairy farmers and non-dairy farmers through my form of artwork. I feel it is an educational, enlightening and complimentary message for this lifestyle. My work is a tribute to all of us who work hard in the dairy industry. There aren’t too many professions that require this amount of hard work and dedication. My work is a celebration to the people who live this lifestyle, and that makes me really happy.

I also think my work is who I am, through and through. Born and raised a dairy farmers daughter,  I live what I know. My work is an extension of my heart and that brings me great satisfaction.

The other thing that brings me joy is knowing the happiness my art brings to others. To share the things you've been given in life, is really why we are here, it's a big part of our journey.  I’ve been able to use my work to share with others for contributions, donations for fundraisers and benefits.  It is a wonderful way to help others...we all have something to give... this is my way of giving to help other people raise money for worthy causes, and that brings me joy and satisfaction.  

Dedicated to Dairy - At the Family Creamery

One of my favorite parts about the dairy industry is the variety of delicious products that milk can make (including milk itself!). Especially in June, what's better than an excessively large ice cream cone after a long day at work? Not much. 

Here is my interview with Jaylene Lesher, family member of Way-Har Farms, who helps run the family creamery.

Q1. Introduce yourself!

I'm Jaylene Lesher and I call Way-Har Farms LLC my home and family's business. 

Q2. How are you dedicated to dairy ? 

I am the fourth generation of the Lesher family to work on the dairy farm. I contribute to all parts of the farm and store by helping milk the cows, raise calves, haul silage, and run errands for the store. My dairy roots motivates me to promote the true story of agriculture to consumers and fellow students at Penn State. 

Q3. Can you tell us a little bit about your family business?

In 1970 my grandfather and great uncle, Wayne and Harold Lesher respectively, opened a dairy store where they bottled the milk produced at the farm. Way-Har Farms' two main products were farm fresh milk and ice cream. Today, Way-Har Farm Market offers milk, chocolate milk, sixty flavors of ice cream, a variety of baked goods, and a deli. Everybody in the family pitches into the business by helping make the ice cream, deliver milk to restaurants, and pick-up supplies. 

Q4. What do you like most about being involved with your family business? 

With so much to do in a family owned dairy farm and creamery, it's hard to pick my favorite part! Taking care of new born calves, tasting ice cream fresh from the batch freezer, and handing a delicious cone of ice cream to a happy customer are the various highlights of my days.

 

Q5. What's your favorite product in your creamery? 

Some customer favorites found at Way-Har are the chocolate milk, peanut butter ice cream, and peanut butter eggs. You will have to stop by and try them yourself to discover why our customers rave these products! My personal favorite products at the store are the peach ice cream and coffee cakes. 

Q6. If you could tell the public one thing about your involvement in the dairy industry, what would it be?

If there was one thing I could share with the general public about the dairy industry, I would share that there is no greater source about food than farmers. If you ever have a question about your food, simply ask a farmer in your community! 

Dedicated to Dairy - Through Communications

When someone says they work in the dairy industry, what comes to mind? That they're out milking cows and feeding calves every day? Or maybe they're out in the field planting crops. While that it is the case for many, there is an incredible variety of careers off the farm.

June is Dairy month, and I am here to show you how many different ways that men and women are dedicated to making the dairy industry an incredible place. Here is my interview with Emily Caldwell, East Coast Editor with Progressive Dairyman magazine, who is dedicated to dairy through the power of communications. 

Q1. Introduce yourself!

I'm Emily Caldwell. I'm from a dairy farm in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. I'm the East Coast Editor with Progressive Dairyman magazine. The company is based in Idaho, and I work remotely from PA. 

Q2. How are you dedicated to dairy?

I write about the dairy industry! I also enjoy being involved in dairy-related activities, such as the Penn State Dairymen's Club and serving as a volunteer for the All-American Dairy Show. I was recently a participant of Holstein Foundation's Young Dairy Leaders Institute, where I received media and leadership training for the purpose of being a better dairy advocate.

Q3. Tell us a little bit about your average day in the industry - are there any challenges you face?

I typically travel once or twice a month to cover a conference or interview a farmer. When I'm in the office, I'm usually conducting phone interviews, writing articles and editing submissions from industry contributors. PD has a team of editors, and each editor is responsible for certain topic areas. Some of mine include calf and heifer raising, milk quality and women in dairy. Our team meets twice a month via conference calls and in person twice a year. We share ideas, pass along story leads and divvy up conferences and events to attend.

There's never a lack of ideas to write about – it's just a matter of lack of time! So one of my biggest challenges in this career is deadlines, particularly when a print deadline hits at the same time as our e-newsletter deadlines. Luckily, we have a great team and everyone is willing to pitch in to help get an issue done or write content for the e-newsletter.

Q4. What do you like most about your career? 

What I like most is that I'm always learning something new. In the topic areas I cover, there is always new research being done and new products being developed to help dairy producers. I feel like I'm doing something different every day. 

Q5. What's your favorite story/article that you've ever written? 

I most enjoy writing feature stories about dairy producers. I like being able to visit a farm, talk with the producer and find out what it is about their operation or the dairy industry that makes them proud. My favorite piece was about an Indiana dairywoman who battled cancer. She unfortunately lost that battle and passed away in January 2013, but her incredible story of moving to the U.S. from the Netherlands and starting a dairy continues to inspire people. 

Q6. If you could tell the public one thing about your involvement in the dairy industry, what would it be?

I think I'd most like to tell the public to not be afraid to ask questions and do their research about agriculture. I have discovered that you learn a lot more by not being afraid to ask the "dumb" questions and starting with the basics than by making assumptions. On the dairy  side, I don't think it is our job to force-feed that information. We just need to be open to having conversations and sharing our story.

PETA Round 2: Never be silent

 “Never be silent” are words taken right out of co-founder and President of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Ingrid Newkirk’s mouth and presentation to Penn State on Wednesday, April 2^nd. Though she preaches this, and clearly follows it, she doesn’t seem to appreciate it when others follow this rule as well.

It was advertised around campus that Newkirk would answer any and all questions students may have. However, once she started receiving backlash, this PETA co-founder seemed that it would be the professional thing to do cutting us short after three questions. Sara Kitchen, a great friend and classmate of mine, didn’t agree.

We approached Newkirk and asked her the following three questions, and were bewildered by her responses, which were filled with ignorance and hostility.

Q1. What are PETA’s goals when the world population reaches 9 billion people? Are we all to be vegans? And if this is the end goal, how do we do this in an economical, profitable and sustainable way?

RESPONSE: Yes, people will still eat if we take away meat from our diets. And of course it will be better in all three things you mentioned. Animal agriculture is responsible for polluting water, releasing unwanted gas into the air and deforestation. Vegans use the least amount of energy and water, you know.

Q2. What will happen to the animals if we eliminate animal agriculture?

RESPONSE: Well you have to stop artificially inseminating them, and then we won’t be producing billions of animals each year. They will phase out. I don’t think you care about your animals *waves her hand in my face*, it’s just an excuse for what you’re doing to them. It’s something that’s been programmed into your mind, you’re just a business. Do you take the calves away from their mothers for safety? How would you feel if I did that to you, “for safety?”

Q3. How will this affect our economy? Agriculture generates billions of dollars to the United States economy each year, not to mention thousands of jobs.

RESPONSE: The economy will have to change. We used to have slavery and horse drawn carriages you know.

Throughout her responses, both Sara and I would try to respond with the rhyme and reason behind all of our practices, but she would bring down us down without letting us finish. In fact, we weren’t able to do more than start a sentence before she would interrupt and start another argument. Not only was it slightly discouraging, but very upsetting that a woman of her status and popularity would act so childish. In fact, to highlight her level of professionalism, I would like to leave you with this last exchange between Newkirk and I:

Newkirk: I don’t think you truly care about your animals. It’s a business, and it’s for profit.

Me: How can you accuse me of not caring about my cows? Is it not possible to have morals and emotions tied in with your business?

Newkirk: I don’t even know what you mean by that.

Sure you don’t Ingrid. I guess they didn’t teach you how to use insanity and outrageous beliefs to battle an opponent with reason, practicality and reality… did they? 

PETA Round 1: The Presentation

On April 2nd, 2014 Ingrid Newkirk paid Penn State a visit. Who is Ingrid Newkirk? The co-founder and president of PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. When you hear that, what do think it means? People who are advocating for the humane treatment of animals is what comes to my mind. Which is a rule and concept that ANY man or woman who is a true agriculturist knows and abides by. However, that's not what PETA is promoting.

Anyone who follows PETA knows that their claims are absurd and outrageous. What they lack in their marketing schemes and accusations is reality, reason and practicality. And you can be sure that Ingrid was not lacking in any of those three qualities. But what she lacked in common sense and reality, she made up for with a charming stage presence, pleasant sense of humor and a British accent that was impossible to hate.

Throughout her presentation, she used examples of cruelty towards animals that we ALL could agree with. Videos showed hair being ripped off of screaming rabbits, workers violently throwing new born calves into a truck and sheep being kicked in the head during shearing, among others. Even I felt a pang of hurt for the animals she was projecting. However, I was more bothered by her following approach tactics:

The Holocaust, Slavery and Women's Rights. When you compare the way humans treat animals as "slaves" to Hitler sending Jews to concentration camps, slave in the fields picking cotton and women fighting for voting rights, that's taking it to far. Or how Ingrid compared farmers taking calves away from mothers to times of slavery when white men and women accused black women of not being capable of feeling maternal love and taking away their newborns. Ingrid Newkirk stooped down to the level of torture, inequality and racism. How on God's great earth is that even a fair or valid argument? Are we sick, racist people as agriculturists and farmers? I think not.

Calling out The College of Ag. There were a solid 4 or 5 times during Ingrid's presentation that she would begin with phrases such as, "This is for the College of Ag" and "Ag students should listen to this" or the "Pay attention to this ag students." For one, that's rude, ignorant and unprofessional to do in a presentation. Two, the Penn State College of Ag was the majority of your crowd. I don't believe it's fair to call out and point fingers and young men and women who spent their evening RESPECTFULLY listening to your outrageous view points and over done presentation. I also think it's total crap that when their was an individual who laughed in the crowd, Ingrid automatically made a hinting dig at the "ag kids." How do you know what college or area of study they were associated with?

One sided story. You may be thinking, "Did you really expect anything different?" Yes and no. I expected the co-founder and PRESIDENT of a world renowned organization to have the respect for herself and the poise in her presentation to at least ACKNOWLEDGE another side of a story. For example, a student made a comment at the end of her slide show, saying a statement to the effect of "I agree that animals should be treated humanely, as do all students in the College of Agriculture. However,  I don't agree with the way you go about promoting your cause. It's not practical and just wrong." She retaliated by stating, "You ag students and ag organizations love to only show one side and pull out the negative stats about the deaths and put downs in our animal shelters," and then proceeded to show us a video on the positives of PETA animal shelters. Just real quick Ingrid.... that didn't even remotely address his comment and isn't that EXACTLY what PETA is doing? Only showing one side? Sounds a little hypocritical to me.

Only answering 3 questions. I just spent an hour and a half listening to your presentation. Every time a hand was raised in our area (which judging by the sea of camo, was clearly the "ag kid" side), we were ignored. You, a HUGE public figure with a HUGE opinion, have a personal responsibility and OBLIGATION to answer every one's questions... or at least more than 3. Maybe it was the number of questions she didn't answer, or the way she would look our way and blatantly ignore our raised hand. Either way, it fueled my spirit and fired to lock her down for a one-on-one conversation.

Maybe I have too much faith in humanity, or maybe I was hoping for a more professional and rational experience with someone as powerful as Ingrid Newkirk. However, I was highly disappointed. But now I know how PETA accomplishes their goals first hand. Emotion, wit, charm, celebrity support and pictures of sick, sad puppies. Keep on keepin' on PETA, because the Penn State College of Ag is ready to call out your bluff again and again... and again.

Farm to Facebook

One of today's biggest topics in our agricultural industries is social media. There is no doubt social media is one of the most powerful forms of communication... and it's growing. It's convenient and reaches a lot of people, really fast. However it can be hard to convince everyone how important it is to make a presence on social media, and more specifically, Facebook. It is even more important that we convince those who are farming and providing the mass majority on Facebook with the food they're eating while scrolling through old high school flames' profiles.

The first problem and doubt I've heard over and over again - "I don't need to be on Facebook. Who is there that I need to be talking to?" I can answer that question... everyone on there is someone you should be talking to. I mean, just look at this video to see how many people are using Facebook, every second, of every day:

The scary part? Every single person on this social media trend is being force-fed information every time they log into their profile. What's something even scarier? It's a lot of false facts thrown around to drive people's opinions and views in a certain way. Conventional agriculture is taking a hard hit, and so are our farmers. That is EXACTLY why all of our farmers need to create a presence and voice on Facebook, to promote their products and the love and passion that is their business and livelihood.

I was recently a part of an eye-opening discussion that broke down what farmers need to focus on while creating their Facebook page:

1. Delegate. Who associated with your business has the personality for social media? Is it you, a spouse, your son or daughter? Maybe it's even a sister-in-law or grandma. No matter who it is, the person in charge of your Facebook needs to have the patience and determination to put enough information out there to gain a respectful and significant following.

2. What's your purpose? Are you trying to sell your products? Are you trying to let the public know how important it is to you that you to keep the care of your animals and land a number one priority? Or is it a way to be an advocate of your industry and practices? Know why you're on social media and what message or image you are trying to portray.

3. Build your credibility. No one is going to listen to you if you're not supporting your claims with cold hard facts. And if you don't have a certain and confident answer, BE HONEST ABOUT IT. It's is completely and totally OK to NOT have an answer. Just be clear that you are unsure of the correct answer, and have a backup of resources that you can guide them too.

4. Know your opponent. There are a lot of different character on Facebook. And in those interesting people, are individuals who are everything you stand against. Remember that arch enemy in high school that had a retort for everything you said? Yea, well they're back... and they're back with friends. Thousands of them. It is crucial to be prepared for people to lash out at your Facebook content with negativity, and to know how to respond to them in a professional manner. Always be the bigger person, and know how to listen before you speak.

Acknowledge the importance of the direction our industry is going, and be willing to change with it. Now get out their and show 'em what your made of farmers! And show a little sass while you're at it ;-)

Hug a Farmer

If you've been on any form of social media, you already know what day it is. It's National Ag Day! One of my favorite days of the year. It's a day to post pictures of your favorite farmers, farmer tans, cow selfies and family pictures by the farm sign. However, I saw a girl roll her eyes and turn up her nose to all of the "annoying posts about farmers today" on Facebook and Twitter. At first I was mad, but then I realized... how does she know any different? Does she even know what a farmer does every day? And then came along this "10 reasons to thank a farmer" picture floating through Facebook:

Now that you have reasons to thank them, here are 10 reasons to hug a farmer on National Ag Day:

1. They work hard to provide food not only for consumers, but a good life for their family as well
2. A farmer doesn't work 9-5... they're on the clock 24/7 
3. They don't get a vacation day on Christmas or a 4-day weekend for memorial day
4. A farmer is up at the crack of dawn to care for their animals, land and the environment
5. Farmers are passionate about what they do
6. They're responsible for beer, cheese and milkshakes
7. .......Oh yea, and pizza
8. Farmers are goodhearted, incredible people who never hesitate to lend a helping hand
9. Without farmers, you'd be naked and hungry
10. No farms, no food 

So if you're like the entire human population and enjoy eating and living the life the way we do, give a farmer a hug and say "Thank you, for all you do." 

The Good Guys

In the industry of agriculture, it seems as though we are always fighting against negative images and media. Between Panera Bread's "EZ Chicken" campaign and Chipotle's new "Farmed & Dangerous" series on HULU, our social media timelines haven't stopped buzzing with feedback. And in the case of my personal timeline, it's all angry responses fighting for the rights for a positive image of farmers and their industries.

At this point, we know what everyone thinks of these two food companies. Basically, they suck for using fear-tactics in marketing and twisting information to misguide consumers who have no way of knowing any better. We can keep lashing out at those "I'm actually full of crap" businesses, or we can take a moment to step back and appreciate the good in life. 

And by good in life, I'm talking about Culver's. Culver's is a (freaking delicious) restaurant based out of Wisconsin. They focus on family, sustainability, quality ingredients, the best deep fried cheese curds ever and above all else... giving thanks back to those who deserve it: FARMERS.

Check out Culver's website or Twitter and you'll see the constant reminder that they owe their success to the farmers who provided them with the high quality ingredients to make their beloved and delicious menu items (especially the milkshakes!). Any time I'm feeling discouraged in the fight for our right as farmers, I check out this Twitter campaign featuring some of Culver's customers:

Never quit fighting for what you believe in... but don't let that get in the way of supporting what you believe in. Now... cheese curds anyone?

Got Milk? Cause you need it!

If there is one thing that gets under my skin, it's ignorance and stupidity. When people preach "facts" that aren't really facts. I mean, who are we, to go around spreading around information that is 100% complete and total crap? Well that seems to be the theme of whatever poor lost soul posted the image and facts with Got Milk? Throw it away.



While I wish I could find the evil culprit behind this stone cold, false, wrong and crappy junk, I would like to set this mystery punk straight. Here's a few REAL facts about milk, nature's most perfect food.

1. Milk is dairy, and dairy is irreplaceable in your diet. Without dairy, you are depriving your body of essential nutrients it needs to survive. Whether it's milk, yogurt in a breakfast smoothie or string cheese as an afternoon snack, these products provide magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium and 48% of your daily value of protein... ever heard of Osteoporosis? You should probably start pouring a glass of milk with dinner and sprinkling a little extra cheese on your pasta.

2. Not only is dairy an essential part of your diet, it's beneficial to other aspects of health and wellness as well. From now on, when you work out (or look at the equipment and consider that exercise like I do) have a glass of white or chocolate (my favorite) milk afterwards. Your abs at the beach will thank me in a few months.

3. If you're not convinced that milk is important, maybe you need to think about some of the kids in your life. It doesn't matter if their your own children, nieces, nephews, brothers, sisters, students... they're a part of the 100% of children who need the bone-building calcium and other nutrients in milk their bodies need to survive.

4. So you only like chocolate milk? That's totally ok. Chocolate milk is still just as beneficial. In fact over the last 5 years the added sugar in flavored milk has been reduced from 4 tsp to 2.4 tsp per serving.

5. If you are a low fat or fat free kind of person, there are lots of dairy items available that fit your diet requirements. There are also lactose free products, and I'm not talking about almond or soy milk (throw that shit out). I'm lactose intolerant actually, and according to every doctor I've ever talked to it takes 4-6 hours for someone to react to dairy, not 30 minutes, in case you're wondering about this milk hater's credibility. The lactose free options are just as satisfying and provide your body with what it needs, and are still real dairy products.

6. Fun fact: If you cut dairy out of your diet, think twice. Instead of three glasses of cold, delicious milk, you're going to have to replace that same amount of calcium with 21 cups of chopped broccoli. Unless you're a rabbit, that's not enjoyable. And if you think that sounds appetizing, drop what you're doing and go eat a cupcake, NOW.

6. Now for the touchy subject... hormones. All milk has a very small amount of hormones. But hey, want to know something funny? Milk from cows who are treated with the hormone rBST show the same normal range of hormones in their milk as a cows that have NOT been treated with rBST. Says who, you ask? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and other respected and trustworthy health organizations say so.

7. Why is rBST used? Some farmers give it to their cows as a tool to help them produce more milk. However, some milk companies have started offering rBST free milk, NOT because it is healthier. ONLY because it is in response to what the market is demanding. Milk, with rBST or rBST free, is wholesome, nutritious, safe AND YOU SHOULD JUST DRINK IT OK.

Milk comes from the cows on our farms to you consumers as a delicious, fresh, pure and SAFE product that ensures the health and well being of your body. Next time someone is slamming a soda and tells you to ditch the milk, you should probably just ditch them.

Wanna know more about what I've told you? Check out these sources:

• Dairy Check Off
• Dairy Farming Today
• National Dairy Council
• Dairy Good