What the Drought Means for Dairy Farms

By Kimmi Devaney

Farmers throughout Indiana have faced the worst drought in decades this year. The drought has impacted cow feed for dairies, and many dairy farmers are looking at various feed options. Dairy farmer Paul Mills of Ossian explains how the drought has affected his dairy farm and how this may impact milk production.

Dairy Cows, Baby Calves and Ice Cream…See you at the Indiana State Fair!

By Kimmi Devaney

It’s State Fair time! For many, this brings to mind images of greasy food and ferris wheels. But for me, I can’t wait to visit the dairy barn! I grew up showing dairy cows and still do on occasion, so the fair was always vacation for us. Take a stroll through the dairy barn and you will see cows of all colors and sizes. All six breeds—Ayrshires, Brown Swiss, Guernseys, Holsteins, Jerseys and Milking Shorthorns—will be represented.

Knollbrook Farm: A Day with the “Girls”

By Lindsay Martin, Ball State Dietetic Intern

Prior to this week, I had never been to a dairy farm.  I am 25 years old and it was finally time to make my first visit!  My wonderful colleague and I took a road trip to visit “the girls”, also known as dairy cows, in Goshen, Indiana.  Knollbrook Farm, owned by the hard-working Adam family, kindly welcomed and showed us all the effort and care going into producing milk.

As I made my way to the cow’s parlor to visit some of the cows, I noticed other cows were enjoying grazing on grass in the pasture.  I went to the farm at the perfect time; the local veterinarian was performing health check-ups  that same morning.  The veterinarian comes every 6 weeks to ensure the health of every cow and calf.  I must say, the cows are extremely friendly and cute—they loved to “kiss” our salty hands.  I now understand why people have antique cow collectibles as home décor; the girls have a way stealing your heart. 

Things Dad and Grandpa Taught Me

By DeDe Hausmann

If you know any farmers, then you know how hard-working they are.  Since I am blessed to work for Indiana dairy farmers (and I can tell you in 16 years of working for them I haven’t met one I didn’t like and admire), I had the privilege of contacting some of them to get input for this blog.

Have You Read Any Good Farm Books to Your Kids or Grandkids Recently?

By DeDe Hausmann

April 2nd was National Children’s Book Day. Don’t get stressed if you missed that day!!!  Kids always need to read or have good books read to them and that special day was just meant to recognize the important relationship that books should play in children’s lives.   Studies have shown that reading to a small child and then fostering that child to read on her/his own later will help them be better students.  And who doesn’t want our young people to be the best that they can be in school?

Do you remember your favorite “farm” books from childhood?  Little ones LOVE books about animals and I bet we all remember OLD MACDONALD HAD A FARM.  (And everyone remembers the accompanying song that can go on forever and ever, “Old MacDonald Had a Farm, E –I- E- I –O.  And on his farm he had a …………..” ).  I didn’t realize that there are loads of versions of OLD MACDONALD books and all are different.  Get your kids (especially ages 4-8) to compare the stories, pics, etc.  I’ve got to check out OLD MACDONALD HAD AN APARTMENT HOUSE, by Judi Barrett, with illustrations by her husband, Ron Barrett.  As tenants move out, the super, Old MacDonald, moved in veggie gardens and farm animals and they thrived; that is, until the owner came by to pick up the rent.  This has got to be a HOOT.

Remember the book, THE LITTLE RED HEN? Her grandson, in THE LITTLE RED CHICKEN, by Joy Cowley, wants to have a party but his buddies won’t help him plan and  set it up.  They just want to eat his food so he asks his grandma for advice and she tells him to “not let them in”.  But he’s a caring guy and invites his friends.  They realize how much work he did for them and they regret not assisting him and tell him so.

Another neat sounding ag book is MRS WISHY WASHY’S FARM, by Joy Cowley, with graphics by Elizabeth Fuller.  Pre-K thru 1^st graders will love when they hear how Mrs. Wishy Washy loves to bathe the farm animals in a tin tub.  The animals revolt and run away to the city.  You’ll read about their urban “dirty” misadventures before they hurry back home to the farm.

ANIMALS SHOULD DEFINITELY NOT WEAR CLOTHING, by Judi and Ron Barrett, shows that animal “clothing” is perfect, as is.  It’s so funny to see animals in “human” clothing.  Kids of all ages will LOVE this book.

GOOGLE for more farm animal book titles and then head off to your nearest library or bookstore and check out these books for a great read for all (especially for the little ones).  You enjoyed reading about farm animals when you were young.  Bring that joy to the little people in your life!

 

March is Women’s History Month- Let’s SHOUT OUT to the Ladies

By DeDe Hausman

The 2011 theme for WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH is: OUR HISTORY IS OUR STRENGTH.   Women unite families, communities, and nations and have for centuries.  That’s why this celebration was designated in 1980 by joint resolutions of the House and Senate and by proclamations by FIVE American Presidents.  It’s an opportunity to celebrate women’s unique historical achievements.

Usually honorees are recognized for national achievements but this year local organizations and institutions have been asked to recognize and honor women within their own communities who have shown courage, strength and creativity during challenging times.  And considering the economic climate of our country we should recognize women who are making a difference.

In the past, women’s achievements weren’t recognized.  Many female endeavors were undervalued or even dismissed entirely.  Thank heavens many people now place men and women’s successes on equal footing.  It doesn’t make a difference what gender a person is; what makes a difference is what a person has accomplished especially during challenging times.

In my 16 years working for the dairy industry I can think of many female dairy farmers who have made or are making a difference in their communities and in our state.  One in particular that comes to mind is LuAnn Troxel, of Hanna, Indiana.  She became a dairy farmer 27 years ago when she married her husband, Tom, who had been a dairyman for 13 prior years.  For years she has been an advocate for our industry.  Many a time she has welcomed “city folk” to their farm and makes sure they leave knowing all about the dairy industry.  She loves dairy farmers and feels they are practical, hard-working people who care about their animals while protecting the environment.  And she’s always touting the healthful benefits of dairy products.  On top of that she is currently the president of Indiana Professional Dairy Producers (IPDP), which is an organization that promotes a profitable, positive and professional image of Indiana Dairy Producers.  In years to come LuAnn’s achievements in and for our industry will be well-documented.

I’m sure you can think of many women in your communities who have made or are making a difference.  Go to nwhp.org (National Women’s History Project) for more info and let’s recognize what women have done or are doing to benefit our communities, our country and possibly our world.

 

Links We Hope You’ll Love

By DeDe Hausman

We want you to know what dairy farmers do and there’s no easier way than via many website links (including Dairy Farming Today, Twitter, Facebook, etc.) and many of these you can get to via our website, WINNERSDRINKMILK.COM.   Check out the following links and you’ll be surprised about all the interesting info that you can learn about the dairy industry.

On the header towards the top of our home page, click on DAIRY FARMING.  Here you can view and listen to videos produced on 5 Indiana dairy farms.  These are meant to give you a “birds’ eye view” of dairy farming.  You can listen to radio spots, too.  This link can also take you to DAIRY FARMING TODAY.ORG, a website produced by American’s dairy farmers.  You can see up close and personal what dairy farmers from Maine to California are doing to provide all of us with wholesome, delicious and nutritious dairy products.

March is Agriculture Appreciation Month in Indiana

Events and contests will shine the spotlight on Hoosier farmers and the food they grow

For Immediate Release

INDIANAPOLIS (February 22, 2011) Governor Mitch Daniels has declared March Agriculture Appreciation Month in Indiana. The Hoosier celebration is an extension of National Ag Week, March 13-19.

The official proclamation reads, in part:

WHEREAS, the foundation of Indiana agriculture, farm production, occurs on 61,000 farms representing 14.8 million acres of farmland in the state; and

WHEREAS, the Hoosier farmer, a symbol of strength and strong moral fiber, has displayed ingenuity in times of prosperity and perseverance in the face of hardships, while supplying our state, our nation and the world with an abundance of high quality agriculture goods and products; and…

In honor of the month and in recognition of the significant economic and cultural contributions agriculture makes to the Hoosier state, Indiana’s Family of Farmers (IFoF), a coalition of more than a dozen ag-related organizations, will sponsor a series of events and initiatives during Agriculture Appreciation Month, including:

Indiana’s Family of Farmers Statehouse Reception

Monday, March 7, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

IFoF will kick-off Agriculture Appreciation Month with a luncheon reception and special presentation in the Statehouse North Atrium. Lt. Governor Becky Skillman will announce the winners of the ag essay contest and Morgan Dawson, Indiana FFA State President, will read the official Agriculture Appreciation Month proclamation.

Pets & Farm animals: Love them all the same?

Guest Post By Farmer Leontien van de Laar

Sometimes people come to our large dairy and when we take them to see our cows, every now and then one of our cats will pop up and will literally beg for attention. Usually the question that follows after he (he’s huge and black) shows off is:

Do you have any pets?

My answer:  Yes we do.

And yes, there is a difference between our pets and our farm animals.

But it is not as black and white as some of our cows are… Or maybe it is.

We love our dog because no matter how bad of a day I have had, he is always happy to see me.

We love our cows because they provide food for 155 households in one day.

We love my horse, because I can hug and talk to him as long as I want and he always listens.

We love our cows because they provide food for 155 households in one day.

We love our cats because I can watch them for hours playing or chasing a leaf blown by the wind.

We love our cows because they provide food for 155 households in one day.

We spend 24 hours a day taking care of our cows: provide them with the best quality feed, make sure they are as comfortable as possible, milk them 3 times a day, have a hoof trimmer, nutritionist and veterinarian who come every week to check our cows.

In my opinion it’s simple; just because our cows are not in my house, I didn’t give them crazy made up names, or I don’t pet every single one of them, or I don’t have a special cushion on my sofa where she can lay down, or I don’t walk them 3 times a day, or buy toys for her to play with, it doesn’t mean I care less about our cows than I do our pets.

I love my cows because at the end of the day when I go home to my horse, dog and cats I KNOW our cows will provide food for 155 households the next day, and the next day and the next day– if I keep making sure they have the best possible life here on this large dairy.

So, every evening I go home and play a bit with my dog, hug my horse and watch the cats jump from one snow pile to the other and ponder about my day and the day to come, worrying about caring for our cows and worrying about how to provide for my family, because a farmers life isn’t easy…And later that evening I will wonder about the fact that I will see commercials on TV for DIET FOOD for dogs and why people still look at me (as a farmer), and think I’m the one who doing harm to animals.

 I love our pets, they are my pleasure.

But I love my cows more because they feed the world.

For me it’s black and white, like my cow Berta 1127.

Getting to Know Deb O.

 

What do you do at Indiana Dairy?

I am the General Manager.  I focus on our organization’s vision, mission, goals, strategies, staff and budgets.  I work with our dairy farmer board of directors.  I participate in our senior leadership team comprised of staff from our national and state and regional dairy promotion organizations.  Occasionally I go into a recording studio to tape radio spots featuring our events and Every Single Day dairy image campaign.

 

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of the job is the people with whom I work.  Agriculture is a small community and dairy is a small neighborhood within that community.  Everyone is so passionate about producing food.  I especially enjoy visiting dairy farmers on their farms and seeing first-hand how they care for their animals and the land.  They take pride in what they do.  They love their cows.  So many times over the years dairy men and women have told me how they love working together with their families on their farms producing food for others.  I’m very passionate about them and about spreading the good nutrition news about their product:  milk.

 

Tell us a little about yourself

I have a BS degree with a double major in Business Administration and Marketing.  I’ve worked for Indiana’s dairy farmers in dairy promotion for over 30 years.  I am very passionate about representing dairy farmers and the food they produce.

I am a lifelong Hoosier.  I grew up in St. Joseph County, where the plentiful lake effect snow teaches you to learn to enjoy it.  My husband and I live in a rural community not too far from Indianapolis and are active in our church.  We also participate in our community band.  I play a flute in the band and he runs the sound system.  I enjoy working with animals.  I have geese, a cat and a dog.  I’ve owned horses and goats as well.  My very elderly Arabian mare recently passed away.  It was tough losing her, but I was blessed with 22 years of caring for her.  She and I even shared the same birthday.  I enjoy watching and identifying the birds of Indiana as well as in other parts of the country when traveling.

 

Tell us a little about someone who has influenced your life and why?

Mom

My mother influenced my life a great deal.  I wish she was living to read this.  She would be proud and gratified.  She was very bright, funny, kind and caring.  A polio survivor, she lived her life and raised two children, kept a home, entertained guests, had her own child-care business and traveled the country—all this and much more from her wheelchair.  And she did all this long before accessibility issues were on anyone’s radar screen.   I’m so proud of her and so blessed that she was my mother.  She was my teacher and role model.

 

Do you have a favorite recipe or restaurant to share?

Bonge’s is my favorite restaurant.  Check them out at www.bongestavern.com.  The food is fabulous and people travel many miles to enjoy that dining experience.  Fortunately I live nearby.