HUMAN INTEREST

The Invisible Enemy: The Audacity and Faith of One Incredible Wisconsin Dairy Family

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:58:02 GMT

In the world of dairy farming, we often talk about the things we can see: the quality of the silage, the conformation of a heifer or the rising numbers on a milk check. But for the Den Hoed family in northern Wisconsin, the most defining battle of the last 17 years has been against an enemy that is entirely invisible. It is a story of a silent killer that nearly broke their business, but instead, forged a family legacy of unshakable faith and the grit to build something entirely new from the ground up.

The story of Den Hoed Dairy doesn’t begin in the cabin country of Wisconsin. It begins in the Yakima Valley of Washington, where Walt Den Hoed grew up milking cows alongside his father and brothers. By 2008, the operation had grown to 1,200 cows. But that year, a storm hit: Walt’s father passed away from cancer, and the family realized — too late — that no succession planning had been done.

In 2010, at age 40, Walt faced a crossroads. He could stay in the shadow of a fractured legacy, or he could take a leap of faith. With his wife, Denise, and their children, he looked at seven dairies across the Midwest. They eventually settled on a site in northern Wisconsin, arriving with nothing more than two tractors, a loader and a determination to start over.

“We didn’t bring any cows,” Walt recalls. “We bought everything here. We didn’t know then why the former owner had sold the farm. We found out soon enough.”

(Den Hoed Dairy)

The Silent Killer: 17 Years of Stray Voltage

What the Den Hoeds had unknowingly purchased was a stray voltage farm. Located precisely between two electrical substations, the earth beneath their feet was a conduit for balancing energy. For the cows, it was a living nightmare.

“It affects their liver,” Walt explains, his voice heavy with the memory of the struggle. “The cows wouldn’t drink.”

At their lowest point, the cows were only taking in 13 gallons of water a day.

“We were down to 44 pounds of milk on 3x milking,” says Colton Den Hoed. “They wouldn’t even let their milk down in the parlor; they’d get back to the stalls and just start dripping. It was like they were being suppressed from the inside out.”

The numbers were staggering and, for any other business, it would have been a death sentence. The farm carried a 44% cull rate and a 10% death rate. In the winter, production hovered at 60 lb.; in the summer, 75 lb. Compared to the 90 lb.-plus averages they had achieved in Washington, the Den Hoeds were merely surviving in a state of constant “IV tube” management.

“We were in the shed at 3 a.m. in -25°F-below weather, building little pens to warm up calves that were dying because the stray voltage prevents calcium transfer,” Denise says. “They couldn’t keep themselves warm. We were doing whatever it took to save them, but you can’t out-farm physics.”

(Den Hoed Dairy)

The Legacy Farmer Pivot: Permission to Dream Again

For years, the family lived in a survival bubble. The Den Hoeds say when you are buried in the daily trauma of losing animals and fighting a plummeting milk check, you stop dreaming. You focus on the next bill, the next IV bag and the next sunrise.

The turning point came a year and a half ago when the family connected with Legacy Farmer. They wanted a cold, hard audit of their operation. They were prepared for the criticism. In fact, they invited it.

“We wanted to find the holes,” says Jayce Den Hoed. “We wanted to know where we were failing. But they dug into our portfolio for two months and came back with something we didn’t expect. They told us, ‘You guys can’t get any more efficient. The only thing you’re doing wrong is milk production, and you can’t help that in this facility.’”

That revelation was the green light the family needed. The audit proved their do-it-all philosophy — hauling their own milk, harvesting 1,700 acres of their own feed and handling every equipment repair in-house — had created a foundation of extreme efficiency. If they could just get the cows onto clean ground, the sky was the limit.

“We had a day of depression when we saw the reality of the numbers needed to build new,” Colton says. “But we all came back to the table with the same vision. We knew we had the equity. We just needed the courage to jump.”

Building from Scratch: 6 Miles to Freedom

The Den Hoeds are currently in the middle of a massive transformation. Just 6 miles away from their current death trap, they are building a brand-new facility from scratch. The new dairy will feature a double-20 parallel parlor and a state-of-the-art feed center.

The goal is to move the milking herd, dry cows and close-ups to the new site by November. The original farm will be repurposed for heifers and calves, who seem better able to handle the environmental stress until they reach breeding age.

“The bank approval was a miracle,” Denise says. “We spent months putting together a portfolio — projections for years to come, profit and loss statements, every detail laid out. We had a three-hour meeting with the board, and within 90 days, we had the approval. Our lender actually grew up on a farm that was also plagued by stray voltage. She understood our heart because she had lived our pain.”

(Den Hoed Dairy)

The Next Generation: Wired for the Legacy

Perhaps the most compelling part of the Den Hoed story is the two young men standing alongside Walt. In an era where the average age of the American farmer is rising, Jayce and Colton bring that figure down considerably. They are hardworking, tech-savvy and deeply committed to the family brand.

Jayce, who bought his first 100 acres at age 18, even before he graduated high school, handles the crop inputs and the beef side of the business.

“I’ve always wanted to farm,” he says. “You teach your kids responsibility, and that’s missing in our culture today.”

Colton, who cares for the youngstock, has taken the Den Hoed story to the world through social media, where he has built a following of nearly 200,000 people. He documents the good, the bad and the muddy.

“I want to show people what we do. I’ve had kids from small towns come through the barn who have never seen a cow,” Colton says. “The disconnect is huge, and we’re trying to bridge it.”

The brothers haven’t always seen eye-to-eye — they admit to butting heads in their younger years — but the shared trauma of the stray voltage years and the shared vision of the new build have welded them together.

(Den Hoed Dairy)

A Culture of “Familia”

The Den Hoeds don’t just treat each other like family; they extend that culture to their team. When they moved to Wisconsin, they struggled to find help until they recruited from the local Hispanic community. Today, they have four employees who have been with them for years.

“We treat them like family,” Colton says. “We have dinners together. We bring them donuts. We know about their lives. It’s not just a number on a payroll; it’s a relationship. That morale is why they stay, even when the facility was a struggle to work in.”

This focus on people is the secret sauce of their efficiency. By hauling their own milk, they save nearly $1.10 per cwt. — a figure that adds up to hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.

“If we didn’t do it ourselves, we wouldn’t be here,” Walt says simply.

The Audacity of Faith

Woven through every conversation with the Den Hoeds is a profound sense of faith. In their barn, a sign reads “In God We Trust,” and it isn’t just for show.

“When we put that sign up, it felt like our problems got worse,” Walt says with a wry smile. “It was like Satan went to work harder. But it just made us pray harder. We stopped praying for God to ‘fix’ the farm and started praying for wisdom. And that’s when the pieces started falling into place.”

They see God’s hand in the timing of the Legacy Farmer audit, in the specific background of their lender and even in the naysayers who told them they would fail.

“You’re always going to have people who think you’re nuts,” Walt says. “But we’ve learned to manifest the positive. You don’t go forward unless you poke your head out of the shell. We’re taking a leap of faith because we believe this industry is worth it, and we believe our family is worth it.”

Looking Toward November

As the construction crews move dirt at the new site 6 miles away, the Den Hoeds are already seeing the cumulative wins. Their pregnancy rate has surged from 23% to nearly 50% after a shift in management protocols. Their days in milk have dropped from 215 to 160. Though these changes did not translate to a single extra pound at their current facility, the engine is being tuned for the big move.

“We need hope,” Denise says. “We were in that survival pool for so long we didn’t realize how depressed we were. We had actually stopped dreaming.”

But the dreams are back. In November, when the first trailer load of cows pulls into the clean parlor of the new facility, it won’t just be a move of livestock. It will be the culmination of 17 years of perseverance. It will be the moment the invisible enemy finally loses its grip.

As the rain falls over the Wisconsin cabin country, the Den Hoed family gathers for their daily lunch — a tradition that keeps them connected and grounded. They joke, they plan and they pray. They are a testament to the fact that the most valuable asset on any dairy isn’t the quota or the equipment — it’s the people who refuse to quit.

The Den Hoeds are no longer just surviving. They are building a legacy that will outlast the hardships and the stray voltage. They are proving that when you combine elite efficiency with an audacious faith, the cream always rises to the top.

A Unique, Hands-On Approach to Training Tomorrow’s Dairy Veterinarians

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 19:34:28 GMT

Large animal veterinarians specializing in dairy have almost become the unicorns of the industry. In a space that is nearly dominated by small animal vets, finding young professionals interested in pursuing a dairy-focused practice has become increasingly rare. That’s why hands-on programs like the University of Vermont’s CREAM Program (Cooperative for Real Education in Agricultural Management), are playing a vital role in developing the next generation of dairy veterinarians.

Stephen Wadsworth, the current director of CREAM, brings more than four decades of dairy veterinary experience to the role. As a teacher for the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, his background in private practice offers students a direct link between academic concepts and real-world applications in dairy herd management.

“The CREAM program was started in 1988 by an animal geneticist on faculty,” Wadsworth explains. “It’s a 60-cow tiestall, high-producing registered Holstein herd, currently averaging about 100 lb. per day, and it’s run almost exclusively by undergraduate animal science students, most of whom are pre-vet and have never even handled a dairy cow before.”

What began as a temporary teaching position in 2018 quickly became a full-time role that Wadsworth calls more rewarding than he ever expected. After four decades in a busy, six-person dairy practice in northwestern Vermont, he welcomed the opportunity to pass on his knowledge to those just entering the profession.

“Though I should be retired, it’s too much fun,” he says. “It’s been far more gratifying than I imagined.”

Beyond the Books: Learning by Doing
According to Wadsworth, the CREAM program offers more than just basic classroom learning. Students participate in every aspect of managing the university’s dairy herd, from milking and feeding to reproductive protocols and record-keeping. The immersive experience prepares them for future roles in veterinary school and beyond.

Currently, the program is divided into three core areas: academic instruction, work skill development, and community and personal growth.

“First, there’s lecture, about two and a half hours per week where I cover livestock medicine, herd health and management principles,” Wadsworth says. “Second is work skill development. Many of these students have never held jobs requiring punctuality or responsibility. So, they learn that when we say you have to be here at 3:30 a.m. for morning milking, it really means 3:20 a.m., or preferably 3:15 a.m. to set up the parlor.”

He adds that the third area, community and personal development, might be the most impactful.

“We talk about what it means to be a person of good character and how to work together in a group,” Wadsworth says, noting how the first few days learning how to operate a dairy is challenging for the students.

“You’ve got 20 students working together to milk 60 cows in a double-six parlor. Some days it’s like herding cats,” he laughs. “The first milking during the summer took seven hours, but now they’re down to an hour and a half. But in a few weeks, there’s this tight community and new friendships formed, and students leave the program saying it was the most transformative thing they’ve ever done in their life.”

While the program serves as a steppingstone for students applying to veterinary school, it often leads to a deeper transformation.

“Some students come in thinking this is just a box to check for their application,” Wadsworth says. “But many convert to being interested in a dairy practice. When they are accepted into vet school, many decide to pursue a career in dairy medicine as a result of their time here, which is gratifying beyond words.”

As the veterinary profession continues to evolve, programs like CREAM offer an essential on-ramp for students with little or no agricultural background.

“We know there isn’t necessarily a shortage of food animal veterinarians, but we do have geographic placement challenges,” Wadsworth says. “And fewer young people are growing up on farms. So, it’s vital to provide this kind of exposure to what dairy farming really looks like.”

That exposure includes full responsibility for the daily care of the UVM CREAM herd. Students handle all aspects of herd management, including milking three times per day as well as cleaning, feeding calves and administering medical treatments under guidance. Each student completes three to four chores weekly, one of which always includes the early morning milking. They’re also involved in calving, fresh cow and calf care, vaccinations and reproductive synchronization. Additionally, every student is assigned a specialty area and expected to keep the group informed on that topic throughout the program.

Wadsworth is careful to emphasize the skills students gain are universally applicable across herd sizes and management systems.

“If you understand the biology of a cow — the physiology of ketosis, reproduction and mastitis — those fundamentals apply whether you’re on a 60-cow tiestall or a 6,000-cow commercial dairy,” he says. “It may look different, but the principles are the same.”

To add to this experience, Wadsworth is currently organizing a six-farm tour for his students to further broaden their exposure to different dairy operations across northern Vermont.

“It gives them the opportunity to see firsthand how those principles scale and adapt,” he says. “The goal is to provide a strong foundation so they can walk into any herd and understand what’s happening.”

For students without previous large-animal experience, the smaller scale of the CREAM herd offers an ideal environment to build confidence and competence.

“You could argue that animal handling and husbandry are easier to learn in a 60-cow herd than a larger operation,” Wadsworth notes. “But here, they have more direct contact with the animals and more opportunities to take ownership of daily tasks. That kind of engagement really accelerates learning.”

For Wadsworth, transitioning from private practice to academia has brought a new and refreshing challenge.

“I feel privileged to be here,” he says. “Watching these students grow over the course of the program is something special.”

As the veterinary industry looks to the future, programs like CREAM are helping ensure the next generation of dairy veterinarians are equipped with knowledge, hands-on experience and respect for the work ahead.

To learn more about UVM’s CREAM Program, watch here:

How a Pennsylvania Farm Woman Became a Language Advocate

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 12:51:38 GMT

In the heart of Pennsylvania’s dairy industry, Katie Dotterer represents the embodiment of resilience and unity in agriculture. For more than three decades, Dotterer dedicated her life to dairy farming, nurturing both animals and a fascination with languages. This passion has since evolved into a significant mission —bridging communication gaps within the agricultural sector.

Dotterer recently joined Farm Journal’s Grow Getters podcast to talk about growing up on her family’s Pennsylvania dairy farm where today three generations work together. She also shared her deep passion to bridge communication gaps in the agricultural industry.

“A lot of people ask me, do you miss the farm?” she told Grow Getters host, Davis Michaelson. “I wouldn’t be where I’m at today had I not had the upbringing that I did on the farm.”

Dotterer’s journey began on a multi-generational family farm, where her experiences deeply rooted her understanding of the agricultural world and its people. Her insight is now used to teach Spanish and English as a second language, maximizing potential within farm teams and ag service providers.

“That lifelong experience gives me a deep understanding of the ag industry and the people who power it,” she says. “Now, I use that knowledge to teach Spanish and English as a second language to help farm teams and ag service providers connect, collaborate and thrive — in the field and in the barn.”

From Field to Classroom
Dotterer used to teach high school Spanish during the day and then return home to focus on being a dairy farmer.

“I was not just a schoolteacher, as I was literally teaching, coming home and farming,” she says. “I would feed calves, do herd health work in the afternoon and on weekends. I also had an ice cream business that I started on the farm. At one point, I had like five different things going.”

Dotterer’s childhood fascination with Spanish — sparked by a Christmas gift of a Spanish book in the third grade — eventually blossomed into a teaching career when her high school Spanish class wasn’t what she had expected.

“I signed up and I hated it,” she says. “My teacher was a great person, but not a great teacher. You could just tell that passion wasn’t there. And then also, the Spanish we were learning was not applicable to me on the farm.”

The birth of “AdvoKate,” followed by a divorce in 2021, transformed her side pursuit into a full-fledged vocation. Today, “AdvoKate” extends beyond dairy — reaching sectors such as poultry and swine — and enables Dotterer to build meaningful connections within these communities.

A Viral Movement and Trusted Advocacy
Motivated by the desire to empower others and foster understanding, Dotterer became a trusted figure within the farming community, reinforcing the importance of direct knowledge from farmers. Her widely recognized hashtag, “Ask Farmers, Not Google,” embodies her commitment to authentic communication.

“I get to meet a lot of really great people,” she says, sharing that building trust with others to go to farmers as a source is what drives her.

Dotterer says her family hired their first Spanish speaking employee decades ago, and she knew then learning Spanish and being able to communicate would be highly beneficial. Today, her work emphasizes the vital importance of cultural and linguistic literacy in agriculture — a sector where collaboration is key to sustainability and growth

To learn more about Dotterer, go to: Advocate | AgvoKate | Gettysburg and sign up for a class to meet your needs.

To listen to the entire conversation between Dotterer and Michaelson on Grow Getters, go to: Grow Getters: “Ask Farmers, Not Google” — Katie Dotterer’s Mission to Unite Agriculture and Culture

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The Legacy and Innovation of Lumar Dairy: Blending Tradition with Future Growth

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 14:15:25 GMT

In the heart of central California lies Lumar Dairy, a testament to the extraordinary journey of a family that turned sheer determination into a thriving agricultural enterprise. Founded in the late 1960s by a group of dedicated brothers from the Borba family, Lumar Dairy has grown from its humble beginnings. Louie Borba, an essential part of this legacy, recounts the story of hard work, innovation and generational shifts that have shaped their success.

A Family’s Dairy Dream
Borba’s father and two uncles began their American story like many immigrants, working tirelessly on farms despite language barriers and financial constraints. Emigrating from the Azores in pursuit of the American dream, the Borbas dreams materialized with the purchase of their first 35 cows and the rental of a small facility. By the late 70s, they had expanded to a larger farm, eventually building a new dairy facility in the mid-80’s.

As the family expanded, so did their business acumen. In the 90s, recognizing the need for individual growth and more specialized operations, the Borba family amicably split their venture into separate dairies, leading to the creation of Lumar Dairy in 1994, which Borba’s father managed and owned, until he eventually took over.

The Next Generation
Borba’s journey within this family business was almost predestined. Growing up as the only son among three sisters on the family dairy, his path was clear.

“It was always in my DNA,” he proudly says. His upbringing and the values imparted by his father and uncles — an unwavering commitment to family, faith and cows — provided a solid foundation for the dairy’s continued success.

“Hard work pays off,” he says, noting that was the key factor in the previous generation’s success.

Much like his parents’ generation, Borba and his wife find joy in raising their children on a family dairy. Their children participate in 4-H and sports but also head to the dairy to spend time learning from their father.

Borba and all of his cousins are continuing their father’s legacies.

“We still all get along,” he says. “I don’t have any brothers, so they’re like my older brothers, and we talk all the time and have a tight relationship.”

Borba is proud to say he is a cow guy, noting that he is still heavily involved in the day-to-day work on the farm, overseeing herdsman responsibilities, such as herd health vet checks.

Lumar uses a 70-30 ratio of beef to sexed semen usage on the milking herd, as Borba shares they are in growth mode.

“We are trying to recover from bad calf feeders,” he says. “I know how many heifers I need a month, and we’re exceeding that, and they’re staying alive.”

With incorporating SenseHub Dairy Youngstock [monitoring system] with the calves and increasing sexed semen usage, Borba plans to grow 300 cows this year and another 300 the following year, on their way to 2,400 head milking.

When it comes to technology, Borba’s were one of the first in their area to build a carousel parlor.

“Dad was all about technology and genetic gains,” he says. “We always used good bulls. We’ve bred AI forever, so he was always open to using new technology.”

(Merck Animal Health)

Embracing Change and Technology
Lumar Dairy is anything but stuck in the past. From adopting genetic advancements such as RFID tags, using sexed semen, to implementing SenseHub Dairy collars for herd monitoring, Lumar Dairy consistently embraces innovation. Although, Borba notes that balancing risk and innovation require courage and a willingness to adapt.

When the decision to adopt new technology in calf care arose, Borba was uncertain. The potential was clear, yet choosing the right technology was pivotal. The idea was simple: get involved in a trial program, and if the technology worked, fantastic; if not, there were no significant losses.

“I didn’t know which calf monitoring system I wanted to go with because it all was new technology,” he says. “I didn’t want to invest in the wrong one, but I knew SenseHub was good.”

Borba’s journey with SenseHub Youngstock began in October 2022, but it wasn’t until a year and a half later that the system was truly optimized. The initial phase underscored a critical insight: Even the best technology fails without proper operation, evidenced by challenges with inadequate calf feeders.

“Good technology cannot be managed by a poor calf manager,” Borba says, noting that he took over managing the calves until he could find the right person. That occurred nearly a year later when he hired Maria. According to Borba, Maria was not just an employee; she brought a unique combination of dedication and passion to her role, traits indispensable for the transition to modernized calf care.

“Maria lives and breathes our calves,” he says. “She saw what I was doing, trusted me, believed in our protocols, and the transformation was like day and night.”

(Merck Animal Health)

Borba said without using SenseHub, Maria is a good employee. But add the calf technology into the equation, and she is an excellent employee.

“She doesn’t have an ego and trusted the data coming off the reports,” he shares.

Since incorporating the technology and Maria, their calf death loss has dropped dramatically.

“The return on this investment is excellent. I was at 85 female dairy replacements when I started and now, I’m at 113,” Borba shares.

Borba incorporated SenseHub Dairy collars in October last year.

He says he likes both the reproduction and health benefits that the collars provide.

“Overall, our second service conception has increased, our breeding got better,” he says, noting his herd is still not immune to health issues, like pneumonia or scours. “But, we are able to address everything sooner.”

Borba says their death loss improved because calves were being treated on day one.

Going forward, Borba looks to progress and to constantly improve.

“You cannot start nitpicking, or you’ll go backwards,” he says, noting that he feels like the herd is in a good spot. “It’s just continuing to being consistent.”

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Don’t Ignore the Nudge: Why Listening Matters More Than You Think

Thu, 15 May 2025 14:43:08 GMT

Have you ever found yourself unsure of how to take a step forward? I clearly remember a day last summer when I was out of time. The procrastination needed to stop. I had an hour-long talk to prepare for and my mind was blank.

Of course, I realized this was not a good situation to be in. Sure, I had my topic and key points, but in my mind, it needed a dash of heart.

Then, my phone buzzed.

At first, I ignored it. I didn’t have time to get sidetracked. But I eventually checked it. It was Maddie, a young woman and friend who shared her vulnerable and powerful story with me a few years ago about her attempts at suicide.

Start the Conversation
She texted, “I know you’ve been so busy lately and I didn’t want to bother you. But I’ve been thinking about this all day and felt urged to share this story with you.”

Maddie had been speaking on her mental health journey in front of a group of farmers in Ohio. She didn’t know anyone at the event and admittedly, was a little nervous to share her story. When she arrived, a middle-aged man in work boots and overalls came right over to her and asked if he could help carry her things.

She politely said, “Sure, I’d love that.”

They got to talking as they carried in her tubs of stuff. Eventually they got to the reason she was in Ohio to speak.

This 250-lb. farmer then teared up and said, “I know why you are here. Ma’am, I just thought you should know that you’re the reason I’m here.”

Although the details of his story are not what matters here, he was contemplating suicide when he scrolled upon Maddie’s story on Facebook .

“For whatever reason, I saw your parents’ side of the story first,” he told her. “I decided that I didn’t want my wife and children to find me like that. I didn’t want to leave them like that.”

I messaged back to my friend and said, “Wow. I don’t know what else to say.”

She simply responded that she didn’t know what to say in that moment either. So, she hugged him hard and that was it.

“It was exceptionally hard to compose myself the rest of the day,” Maddie texted back. “Thank you, Jennifer. You took a chance on me and whether you know it or not, you saved a life, too. I was just a small part in it.”

‘Fine’ Doesn’t Cut It
Can I be honest that I felt completely uncomfortable when she said this? (And even more so sharing this with you.) But in that moment, I was reminded that the very best thing we can do in this world is listen to others. We think we need to say something back or have the right words, but we don’t.

People just want to be heard. They want to be known. They may not say it out loud, but as humans, one of our greatest needs is to be understood by someone.

We all have stories that need to be shared, and we need people to step in and listen to them. Listening is one of the most powerful healing tools.

Almost a year ago, I wrote about my friend Mary and how she takes the time to truly see people . She’s a busy lady and balances several jobs and volunteer opportunities. But she is never too busy to genuinely look you in the eye and ask you how you are doing. Mary doesn’t ask in a way that gives you any option except to say how you are really doing. ‘Fine’ doesn’t cut it with her.

I hope you don’t let ‘fine’ cut it in your life, either. Pay attention to the people you run into every day and the people you love who you don’t get to see very often. I’m thankful Maddie didn’t ignore the nudge to text me that day. She gave me just the dash of heart I needed.

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month . Millions of Americans live with mental health conditions. Whether by sharing your story, spreading awareness, or advocating for change, every action helps break the stigma and build a more supportive world for all.

From the Famous SNL 'More Cowbell' Skit, to Iconic Bell in "It's a Wonderful Life,' The Magic of Bell-Making

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 15:37:27 GMT

Cici Bevin enjoys working in her family-owned business, which dates back to 1832 when her ancestors began what is Bevin Bells today.

“At one point in East Hampton, [Conn.,] we had over 20 bell manufacturers. Luckily, today we are the last one remaining,” Bevin says.

Of course, the use of bells back when the company began is much different than today.

Today, a cowbell might be a gift or a musical instrument, but back then, it was an essential part of raising livestock.

“There was a tremendous amount of safety use for bells, so sleigh bells were massive for us. We had catalogs, 20 pages long, of different cut styles and configurations of sleigh bells,” Bevin says.

Bells are still used today, though you probably never give much thought to who makes them.

“We make all of the bells for the Salvation Army across the country. Any time you see someone at a kettle ringing a bell asking for money that’s a Bevin Bell,” Bevin says.

Remember the sound that used to end stock trading in New York ? Or signal another round at a Muhammad Ali boxing match ? Those sounds are from Bevin Bells.

Of course there’s the famous bell from “Saturday Night Live,” which was a boost for business.

However, the most famous Bevin Bell is tied to “It’s a Wonderful Life,” a Christmas movie from 1946.

“The bell that rings on the tree when Clarence says, ‘Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings,’ that’s a Bevin Bell. Exactly how that bell ended up in the movie, we’re not entirely sure,” Bevin says.

They’re sure glad the classic Christmas movie featured a bell from their factory. To this day, the movie and the sound of bells ringing signal the Christmas season is here.

The Wonderful Life bells are just one of the many holiday bells made at Bevin Bells. In fact, the company does about 60% of its business in the fourth quarter.

While many people like the jingle of bells around the holidays, one has to wonder if working in a bell factory could get a bit annoying.

“I absolutely love hearing the bells ring and I honestly never get tired of it,” Bevin says. “I have bells in my car all the time because I might be making a delivery, and I jingle everywhere I go, which brings a real smile on my face.”

From sleigh bells to the bell from “It’s a Wonderful Life,” much Christmas cheer begins at Bevin Bells in East Hampton, Conn.

An 11-Year Old's Idea Sparked An Idea That's Grown Into an Annual Toy Drive Giving Out 13,000 Toys Each Year

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 15:02:29 GMT

The season of giving for Reed Marcum doesn’t just happen during Christmas. For this 19-year, the season of giving is year-round.

“I came up with the idea back in 2016 when I realized that I wanted to help put another toy under someone’s tree that year,” says Marcum, who’s now a Pittsburg County, Oklahoma 4-H Ambassador.

At just 11 years-old, this 4-H member had an idea: Collect toys and give them out to children in his local community.

“He came home one day, he talked to me and his stepfather, and he said, ‘Mom, I want to help some kiddos in my class for Christmas,” remembers Angie Miller, Reed’s mother. “I said, ‘OK, what can we do?’ I told him he could do a little work, and he was like, ‘No, I want to give out toys.”

Reed Marcum at 11-Years-Old

(Angie Miller)

Started Out As a Small Idea
That first year, Reed’s small idea turned into a huge success, giving out around 5,000 toys at his stepfather’s law office. Little did this family know that was just the start of something grand.

“It was something we didn’t expect to do, especially have that much success and community reaction. They really loved it. We did not expect that,” Reed says.

J Michael Miller Toy Drive
What’s called the J Michael Miller Toy Drive has grown each year, even during COVID.

“What happened was COVID hit, and we had told Reed that it just can’t happen that year. And he said, ‘It can happen, Mom,’” Angie says.

And it did. With the help of the community, Reed moved the toy drive to Ragan’s Auto, a decision that helped this drive grow even more.

“He spoke with Mr. Ragan, and he told Reed we can do this. They moved all their cars out by noon that day. We moved in around 1:00, and we would set up all night long, and then we open the doors, they would start driving through,” Angie says.

The annual J. Michael Miller Toy Drive gave out 13,000 toys this year.

(SUNUP)

Within a couple years, they even outgrew that space. Last year, Reed moved his toy drive again, this time, to the McAlester Expo Center.

“We are orchestrating with the local Expo Center here in McAlester for people to come, and it’s just an amazing venue for what we’re doing here. And it’s an amazing process that we have to set up and do,” Reed says.

Biggest Toy Giveaway Yet
On Dec. 7,2024, Reed had his biggest giveaway yet.

“We collected a ton, but we were able to give out around 13,000 this year, that day,” Reed says.

What started as one small idea has brought generosity through toys that touched 13,000 lives this year alone.

“It’s a year-long process,” Angie says. “The entire year we’re looking for toys, collecting them and getting donations from people. But when the day gets near and close, it really starts to ramp up.”

Cars line up 3 to 4 miles long for the annual toy drive.

(Bryan Fuller)

Recipients Come From Surrounding States
Since 2016, this toy drive has given away more than 64,000 toys, an annual event that people wait in line for hours to receive. And as the event grows each year, lines of cars that now stretch three to four miles long, all with kids eager to receive toys that year.

“I was working the line this year, and we did see license plates from Texas and Arkansas. That’s normal,” says Greg Owen, Pittsburg County, Oklahoma 4-H educator. “I would ask the people in the line, ‘What was the experience like?’ And this year, I heard the comment ‘It was literally perfect.’”

Vital Volunteers
But for Reed, this wouldn’t be possible without volunteers, all 100 of them.

“They can help us move the toys from point A to point B when we’re holding them or in help, give the toys, help, walk the line, be dressed up in costumes to help entertain the kids, give out small items that go through the lines. The kids aren’t just sitting there bored,” Reed says.

Loss Turned Into Love
Reed’s toy drive has become a beloved experience attracting thousands of people from miles away. But this kid who has brought so much joy to others has also seen heartache along the way.

“He had the most difficult year of his life his junior year,” Angie says. “We were moving to Ragan’s that year, and on July 28, he lost his grandmother that he was extremely close to.”

Reed’s brother, Sergeant Miles Tarron

(SUNUP)

Not even four months later, Reed suffered another devastating loss, just weeks away from his toy drive in 2021.

“We were notified by soldiers that Reed’s brother had passed in the military,” Angie says. “I talked with Reed and I told him I didn’t think we can do the toy giveaway. And he said, ‘Mom, brother would want us to do the toy giveaway, so we’re going to do the toy giveaway.’”

And he did, with an entire community rallying around Reed as a way to give back to one of their own who had done so much.

“They helped us get it over to Ragan’s. We got it all set up. And then they just helped us all the way through it,” Angie says. “After that, Reed had already created the Hudson Strong Foundation for a little boy that had cancer. And they provided some help with the costs of the storage buildings. Then after his brother passed, Reed created the Sergeant Miles Tarron Foundation, and that supports his toy giveaway, his backpack giveaway and his silent auction. His brother always had a hand in supporting him and sending money. So, now the Sergeant Miles Tarron Foundation and the Hudson Strong Foundation support those storage buildings.”

Reed has nine storage buildings, all bursting with donated toys each year. But this success is also because of one lady Reed deeply admired: his 4-H leader, Miss Donna Curry.

“After he lost his brother, June 28, 2022, he lost Miss Donna Curry, who was like a second mother to him, who got him into 4-H, and she supported this project thoroughly,” Angie says.

Today, Reed doesn’t just give away toys. Miss Donna had another idea two years before she died: to give out pajamas, socks and undergarments to those in need.

“We named it Miss Donna’s Closet. And when they drive through the toy giveaway, they get the pajamas, they get socks, they get undergarments all through the toy line. They get snacks. And so when we lost Miss Donna, Reed promised at that point that he would carry her tradition on.”

Reed is Now Inspiring Others
Reed’s heart of service is always on display, and it’s now inspiring others.

“It’s literally the goal that we try to set for our 4-H members. We hope that they’ll develop a level of mastery in their project work, and for Reed, his project has been civic engagement,” Greg says. “And when they get to that point, we’ll hope we hope that they’ll utilize that to teach and impact others to follow in their footsteps, which is exactly what Reed has done.”

“That’s the best thing with 4-H; they always want you to strive to be the best version of yourself. And that’s something this project really does every year,” Reed says. “It’s not just staying the same or leveling out each year. It’s getting bigger and better than the last.”

True Gift of Giving
Reed’s one idea in 2016 continues to spread joy year-round, as it showcases the true gift of giving.

“Little 11-year-old Reed could never see such a thing happening, especially when I was so young and couldn’t even talk to a group of ten people, let alone do something like this. I never thought it would reach this,” Reed says.

“I always share this. That came from the idea of an 11-year-old child. That shows the impact of the 4-H program. That shows the impact of a student that wants to give, that wants to make a difference and wants to make a positive impact on their community,” Greg says.

Reed Accepts Donations Year-Round
In order to make the annual toy drive possible, Reed accepts donations year-round. If you’d like to contribute to the annual toy drive or Reed’s other service projects, you can donate here .

Your Next Reads:
The Ultimate Gift: Dairy Farmer Becomes Lifesaving Hero by Donating Both His Liver and Kidney

Iconic Holiday Road Trip Stop Returns to Its Georgia Pecan Farm Roots

From Raising Cattle to Now Reindeer, How One Family is Sharing the Magic Of Christmas On Their Farm

The Ultimate Gift: Dairy Farmer Becomes Lifesaving Hero by Donating Both His Liver and Kidney

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 15:08:10 GMT

When one thinks of a dairy farmer, the image often conjured is that of a hardworking individual, dedicated to the care of their cattle and land. Brian Forrest, who leads with a kind-hearted and giving spirit at his family farm, Maple Ridge Dairy near Stratford, Wisconsin, epitomizes this image and so much more.

Forrest works tirelessly alongside his wife, Elaine, and their five children, tending to roughly 2,000 cows and farming 4,000 acres. Although farming is undeniably a demanding job, Forrest thrives on the mixture of hard work and familial teamwork it entails.

Leadership Beyond Farming
Away from the hustle and bustle of farming, Forrest dedicates his time in boardrooms and volunteering on various committees and organizations. His contributions as a leader have not gone unnoticed as he was awarded the Dean Strauss Leadership Award at the Professional Dairy Producers (PDP) Annual Meeting earlier this year.

“Ask anyone who knows Brian and they’ll tell you he’d give you the shirt off his back without blinking, as his track record clearly shows,” Shelly Mayer, Executive Director of PDP, shares. “I’ve had the opportunity to work directly with Brian for several years and I can say firsthand that he is one of the most thoughtful, compassionate people one could ever hope to work with.”

Maple Ridge has earned recognition on state and national levels, including Focus on Energy’s 2022 Energy Efficiency Excellence Award and platinum-level recognition in 2020 from the National Mastitis Council for the dairy’s consistently low Somatic Cell Count. Forrest was also named a 2021 Wisconsin Agriculturist Master Agriculturist. Forrest serves as Board Chair of Dairy’s Foundation and also served on the PDP board of directors for six years, acting as treasurer for three years. He’s an FFA alumnus and regularly supports the FFA.

A Selfless Donor
Forrest’s generosity extends beyond his time and expertise. In July 2019, he served as a living liver donor for his cousin Richard Gillette, who was battling end-stage liver disease.

“Richard is one of five brothers who I had always looked up to when I was a kid,” Forrest fondly recalls. “When they were young, all five of them came up from Illinois during the summer to help out on my dad’s farm in Stratford.”

Two of the five brothers died in their 50s - and Forrest didn’t want to see a third Gillette brother die before his time. And, as sick as Richard was in the spring of 2019, he was unlikely to receive a new liver from a deceased donor in time to save his life. Too many patients were ahead of him on the transplant list - and most of them were even sicker. Forrest offered to see if he could be a match.

“I thought maybe I could be a donor. I’m older, but I have O-negative blood.” After discussing it with his wife and giving it careful thought, he decided to go through with the donation.

A football fan at heart, Forrest knows that when it’s game day, rivalries don’t matter. Or least this was the case for the fourth-generation dairy farmer.

“He’s a Bears fan. I’m a Packer fan. But we were united the morning that we both met with our incredible surgeons,” Forrest remembers back to the day of live transplant at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical Hospital. We joked together right before the surgery that after he gets part of my liver, he very well may come out a Packers fan! He beamingly shares that his cousin recovered well. “It was a tough road for a while, but it was all worthwhile.”

Four years later, Forrest donated a kidney to an anonymous recipient, demonstrating his willingness to help those in need yet again.

The kidney he donated went to a person in Virginia. The surgeon showed Forrest a picture of his kidney functioning perfectly inside the recipient the evening after his surgery.

“It was pink inside the recipient and doing its job,” Forrest shared emotionally. “It is all so remarkable.”

Both surgeries required others to pick up the ‘slack’ from Forrest back at the dairy. He proudly shares that he is lucky to have such a great village that could help out while he took 6-8 weeks to fully recover from both surgeries.

“I would do this again in a heartbeat,” he shares. “There is no price tag for giving someone life and the whole experience brought my family closer together.”

A Farmer’s Faith
Forrest says the feeling of helping someone else is hard to describe but incredibly fulfilling.

“I know God is driving the way,” he says. “I’m not sure what direction we are heading, but I know he is in the driver’s seat and I’m in the backseat.”

When it comes to farming, Forrest—like most farmers—believes in a better tomorrow. Before his surgeries, Forrest had to undergo a mental health evaluation, ensuring he was prepared for all eventualities, even the possibility of the surgery not resulting in success.

“I go back to the highs and lows of farming. With milk prices and Mother Nature, you must be okay with not being in control,” he says.

Forrest’s mindset of focusing on what can go right instead of what could go wrong is just his natural way of thinking. This positive attitude has helped foster a healthy and positive culture at Maple Ridge Dairy, where 34 full-time employees work in harmony.

“Our mission and values are communicated, and we all work towards the same goal,” he shares.

In an industry full of challenges and unpredictability, this Wisconsin dairy farmer stands out not just for his farming practices but for his exemplary character and unwavering optimism. Whether on the farm, in the operating room, or during acts of heroism, Forrest truly embodies a spirit of selflessness and resilience.

“I try to make more deposits than withdrawals,” he says. “There are good days and bad days, but we really need to focus on the good. My hopes are that others who hear my story also consider organ donation. UW Madison is an incredible resource and I’d be happy to talk to anyone whose heart has tugged on them regarding organ donation. I have no regrets.”

The Quest to Save a Rare Breed of Goats on the Verge of Extinction

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 18:44:13 GMT

We first gave you a glimpse of some exceptional kids last year during Harvest of Thanks .

These aren’t just any goat; these are Arapawa goats, one of the rarest breeds of goats in the world.

“It’s a phenomenal feeling to be able to work to maintain a breed that’s effectively endangered, said Tad Thompson, CEO and lead veterinarian at Reproduction Specialty Group Inc. (RSG) based in Lebanon, Ind.

The breed that was originally brought here by English settlers, is finding a new home once again in the Midwest.

Knowing the Arapawa breed was on the verge of extinction, Conner Prairie, which is a hands-on historical museum based in Fishers, Ind., teamed up with RSG with one goal: to save the breed.

“I’ve seen in the last 10years, we have gone from five goats here up to 35 goats now,” says Emily Nyman, livestock coordinator for Conner Prairie. “I’ve watched the breed go from just a couple active breeders across the country, to 25, 30 active breeders right now. And thinking about it and the future, it’s just really exciting to know that the work that we’re doing today is really going to influence where the breed goes in the future and hopefully for their success.”

Conner Prairie focuses on heritage breeds, which are older breeds with a historical significance. The story started last year when Conner Prairie partnered with RSG to artificially inseminate does from their herd.

“It was a phenomenal success,” Thompson says. “And so we were able to use the frozen semen genetics from the Smithsonian and partnered up with Conner Prairie.”

“We think we achieved a little over an 80%, pretty close to an 82%, conception rate on those goats,” he adds. “So, it was a phenomenal success. They were they were thrilled. The babies were born. Everything went quite well there.”

With Arapawa being a heritage breed, they didn’t have a lot data to pull from, but thanks to technology from RSG, the mission of reproducing this breed, was a grand success.

“Because of the success we had last year, Connor Prairie decided to move one step further into what’s called embryo transfer. And so it’s a multiple ovulation embryo transfer,” Thompson says. “Everything went as planned, and the technology was able to marry up with the need for maintaining the heritage breed, and we had great success.”

“We worked with RSG to inseminate another round of does using Smithsonian’s semen, and we were able to do an embryo transfer with some of the semen that we got from a buck that we used last year,” Nyman says.

The team was able to successfully collect seven embryos, five of which were put into does, and the other two were frozen and sent to the Smithsonian.

“They’ve been really lovely people to work with and have been really excited to have new genetics brought into their germplasm bank, but also for us to be able to use the semen in their collection,” Nyman says. “So we’re able to continue to work with the Arapawa breed and help with the genetic preservation.”

It’s that offspring that was then sent across the U.S. as a way to continue to grow the breed.

“From the seven does that we did embryo transfer on, six of them did settle, and we ended up having 10 kids,” Nyman says. “From those kids, we have sent bucks off to North Carolina, Missouri, Kansas and Washington State. So, we’ve helped spread genetics through breeders that we knew, who knew the importance of these bucks and knew how to help the breed within their own genetics and to spread those genetics then.”

Arapawa goats are dual purpose breed, which means they’re valuable for meat and milk. And the efforts from Conner Prairie and RSG are preserving the history of this useful breed while growing a new future.

“To take the today’s modern technology and partner with them and marry that back to maintaining and developing this heritage breed, is just phenomenal,” Thompson says. “As a kid growing up on the farm, you look down the path of life, and whether that’s school or careers or jobs, and you have big dreams and aspirations. There are some of the dreams that you don’t know you dream about until you experience it. And so, it’s kind of a dream come true to be able to help and maintain those type of those type of initiatives that are greater than we are.

Love For Lexi: A Wisconsin Dairy Farm Kid's Big Battle For a New Heart

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 15:45:06 GMT

Lexi Anderson looks like a typical 12-year-old kid. The sixth grader is full of life and so much spunk.

“How long have you been coming to World Dairy Expo,” I asked.

“12 years,” said Lexi.

Her entire life, she’s been traveling to World dairy Expo with her family to show cows. An annual trip that’s always packed with family fun. But Lexi’s life took a dramatic turn nearly 10 months ago, just two months after she showed during the 2023 World Dairy Expo.

“In December of 2023, she [Lexi] started feeling dizzy on the basketball court. And at first, we weren’t really sure what was going on, whether it was dehydration or what it was,” said Tamala Anderson, who is Lexi’s mom.

Unsure how serious it was, it wasn’t until Lexi blacked out on the court that they knew something wasn’t right.

“They decided to bring me in to the doctor. And then we figured out that I had this heart problem,” Lexi said.

The Diagnosis

It wasn’t just a minor problem. The diagnosis? Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM).

“It’s a hardening of the heart, the lining of the heart. So, the walls of the heart are eventually going to harden and stop pumping” Tamala explained.

“It’s really rare,” Lexi said. “Only like 2% of the world has it.”

Lexi Anderson

(Tamala Anderson)

Restrictive cardiomyopathy is a less common type of cardiomyopathy. According to the Pediatric Cardiomyopathy Registry, the average age of diagnosis is 5 to 6 years.

Lexi’s diagnosis meant her only cure would be a heart transplant

“When we first got the news, it was extremely hard to get that news,” said Tamala. “To hear that your daughter…. sometimes kids only have a year and a half after they’re diagnosed with this. It’s such a hard thing to hear that your daughter could die,” she said.

A heartbreaking diagnosis that shocked the family, but Tamala says they were sent to specialists at the children’s hospital in Milwaukee and got connected with an amazing team of doctors that immediately planted seeds of hope.

“We’ve got a great team. They don’t even let us look at the negative. They told us that we didn’t need to worry about it. They said they we’re going to find it [a heart] and fix it,” Tamala said.

Her New Normal

At 12 years old, Lexi’s life quickly turned to anything but normal. She has doctor visits at least every six weeks with strict orders to cut out physical activity that could stress her heart.

“I got banned from playing all sports, to stop it from growing,” Lexi said.

Lexi’s favorite sport is softball, a sport she can’t play until she receives her heart transplant.

(Tamala Anderson)

Lexi was extremely active before, playing basketball, riding horses and playing softball, which she says is her favorite sport.

“I really miss playing softball,” said Lexi.

“It’s hard,” said Tamala. “I kind of do have her wrapped up in a bubble as she has strict orders at school. All of her teachers know the strict orders. She’s not allowed to run, and she’s not allowed to do any of that stuff that might affect her. So she’s kind of limited in every aspect.”

Lexi loves all things outdoors, which includes riding horses and going fishing.

(Tamala Anderson)

Helpless in so many ways, Tamela did the only thing she could and that was to protect her little girl, all while waiting on the call that could save her life.

“Her timeline went from living 60 years, 80 years, down to we don’t know what,” said Tamala. “We could get a phone call at any time.”

Waiting on the Life-Saving Call

It’s that phone call that Tamala, Lexi and her entire family are anxiously awaiting.

“Honestly, my bags are packed in the car,” said Tamala. “I’ve got Lexi’s bags packed in the car. We’re waiting, and we’re ready.”

“Are you scared at all or are you nervous at all,” I asked Lexi.

“I’m a little nervous. I don’t know when I’m going to be able to get back home. And I don’t know if they’re going to hold me for the three months recovery, but hopefully they let me go home and just recover at my house.”

Love for Lexi

At 12 years old, Lexi’s courage is contagious and her support is inspiring. She has an army of family and friends who are rooting her on, with a group called “Love for Lexi.”

“A couple of her friends at home decided to do a website, it’s called Love for Lexi, where we have Caring Bridge connected,” said Tamala “Some of it’s to raise money. Some of it’s just to let people know how she’s doing.”

Whether it’s at the County Fair or World Dairy Expo, you’ll find Lexi shining in the show ring.

(Tamala Anderson)

That love was put on center stage this summer, when Lexi’s friends Hattie and Holly Hargrave gave the ultimate gift of generosity with a lamb for Lexi.

“We went to a county fair, and I was showing sheep, and I didn’t make the sale, and one of my friends did and that raised over $27,000 and she gave it to me for the benefit,” said Lexi.

“It was amazing,” Tama said. “It was absolutely amazing. Honestly, the first buyer, when the first buyer bought the lamb, I was in tears . Then, he’s like, ‘Nope, I want to sell it again.’ And he so he gave it back and they sold it again. And I mean, it sold four times.

That sale raised $27,000 from four business who all came together to show Lexi love and support.

“We live in a really, really great community,” Tamala said.

“I feel really, really loved,” said Lexi.

Lexi looks happy and normal, but as her heart works in overdrive, the reality is Lexi’s body is tired and worn down.

“Some days it takes her breath away just to walk across the parking lot. Some days she is jumping around saying, ‘I’m ready to go,’” Tamala said.

Success at World Dairy Expo

This week during the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisc, Lexi was determined to go in the ring, and she brought home hardware, as well as memories she won’t forget. One of the best memories was when her cousin won Junior Champion of the World Dairy Expo Junior Show.

“I was super happy, because it’s like a victory for the farm,” said Lexi. “We just cheered each other on and we started supporting each other and stuff.”

That’s who Lexi is; a spirited kid who’s always supporting those around her.

“She’s a great kid, honestly,” said Tamala. “She’s got such a big heart. If she sees someone down or if she sees someone even getting bullied, she’s more of a protector. So she’s just a great kid.”

Lexi’s big heart is now what’s needing saved, but it’s a constant showing of love and support that’s getting this family through.

Florida’s Dairy Industry Struggles to Recover from Hurricane Helene

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 23:12:14 GMT

Hurricane Helene barreled through Florida last week, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. Record-breaking winds wreaked havoc in the heart of Florida’s dairy industry, damaging farms, destroying barns and buildings, and mangling essential equipment. The United Dairy Farmers of Florida (UDFF) has made a preliminary estimate of damage to farm operations, which stands at a staggering $15 million and continues to rise.

Helene made landfall in Florida around 11 p.m. on September 26 as a formidable Category 4 hurricane with winds reaching 140 mph. According to officials, it was the strongest hurricane on record to impact the Big Bend region. The storm tore through a major dairy-producing area comprising over 20 farms in Gilchrist, Suwannee, Lafayette, Madison and Jefferson counties. These five rural counties produce more than half of Florida’s milk supply, and the dairy industry is pivotal to their economies, Ray Hodge, executive director of UDFF shares.

Challenges Ahead
“This hurricane had the largest impact ever on this region’s dairy industry,” Hodge noted. “After the devastation caused by Hurricane Idalia and Hurricane Debby earlier this season, recovery will be a long and arduous journey.”

One of the most pressing challenges post-hurricanes is power restoration. Farmers have been racing against time, scrambling to find enough generators to remain operational. The lack of electricity, along with essential housing and cooling systems, causes significant stress to the cows, resulting in an immediate 10 to 15% drop in milk production, an effect expected to persist for months. The first week’s milk sales revenue losses are estimated to reach $2.5 million.

Support and Recovery Initiatives
Assistance has been forthcoming from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Hodge mentioned that several farms received desperately needed generators from the state. Due to concentrated efforts on addressing the farms’ needs and the linemen’s hard work, most dairies have had power restored.

“Commissioner Wilton Simpson and his staff have been tireless in their support over the past few days, and they are dedicated to equipping us with the tools needed for mid- and long-term recovery,” Hodge says. “Senator Corey Simon and Representative Jason Shoaf, whose districts cover these areas, along with Senator Ben Albritton, have been actively engaging with farmers to devise recovery solutions.”

Simpson was among the officials surveying the damage and announced the launch of the Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program. This initiative offers farming operations affected by the hurricane access to funds necessary for rebuilding and repairing damaged farm buildings.

Future Concerns
Despite the support, Hodge emphasized concerns that damage on several farms might exceed what available funds or insurance can address. Moreover, many farms had previously received loans under the same program for Hurricane Idalia damages and are worried about their increasing debt burden.

“The program is immensely appreciated and will aid all farms, including dairy farms, in their road to recovery,” Hodge acknowledged.

As Florida’s dairy farms work to overcome the challenges posed by Hurricane Helene, the resilience and determination of the farming community shines through. With support from state agencies and committed leaders, these farms are striving to rebuild stronger and more resilient than before.

Dairy Herd Management will continue to monitor severe weather in the Southeast and the impact on the dairy community.

Press On: Making The Most Of The Time

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 15:42:37 GMT

“Time is the most valuable commodity.” It’s a popular phrase that makes me crazy. I understand the intent. But time is NOT a commodity.

The gift of time is both finite and unknown. And none of it is interchangeable. I like how George Gilder dispels that commodity thinking: “Time is the only resource that cannot be recycled, stored, duplicated, or recovered.”

So, the pertinent question here revolves around whether you’re prioritizing the right things – with your time. Too often, “busy” is just an excuse to avoid being “productive” and/or doing the hard work: “I’m so busy I don’t have time to tackle the real problems.” In other words, being “busy” can also be equivalent to wasting time.

Seneca was highly focused on the importance of what we do with our time. He explains that,

It is not that we have a short space of time, but that we waste much of it. Life is long enough, and it has been given in sufficiently generous measure to allow the accomplishment of the very greatest things if the whole of it is well invested...the life we receive is not short, but we make it so, nor do we have any lack of it, but are wasteful of it.

Investment is the key word! That’s the difference maker. There’s a saying that goes something like this: “All attainments and achievements are conditioned by the full use of time.” So, rather than emphasizing how we “spend” our time (burnin’ daylight), the better priority is on “investing” or making the most of the time.

Are you prioritizing your time on what’s best for your life and business? Or just burning daylight?

Nevil Speer is an independent consultant based in Bowling Green, KY. The views and opinions expressed herein do not reflect, nor are associated with in any manner, any client or business relationship. He can be reached at nevil.speer@turkeytrack.biz

Embracing Community and Education

McCarty Family Farms has always been a cornerstone of their community. Known for their deep involvement and commitment to the places where they and their team members live and work, McCarty Family Farms goes beyond simply producing quality dairy products. They are dedicated to making meaningful contributions to their local communities.

Earlier this year, the McCartys took a significant step in expanding their community engagement with the establishment of the Judy McCarty Dairy Learning Center. This nonprofit educational facility offers visitors an immersive farm experience, providing visitors with an up close look at life on the farm. Located in Rexford, Kansas, this center offers a unique opportunity for guests to gain a firsthand understanding of dairy farming while also enhancing the farm’s transparency.

“The outcomes that we’ve been able to see with the Learning Center at MVP (McCarty-VanTilburg Partnership Dairy in Ohio) and trying to engage with the community at large and to tell our story of dairy really has been something that we’ve been pretty passionate about even back when we were farming in Pennsylvania,” Ken McCarty, one of the farm’s owners, shared

More than 100 years ago, the McCarty family began dairy farming in northeast Pennsylvania. In 2000, the family moved to northwest Kansas to continue growing their business. Today, McCarty Family Farms is home to more than 19,000 dairy cows and employs more than 200 people across their farms and milk processing plant. Their newest location, McCarty Family Farms North, houses 10,000 and those cows are milked on two 120-stall carousels, the largest in the world.

With the new farm being operational for more than a year, McCarty says the timing was right to open the innovation center to bring people to their farm and show them what dairy is and what it means.

“We want to show how we care for our cows and act as good stewards of the land,” he explained.

Honoring a Legacy
The Judy McCarty Dairy Learning Center is named in honor of Judy McCarty, the late mother of the current owners—Mike, Clay, Dave, and Ken McCarty. Judy was known for her warm hospitality and her passion for sharing the farm with the public. By naming the center after her, the McCarty family honors Judy’s legacy and her enduring impact on their community.

“Our mom loved giving tours,” Ken fondly remembers. “It was really close to her heart to open the barn doors and visit with the public.”

The Judy McCarty Dairy Learning Center

(McCarty Family Farms)

Mission and Principals
The learning center’s aim is to tell the story of dairy from soil to supper plate. Allison Ryan, Director of Communication and Marketing with McCarty Family Farms, shares that while the learning center focuses a lot on McCarty Family Farms, it also delves into the family’s history.

“I think for the dairy community, it’s so important to remind people that there are families behind these larger scale operations,” she adds. “So essentially we are inviting people to take a look behind the farms that are producing food, regardless of the size of their operations.”

Interactive Learning
The on-site learning center is designed to provide a transparent view of modern dairy farming to visitors. Its mission is grounded in four key principles: education, transparency, innovation, and community engagement.

The Judy McCarty Dairy Learning Center

(McCarty Family Farms)

Visitors, ranging from school groups and families to agricultural professionals, are invited to explore milk’s journey from soil to cup through interactive exhibits, games, and guided tours. They will also learn about cow care, water conservation, and regenerative farming practices. The 120-stall milking carousel can be seen from two viewpoints within the learning center. With a scheduled group, visitors may also tour the farm by shuttle for a more in-depth look at the facilities.

Visits are by appointment only. To schedule a visit or for more information, call 785-269-3022 or visit jmdairylearningcenter.com .