Dairy Smart, dairy strong

Women in Dairy unite passion with friendships

By Murray Bishoff

Few careers in America these days are more endangered than dairy farming, especially small family farms. With soaring costs over the last five years, the dairy farmer feels embattled.

Farmers provide a natural support network for each other, within each specialty are unique groups whose needs and experiences may be less universal, presenting their own struggles.

“I’ve talked to lots of groups about women in agriculture,” said Reagan Bluel, University of Missouri dairy specialist based in Cassville. “Dairy is different. It’s hard to understand unless you are in dairy.

Taking care of livestock is the same overall. Beef producers often get a day off. You put a round bale out, make sure there’s water, and you’re fine. But in dairy, you’re milking twice a day, every day. There’s no yielding. You can’t do less. It’s not an option.

“Women in dairy is a very small population. In Missouri, Dairy producers make up less than .02 percent of the population, and the women within dairy are even less. They’re the gals who are on the farm, milking the cows every morning, making it happen.”

In her first spring as local dairy specialist in 2015, Bluel was handed the idea of organizing a group for women in dairy by Ted Probert, retired dairy specialist from the South Central region, and Karla Deaver, now field specialist in 4-H youth development for the University Extension in Lawrence County.

“I developed the idea, to create a community of ladies who all understand each other,” Bluel said. “This is a safe place for women to share ideas. It’s a really cool community, people who are passionate about dairy production. That could range from milk pricing to talking about how upset you are when your daughter’s 4-H heifer dies. It’s more than just a feel-good group, but the hugs are nice.”

The group meets monthly on the second Wednesday. In May they gathered at the Southwest Research Center near Mt. Vernon then traveled to Dave Buehler’s nearby rural Mt. Vernon farm to hear about diversifying farming again to create a more sustainable operation in the face of market pressures. Buehler promotes growing elderberries on that extra two-to-five acres that many farms mow for hay, tapping into the fastest growing crop in the health focused field centered in Missouri.

“These women share what’s successful in their herd,” Bluel continued. “It doesn’t look like we’re talking about production practices, but it’s kind of baked in.

“One time we were making Christmas wreaths. We’re not crafty people. We were all struggling together. We ended up talking about dystocia events [difficult calving] through the years and they recalled what they did, which vet they called and what the outcome was. It’s not like other meetings I go to where I’m presenting facts and recommendations. We end up in a group doing whatever task. It’s the conversations amongst each other that help people learn.”

While many women may talk or complain about men, Bluel doesn’t hear that from Women in Dairy. “In so many cases, these women are in business with their significant other, walking in parallel,” she said. “Most of the time, these gals are working alongside just as hard as the spouse. They know neither can do it without the other. It’s a different dynamic than most marriages. We do discuss employee management, but boy-bashing just isn’t productive.”

Around 12 to 15 women attend these gatherings regularly, a group that varies on where they meet. When gatherings take place on the west or south central regions, the faces change. At the May gathering, a few ladies came from as far away as Conway and Philipsburg.

At times even Bluel is surprised at benefits from the gathering. Getting to know participants, helps me better serve their farm.

“My surprise has been, as an Extension agent, how close I’ve gotten to them,” Bluel said. “I’ve learned more ways I can help. Being better able to serve each individual farm has been huge.”

The feeling has been mutual among group members. “This has been a really beneficial thing to do,” said Marilyn Calvin, a group regular who dairy’s northwest of Mt. Vernon. “You get to know more people. You can feel really isolated out on the farm. This has been a really good experience.”

Bluel went even further. “This has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my job,” she said.

Reprinted with permission: Connection Magazine