FIVE TAKES FROM OYDC FINALISTS

2019 OYDC FINALIST

Darren & Regina Coffey

HOMEFIELD:

Allegan, Michigan

THE FACTS:

Darren & Regina have a positive mindset and a passion for dairy. They are active within their community, sharing the dairy story and supporting the future of agriculture. Darren helps FFA youth restore tractors and is treasurer and secretary of the MMPA West Michigan Local. Regina holds a variety of positions within their community including 4-H volunteer, FFA Dairy Foods coach and MMPA Dairy Communicator.

THE FARM:

Darren & Regina milk 980 cows on their 1,600-acre farm, Rolling Acres Dairy Farm LLC. They strive to keep their animals, employees and families as happy and healthy as possible by working together and moving forward on the farm. They are members of the West Michigan Local in District 3.

THE FIVE:

How do you improve your farm’s sustainability?

1. Buying more cows We are increasing our herd size to maximize our parlor without adding more employees. This will make our farm more efficient through utilizing the assets we currently have on hand.

2. Raising our own feed We try and raise as much of our own feed as possible. We work closely with our nutritionist to help maximize our supplements and implement new feed stuffs to help keep our costs down.

3. Monitoring our soils We soil test and keep a close eye on our farm’s soils. We use our manure to the best of our ability and try to only add the nutrients that the soil needs to produce a good crop.

4. Maintaining our equipment Our tractor and equipment repair is all done on the farm which helps us save on repair bills. We also do all our own preventative maintenance to help reduce down time on equipment, improving our overall efficiency.

5. Capitalizing on

generational differences We have multiple generations on the farm all working together. We believe that it’s good to have older ideas mixed in with fresh ideas and technology, especially as the farm grows.

2019 OYDC FINALIST

Marie Marion

HOMEFIELD:

Saline, Michigan

THE FACTS:

Marie works as veterinary technician and is an FFA alumni, having received the Outstanding Junior Degree, State Degree and American FFA Degree. Her involvement within FFA has allowed her to recognize that the prevalence of misinformation about dairy is the biggest challenge facing the dairy industry today. Consumers enjoy all things dairy, but Marie sees the disconnect from the farm being the reason that they lack trust in how farmers care for their animals.

THE FARM:

Marie has been farming since 1995 on her family-owned operation milking around 70 cows. She’s a jack of all trades and pitches in wherever help is needed, especially helping finishing milking. She’s passionate about the importance of small farms within the dairy industry makeup and is hopeful that the farm can continue to operate for many years to come.

THE FIVE:

What do you love about dairy?

1. The animals I just love the animals themselves. They provide this world with something for us to eat and drink, and who doesn’t love cheese and ice cream?

2. The family I love that a lot of dairy operations, including mine, are family operations. Growing up, it gave me more time with my family and allowed us to bond over so much.

3. Cows’ curiosity From the moment that someone is going down the road to the new hay bale getting pulled out, I love the curiosity that cows have. I especially enjoy the first time they are sent to pasture in the spring and they run kicking with their back legs up.

4. The calves I love that feeling of a newborn calf sucking your hand waiting for milk. At a young age, it’s the coolest feeling in the world.

5. Everything I love all the things that come from dairy: the milk, the ice cream, the butter, all the necessary items to one’s life.