What Freedom of Farm Really Means to Me
There’s a saying in my family — more of a tagline, really — that gets tossed around a lot: “The Freedom of the Farm.”
I’m told my grandpa came up with it, but it’s my grandma who made it stick. Anytime farm life interrupted a holiday or changed a plan — when cows came first, as they always do — she’d just smile and say, “The freedom of the farm.”
Most days, I laugh when I hear it. Dairy farming is anything but flexible. It’s a 24/7 job. The cows always need care. Milking, feeding, cleaning — it never stops. On our farm, we breed to natural heat cycles, so there’s always a cow to breed and a calf being born. Add in managing employees, covering for sick days and juggling schedules — and that “freedom” can feel like a stretch.
But when that phrase comes up, I try to pause and shift my perspective. That’s where freedom really begins – when I choose to “See Dairy Differently.”
Sure, the days are long. But this life has given me more than I could have imagined. My daughter grew up close to where I work. Before she started school, we ate lunch together almost every day. She learned early about the beauty of the life cycle and the reward of hard work. She saw what it means to care for animals and land.
Farming has given us a life we love. We’re not wealthy, but we’ve always had what we need. Our fridge is full, our hearts even more so. And for 14 years, I’ve had the gift of working alongside my parents. One day, I won’t be able to say “Good morning, Daddy” in the parlor — but today, I still can.
Because of this farm, I’ve also had the chance to serve through our checkoff system – working to tell dairy’s story, defend our future and share our impact with the world.
That’s real freedom.
The checkoff is asking audiences to do the same thing I try to do in those moments – pause … reflect … and See Dairy Differently.
That’s not just a slogan. It’s the heart of a checkoff-led strategy. We’re taking dairy places it hasn’t typically gone – like Wired Magazine or the GreenBiz VERGE sustainability conference. We’re showing up where people don’t expect to see dairy – and when they do, it makes them stop and think.
We’re changing the narrative with bold visuals and fresh messaging. Picture a glossy ad featuring a cow pie with the headline “Groundbreaking Technology.” Or a photo of dairy farmers in the field with the words “Data Analyst.”
It’s eye-catching – and it’s working. People are engaging with dairy in a new way. They’re asking questions, rethinking old assumptions, and discovering the innovation, diversity and sustainability behind our products.
We’re showing them that dairy isn’t just a product – it’s a story. A story of real people. People like you and me who work every day to produce something that feeds families, supports communities and cares for the planet.
And we’re doing it together, through our checkoff.
So yes, there are times when “the freedom of the farm” feels more like irony than truth. But when I stop and see my life – and this industry – a little differently, I’m reminded of just how real that freedom is.
It’s the freedom to raise our kids with purpose … to care for animals and land … to feed a nation … to shape our future.
Let’s keep telling our story. Let’s help the world See Dairy Differently.
Because when they do, they’ll see what we already know – dairy is essential to all of our lives.
