As I typed the title to this blog, I could actually see Tim Gunn from Project Runway nodding his approval. Make it work. As farmers, we’re pretty inventive. I’ve never met a farmer who couldn’t make something out of nothing to finish a milking or to be able to make the last round in a field. We’ve become MacGyvers when it comes to the quick fix just to get the job done.

Did you sing the title of this article in your head? When we were outlining this article, the hit song inexplicably popped into our heads. Then we realized it was because it so accurately describes how dairy advocates are feeling right now.

I’m not going to sugarcoat it: How agriculture presents itself to the public needs to change. Personally, most people in ag follow more conservative values, and I’m one of them. But professionally, publicly, in the way we market our lives and our product, it’s time to let them go.

When I think about the people involved in ag, one word describes them all: passionate. Farmers are one of the most passionate groups of people you will ever meet, but sometimes our passion can be a liability. The most recent example is a certain Super Bowl commercial depicting dairy in a less than positive way.

Ten years ago, I made the three-hour trek to State College, Pennsylvania, to begin my college career. I was pretty sure I was armed with everything I’d need: photos of my family and friends, appropriately sized sheets, a little dry-erase board and a shower caddy. I was completely prepared, or so I thought.

When did weaning calves become a race? Except it’s not a race to see who can wean them quickest; it feels like we’re bragging as to who can leave them on milk longer. Lately, it feels like farmers are trying to raise bigger calves. But is bigger better? Shouldn’t we be striving for more productive, efficient calves?