Hannah Miller, 21 Stephenville, Texas Student; Assistant Account Manager Throughout the several BSE investigations in the United States since the first case in late 2003, the safety of milk and dairy products has never been in question. To learn more about modern dairy farm practices, Click here.

Dario Martinez

HOW WE MET: I met Hannah at Ag Media Summit in early August. Hannah grew up on a small farm in Texas. She is currently a senior studying agricultural communications at my alma mater, Tarleton State University. In addition to being involved in multiple extracurricular activities, she was also recently elected to the 2012-2013 National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow officer team.

When was the last time you visited a farm?

I would guess it has probably been a few weeks. I went home about three weeks ago and that was the last time I was on a farm.

How close have you ever been to a cow?

I have been inside a cow! I’ve done palpation and flushing work before.

What dairy products do you most frequently buy?

I would probably say milk, yogurt and ice cream.

Why do you consume dairy products?

I consume them because I enjoy dairy products. I enjoy eating ice cream, having milk with cookies and having it with my breakfast.

How many gallons of milk do you buy in a month?

We usually buy half-gallons, so about two or three gallons a month.

What is a good deal for a gallon of milk?

$2

How much is too much to pay for a gallon of milk?

More than $4.

What’s your favorite dairy brand?

I really enjoy Promised Land Milk, just because it has a unique flavor.

If one-on-one with a dairy farmer, what question would you ask him or her?

I think it would be interesting to see how cows are milked. I would ask how much milk a cow produces and, maybe, ask how it’s processed, because I’m not very educated in that area.

What word would you use to describe the work of a dairy farmer?

Rough – it’s a pretty rough job.

What do you feel is a positive industry image?

When I think of a positive image, I think of Borden and their cow that travels to many of the livestock shows. When I think of the dairy industry, I think of her, Elsie the Cow.

What do you feel is a negative industry image?

A negative image right now is the BSE case that happened a little bit ago in California, which hurt the agriculture industry. The agricultural world could have been better educated in how to help consumers feel safer about the food products they consume.

Who do you trust for information about your food?

I personally trust producers. I try to stay away from what the media is saying because, with agriculture, the media has continually been negative or unfactual. PD