Every day on the farm, we have one goal: Keep the cows happy. Everything dairy farmers do centers around this so they produce milk. Taking care of the cows is my number one priority. So much so, it is difficult to remember the bigger picture at times. The cows we take care of are only a fraction of a much larger dairy industry. This industry must work together to make sure we are staying relevant by inspiring consumer confidence in our products, delivering the product safely and efficiently to stores, and improving our production practices to increase sustainably long-term.

To make sure all these parts fit together and work properly, it takes leaders – farmers who step up regionally and nationally to collaborate with industry managers and legislators. And yes, sometimes we have to step off of the farm to make sure it has the things it needs to continue operating and keep the cows happy. Getting involved with regional and national cooperatives, associations and checkoffs is the only way to make sure our dollars are being put to good use and benefiting our farms back home.

While that sounds like a big step, it can actually begin with a relatively small one: joining a leadership program. Every region has different opportunities available to them. I have had the pleasure to take part in Midwest Dairy’s second Dairy Experience and Agricultural Leadership (DEAL) class this last year.

This program has been beneficial to improve my leadership skills and knowledge of the dairy industry to be applied on and off the farm. It consists of three phases of in-person meetings that address different components of the dairy industry. The following are my key takeaways that I hope encourage you to find a leadership program to participate in.

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  1. Self-awareness – A good leader is aware of themselves and how they are perceived by others. Everyone gathers and processes information differently and therefore communicates differently. Knowing yourself and your personality better can help you tap into your strengths and compensate for your weaknesses. In the DEAL program, we spent an entire day learning more about ourselves and how our traits can influence the way we complete tasks on the farm and interact with our co-workers and consumers. 

  2. Connecting and collaborating with other farmers – Joining any leadership program is going to put you in contact with new farmers you wouldn’t have otherwise met. The DEAL program consists of 15 farmers under the age of 40 who all have different agricultural backgrounds and experiences. Just conversing with peers about their operations provides new ideas and networking opportunities that will help achieve goals on and off the farm. These farm friendships are beneficial in the long term when it comes time to step into higher leadership roles. You know more about who you are voting for or against during changes in legislation. It is easier to find common ground and compromise when making decisions, and working together can be achieved easier when there is background established among peers. 

  3. Knowledge about the industry and Dairy Checkoff – It is very difficult to lead what you don’t know. Every leadership program will have its own presentations about something in the industry. Being a checkoff-sponsored program, the DEAL class has learned all about checkoff, locally, regionally and nationally. We have also had the opportunity to meet with industry business leaders and learn about how they use and brand the milk we sell. The more we know about our industry, the better informed our decisions can be for our individual business. Off the farm, we can answer questions from our neighbors about what their checkoff dollars are contributing to. 

  4. Relationship-building and connecting with consumers – Telling our farm story, whether in person to a friend or online with a social media following, is becoming more and more important as consumers want to be able to trust their food sources. It can be scary knowing that aspects of the dairy industry are more challenging to explain than others, especially if you don’t know how to connect with the person you are talking to. A good leadership program will help to hone your communication skills. Through an Engage training during the DEAL program, all participants had the opportunity to practice these conversations and learn how to apply them. In addition, we learned how to connect to the person we are talking to so the message is received well and something can be learned, even if the speaker disagrees with you. 

We grow tomorrow’s leaders today, and joining a leadership program can open up opportunities to farmers at home or to influence the industry on a larger scale. Not every leadership program will cover the exact same topics, so find one that best fits your professional goals. Talking with your cooperative or your Dairy Checkoff is a great place to start. If you are located in one of the 10 states of Midwest Dairy, applications for the next DEAL class will be taken in the fall of 2023. Contact your farmer relations representative for more information or visit the website to learn more.