Delivery duty

Greetings, dairy community. I hope you all have had a successful October as the harvest is in full swing. Combining corn will always hold a special place in my heart. Growing up, I was constantly called the “cowgirl” of my family because you could consistently find me with the animals. Big or small, I cared for them all. Crops, on the other hand, not so much.

Yet, corn harvest always brought another duty to my plate: meal delivery. My personal favorite, and probably my father’s too, is classic grilled cheese. There is nothing better than delivering one of my favorite comfort foods to my family. So, while I was not actively in the field, I kept my family members fueled with real dairy.

Delivery also led to riding along with my mom or dad for a pass or two in the field. While I probably talked their ear off, I made sure they were well informed on the cows, school and anything interesting my friends were planning. At the same time, it provided me with an opportunity to ask questions about what goes into harvest season. My common questions were often: How does the combine work, and why don’t we just chop all of our corn?

While I still do not fully understand the mechanics behind the combine, I have grown to appreciate the importance of crops to dairy longevity and livelihood. Corn harvest does more than just feed our animals and provide them with bedding. It also returns nutrients back into the soil. It allows us, as a dairy farming community, to be sustainable by refueling our land and animals in the same way a grilled cheese is refueling for my family while in the field. Yet, this October, I found the best way to refuel during a busy harvest season is during the occasionally rainy day.

Advocacy in action: tour de Tauer

One rainy day, I traveled to Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, to attend the Tauer Dairy career discovery day. This event provided students in grades 6-8 with an opportunity to see career possibilities within the dairy farming community. Each of the students got to meet with a veterinarian, nutrition consultant, banker, herdsman and family members as they shared about their roles on a dairy farm. Furthermore, they also got to learn about the equipment, technology and importance of milk quality, primarily with the bulk tank. During the rotations, I was responsible for talking about what makes dairy a safe and high-quality product. This topic led to conversations about why the bulk tank is so important for dairy farmers’ success, because it keeps the quality consistent from the farm to the creamery.

In addition, I often asked the question, “How does the milk get cooled down once it is in the bulk tank?” One of the most common responses students gave was, “The same way as a refrigerator.” Many were surprised to find out it was because of water, with the technology of plate coolers. This realization then led to more conversation about water recycling on dairy farms and how dairy farmers are becoming more sustainable with the resources given to them. Who would have guessed that a bulk tank would spark so many great questions?

Overall, it was a great day, seeing the students learn more about the endless opportunities within the dairy farm community. From conversations with dairy professionals to questions about environmental sustainability, it was the best way to refuel during harvest season.

So, as the busy season begins to slow, don’t forget to savor the little things, like grilled cheese shared in the field or a moment of thanks for the people who make it all possible. Because, just like the students discovered, farming requires more than just crops and cows, and it is the care of our community that refuels us all.

Princess Kay of the Milky Way, Malorie Thorson, serves as the Minnesota dairy community’s goodwill ambassador. Malorie grew up in Waverly, Minnesota. She attends South Dakota State University majoring in Dairy Production with plans to return to her family farm as the sixth generation. Malorie loves trying out new recipes and baking, swing dancing, reading, and spending quality time with her family during early morning milking shifts. Her parents are Andrew and Colette Thorson.

Princess Kay is active doing school visits and events representing dairy farmers, and sharing the importance of dairy farming and dairy foods at appearances across Minnesota.