Farming full time

EDEN, Wis. — Since 2019, Kaydence Hodorff has been documenting her work experiences as part of her FFA Supervised Agriculture Experience at Second Look Holsteins LLC, the farm on which she grew up. Part of the fifth generation of her family to work there, she served as calf manager and assistant maternity manager to build her SAE in dairy production-placement.

“It was a no-brainer for me to start filling out an SAE for this area,” Hodorff said. “I’ve always been heavily involved in the dairy industry from birth.”

Working on the farm earned her the state-winning dairy production-placement proficiency award at the Wisconsin FFA Convention June 10. Recently, she earned a national gold rating ahead of the National FFA Convention & Expo.

“It was kind of just a jaw-dropping moment where you’re so shocked that you didn’t even know it was going on,” Hodorff said. “Being on stage was a cool experience in the first place, and then to be named the top winner in the state was even more crazy.”

On the farm, Hodorff can be found cleaning, feeding and treating calves and assisting in the maternity pen, along with working with employees and her sisters, Kalista, Kayli and Kaianne. The farm is currently owned by her parents, Corey and Tammy Hodorff; her uncle, Clint Hodorff; and her grandfather, Doug Hodorff. The Hodorffs milk 1,150 cows and farm 1,500 acres.

“I do all of the vaccines and dehorning,” Hodorff said. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s a lot of fun too.”

One of her recent contributions to the calf program came after she noticed some calves were struggling with feed digestibility. After consulting with others, it was determined that the calf grain lacked sufficient starch. The farm has since switched to a new grain from Farmer’s Grain & Feed LLC.

“The calves love it and enjoy it,” Hodorff said.  (I had some) influence on the conversation, not really making the yes, (but providing input that) we needed to do this decision because something’s wrong with the calves, and (this new grain) it seems to be helping really well.”

Raising calves that will become strong, productive cows is one priority for her within her role on the farm.

“We’ve been starting to raise more heifer replacements for our production herd, so I really just want to make sure that I’m raising high-quality replacements to come into our herd and be good production animals,” Hodorff said.

Hodorff also administers electrolytes to calves, monitoring them to provide treatment as necessary.

“The most rewarding (thing is) raising a healthy calf in general,” she said. “Getting them (over) scours and dehydration is a huge issue in calves, and getting them over that is rewarding, and then seeing them grow up and become part of our production herd is even more rewarding.”

This role was once held by her sister, Kaianne, whom she credits much of what she knows about caring for calves. She also credits Campbellsport FFA advisor Shawna Henke for helping her spark an interest in being involved at the national level.

“My advisor really pushed me into joining FFA and getting more involved,” Hodorff said. “She told me this was something I needed to do,  and while I was initially hesitant, it turned out to be a good experience for me.

In her early high school years, Hodorff considered becoming a veterinarian.

“But then I realized how much schooling it was going to be and how much money it was going to cost, (so then) I was going to go to a tech school,” Hodorff said. “Then, I realized that I don’t want to do that either. I love what I do on the farm, so I chose to come back full time, and it’s been amazing ever since.”

Now a year and half since graduating from high school, Hodorff has helped other high school students find a job on the farm.

“I started getting local FFA and high school members involved, which was really cool,” Hodorff said. “Being able to have them help along the way and introduce them to the dairy industry (has been enjoyable).”

Hodorff also has mentored another member applying for the award and plans to soon fill out the final award for most members of their FFA career: the American FFA Degree.

“Joining FFA in general has really helped me come out of my shell and want to learn more,” Hodorff said.