Women in Dairy: Amy Schmitz

Tell us about your family and farm. Our farm consists of 120 Holstein dairy cows and youngstock. We own 298 acres of tillable and woodland. We raise all our own replacement heifers and do the crop work. I work for my parents on the farm. I have four siblings and nine nieces and nephews who are not on the farm with me every day but are willing to help when they get the opportunity.

What is a typical day like for you on the dairy? I pretty much can do whatever tasks are needed on a daily basis. I milk mornings and nights and help take care of calves and heifers. I will mix feed and deliver. I help with field work or hauling manure in season, run for parts, cook, clean and do paperwork.

What decision have you made in the last year that has benefited your farm? No major decisions have been made in the year overall. We have just really tightened our belts, done the basics and are trying to ride the economic wave right at this time. Keeping life simple is our plan right now.

Tell us about your most memorable experience working on the farm. One of the most memorable experiences I have on the farm is hosting the local June Dairy Month breakfast in 2015. We had beautiful weather that morning, and the people were never ending. To watch your farm turn into a tourist attraction for four hours is a sight you will never forget. The positive comments and interactions you have with people are priceless. It is great to let people get up close to your animals and enable them to see where their food comes from every day. It is something we take for granted.

What have you enjoyed most about dairy farming or your tie to the dairy industry? I have enjoyed farming and the industry most by being my own boss and learning from my own mistakes. No day is the same, and every corner you turn can create a challenge. It’s up to me to find a way to accept what challenges are thrown at me and make the best of the situations, no matter whether they are good or bad. It has helped shape the person I am today, and I am hoping to pass it on to the future of the industry.

What is your biggest accomplishment in your dairy career? The biggest accomplishment I have felt in my career so far is seeing the next generation start to take interest, from watching my nieces and nephews come to the farm from little on and engage in activities to them now being able to take on some tasks of their own. They are beginning the regular 4-H years, and being able to see them show and take part in the dairy project and help to raise some pigs for showing is something I have always looked forward to. Watching them be able to do well and participate in the basket sale and livestock auction is the beginning of where it all starts, doing things I was able to do and help me learn and pass on to others.

What are things you do to promote your farm or the dairy industry? I am very active in our dairy community, being an advisor for the past 17 years of our local all breeds junior dairy club and chaperoning the state fair. I have been part of our dairy breakfast committee as secretary and recently took over the president’s role of our county dairy promotions. I have spent many years mentoring youth in showing dairy cattle from our farm at the local and state levels. I also provide cows for our local town festival each June for a cow milking contest. I truly enjoy helping others experience the dairy industry in any way I can.

What advice would you give another woman in the dairy industry? Advice I would give another woman in the industry is to never give up. It’s not an easy lifestyle by any means, but the personal benefits you get from seeing your accomplishments from start to finish are rewarding. It can be a new calf each day or a successful harvest in the fall. The days are long and the work is hard, but it’s a kind of work that many never get to experience.

What is a challenge in the dairy industry you have faced, and how did you overcome it? A challenge I have faced in the dairy industry is the fear every farmer has, and that was a barn fire in March of 2008. It was a devastating night, but all animals were saved, and we spent a year and a half milking at a neighboring farm until we built a new facility at home. It has taught me patience and perseverance.

When you get a spare moment, what do you do? Think and plan more dairy club events, like tours and educational activities. In the past, we performed an udder dissection, which the kids thought was cool. I find myself scrolling on the internet, looking for ideas for our baskets for our silent auction at the fair to support the dairy project members. I also enjoy spending time with my siblings, along with nieces and nephews. Family time is time well spent.