Women in dairy: Rebecka Butz

Tell us about your family and farm.  My family consists of my husband, John, and my 6-month-old daughter, Lela. Our farm is operated by John; my dad, Kevin; and me. We milk around 80 Holstein and Jersey cows.

What is a typical day like for you on the dairy? A typical day includes milking twice a day, breeding cows and heifers, and managing records of all the animals.

What decision have you made in the last year that has benefited your farm? We have recently started using a “mega” calf hut for our weaned calves before moving them to a lot. This has helped make their transition easier and make sure they are on the right track before being in a larger group.

Tell us about your most memorable experience working on the farm. My most memorable experience is bringing my daughter to the farm and having her sit in a swing while we milk.

What have you enjoyed most about dairy farming or your tie to the dairy industry? I enjoy seeing our herd grow and become more improved over time. Seeing a calf that I have bred and watching it grow to be a mature cow is very rewarding.

What is your biggest accomplishment in your dairy career? Becoming more involved in the dairy industry and getting out of my comfort zone to help promote dairy.

What are the things you do to promote your farm or the dairy industry? I help promote the dairy industry by being on the Midwest Dairy division board and volunteering at dairy events. I also promote my farm by exhibiting our animals at local shows.

What advice would you give another woman in the dairy industry? Don’t be afraid to take on leadership roles and try to bring new ideas back to your own operation.

What is a challenge in the dairy industry you have faced and how did you overcome it? In 2022, after I returned from college, a big storm hit our farm, and most of our buildings lost their roofs. We had to get creative with fans and sprinkler systems to ensure our milk cows stayed cool in the summer heat before we could repair our barns.

When you get a spare moment, what do you do? When I am not on the farm, I do bookkeeping for a few local farms and businesses. In my spare time outside of farm work and bookkeeping, I enjoy spending time with my daughter and husband.