Women in Dairy: Sara Pinchart

Tell us about your farm and family. My husband, Nick, and I milk our cows in a tiestall barn we currently rent. We started milking in 2017. We own a barn and land in the Casco area, where we raise our youngstock and dry cows on Nick’s home farm, where he grew up. From spring to fall, we rotationally graze our youngstock and dry cows at that location. We farm 160 acres of cropland, growing forage and grain for our cattle. We have a 2-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter who enjoy the farm life with us and love “helping” whenever they can.

What is a typical day like for you on the dairy? Our days vary, especially with kids. After they’re up and fed, we head to the farm to finish morning chores like feeding, bedding and calf care. Nick is full time on the farm, so he is out there before the kids and me. Afternoons are spent at the heifer and dry cow barn for feeding, manure scraping and bedding. Evenings bring us back to milking the cows and caring for calves. I also handle some bookkeeping. In November and December, I stay busy traveling to holiday events with my small herd of reindeer.

What decision have you made in the last year that has benefited your farm? One of the biggest decisions we made in the last year was focusing on long-term sustainability as we work toward no-till planting, cover crops and rotational grazing. This helps maximize efficiency and minimize inputs. Taking these steps has helped us better plan for the future of our farm and our family.

Tell us about your most memorable experience working on the farm. One of the most memorable experiences has been watching our kids grow up on the farm and begin to understand and appreciate what we do each day. Seeing their excitement when they help with small tasks on the farm makes all the hard work worth it. It’s special to be able to raise them in the same kind of environment we both grew up in.

What have you enjoyed most about dairy farming or your tie to the dairy industry? I grew up on a small 33-stanchion dairy farm, so it has always been a part of my life. I started showing dairy cattle at 14 years old and loved it. Training and working with the animals was fun for me and gave me the opportunity to connect with others in the industry. In 2014, Nick and I showed dairy cattle through our high school FFA, and the county fair is actually where he asked me out. I attended Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and earned associate degrees in dairy science and digital marketing. I always knew dairy would be part of my life, even if I wasn’t sure in what way. After graduating in the spring of 2020, I worked full time at Rummele’s Jewelers in Green Bay. After having our kids close together, I decided I wanted to raise them on the farm. That led me to become a stay-at-home mom while farming alongside my husband. Last fall, I started our farm social media page, Day by Day Dairy, because friends and family enjoyed seeing our farm life on my Snapchat stories and talked me into posting online.

What is your biggest accomplishment in your dairy career? One of my biggest accomplishments has been building a life that combines raising a family with continuing our dairy farming tradition. Transitioning from an off-farm career back to the farm and helping grow our operation while raising young children has been both challenging and rewarding. I’m proud of the role I play in supporting our farm and sharing our story with others.

What are the things you do to promote your farm or the dairy industry? We are active on social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok and YouTube under the name Day by Day Dairy. We share the ups and downs of dairy farming along with relatable farm humor and everyday life. Our goal is to bring a smile to people’s faces through humor, nostalgia and relatable moments while also helping others better understand how our small dairy operation works.

What advice would you give another woman in the dairy industry? Give yourself grace. You’re raising your family while caring for your farm, and both matter. Not every day will go as planned, but those little moments, like your kids “helping” with chores or getting excited about the calves, make it all worth it. I’ve had many moms who farm reach out and ask how I manage having kids with me during chores. What I’ve learned is that it looks a little different for everyone. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, your kids grow, and you’re in a new stage. When they were little and immobile, it felt a lot easier to keep them close by in a swing or stroller. Now, they’re busy, curious and always on the move, which means I’ve had to learn to slow down, be more patient and accept that chores might take a little longer. I’m very fortunate to have a husband who is full time on the farm and family nearby who can step in when needed. Sometimes it’s just about dividing and conquering, especially during busy seasons. You don’t have to do it all alone. At the end of the day, you’re not just getting the work done, you’re raising the next generation to understand hard work, responsibility and a love for this way of life. That’s something really special.

When you get a spare moment, what do you do? I try to spend it with friends and family whenever I can. I also own a reindeer business, so some of my time goes into managing that as well. Life stays pretty busy, but I enjoy reading when I can squeeze it in.