The Seasons of Farming

Growing up on a dairy farm, my childhood looked a little different than most. My parents didn’t follow the typical early morning and evening milking schedule—instead, they milked at 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Why? Because they planned the entire farm’s routine around my siblings’ and my sporting events. Looking back, I realize just how much thought and sacrifice went into making sure we could do the things we loved while still keeping the farm running.

A lot has changed since then. These days, we have robotic milkers, which allow for a little more flexibility, but dairy farming is still a daily commitment. No matter what technology we have, the cows still rely on us, and there are always morning and evening chores to be done. We take pride in making sure our animals are well cared for.

One of the fun things about farm life is how much it shifts with the seasons. Each one brings its own rhythm, its own challenges, and its own kind of beauty.

Winter is slower in some ways—there’s no fieldwork, but it’s the time for all the repairs and maintenance projects that got pushed aside during the busy seasons. It’s also when we plan for the year ahead. Spring means new beginnings—planting season, baby calves, and everything waking up after a long winter. Summer is just plain busy. The days are long, the to-do list is even longer, and the first round of harvesting grasses like alfalfa keeps us moving from sunrise to sundown. Fall is all about the corn and soybean harvest, plus planting winter cover crops to protect the soil before the ground freezes. It’s a rush to get everything done before winter settles in.

And then, there’s the creamery. While the dairy farm is busy enough on its own, adding the creamery brought a whole new level of work (and excitement) to our operation. Every week, we bring over our farm-fresh milk to craft our dairy products. My days are spent making cheese, bottling milk, stocking shelves, delivering to customers, and welcoming people into the store to experience what we’ve built. It’s a labor of love, one that keeps me connected to my roots while sharing our farm’s story with others.

So much has changed since I was a kid, but one thing hasn’t—farming isn’t just a job. It’s who we are. It’s early mornings and late nights, hard work and deep pride.