Welcome to the Dairy Hour Podcast! Subscribe now and never miss an episode filled with insightful interviews, engaging conversations, and valuable insights into farm life, family dynamics, and agricultural advocacy.

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Featured Episode: Muscles, Mindset, & Motivation! With Francesca Fontanelli

Follow Francesca on Instagram @FontFitness

In this episode, join host Val Lavigne, also known as Dairy Gal Val, as she delves into mental health, fitness, and the inspiring journey of Francesca Fontanelli, a Burn Boot Camp trainer, despite her non-farming background.

Introduction of Francesca: Francesca shares her transition from graphic designer to Burn Boot Camp trainer, emphasizing her passion for fitness and the supportive community at Burn Boot Camp.

Personal Health Journeys: Val and Francesca discuss their personal health journeys, highlighting the importance of staying active and the role of fitness in managing mental health.

Life-Altering Accident: Francesca recounts a life-altering accident in 2021 and the resilience and recovery process that followed, offering insights into overcoming adversity.

Reflections on the Accident: Val and Francesca reflect on the immediate aftermath of the accident and the transformative impact it had on their perspectives on life.

Impact on Perspective: The speakers explore how the accident changed their outlook on life, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing happiness and relationships.

Timeline of Recovery: The conversation moves to the timeline of recovery, detailing the challenges and triumphs encountered during the recovery process.

Embracing Challenges: They discuss the importance of celebrating small victories and maintaining a positive mindset throughout the recovery journey.

Finding Purpose: Francesca reflects on finding purpose through adversity and using personal experiences to empathize with others.

International Women’s Day and Mental Health: The episode coincides with International Women's Day, highlighting the significance of mental health in agriculture and encouraging individuals to prioritize their well-being.

Discussion on Mental Health in Agriculture: The speakers address mental health challenges in agriculture, emphasizing the importance of seeking help and support.

The Importance of Exercise for Mental Well-being: Personal experiences are shared regarding the role of exercise in coping with stress and improving mental health.

Discussion on Women's Body Image and Societal Pressures: They discuss societal pressures on women's bodies and the importance of focusing on overall well-being.

Prioritization and Self-Care: The conversation revolves around prioritizing self-care and setting an example for children by making time for fitness.

Misconceptions and Stigmas: The speakers challenge misconceptions about women and strength, emphasizing the importance of functional strength and physical capability.

Conclusion and Final Words of Wisdom: The episode concludes with an affirmation of the transformative power of fitness and the importance of prioritizing self-care for overall well-being.

Subscribe and Leave a Review: Thank you for supporting the Dairy Hour Podcast! Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review to help us reach more listeners and continue providing valuable content. Happy listening! 🎙️🐄

Subscribe and Leave a Review for the Dairy Hour Podcast! Don't miss out on the latest episodes of the Dairy Hour Podcast! Stay up-to-date with insightful interviews, engaging conversations, and valuable insights into farm life, family dynamics, and agricultural advocacy.

Subscribe to the Dairy Hour Podcast on your favorite podcast platform to receive notifications whenever a new episode is released.

Your feedback is important to us! If you enjoy listening to the Dairy Hour Podcast, we'd love to hear from you. Leave a review and share your thoughts about the podcast. Your reviews help us improve and reach more listeners who can benefit from our content. So, take a moment to leave a review and let us know what you think! Thank you for supporting the Dairy Hour Podcast. Happy listening! 🎙️🐄

• Host: Dairy Gal Val (Val Lavigne)

Opening Remarks:

• Val welcomes the audience to the Dairy Hour podcast and introduces the guests.

Guest Introductions:

• Arianna Aman: Former New York State Dairy Ambassador (2023-2024). Pursuing dairy and law.

Motivation to Become Dairy Ambassadors:

• Guests share their motivations, including family influences, passion for dairy, and desire to educate consumers.

Highlights of the Past Year:

• Each guest shares memorable experiences, such as participating in events like Fuel Up to Play 60, social media mentorship, and working at the Milk Bar during the New York State Fair.

Challenges Faced and Overcome:

• Guests discuss challenges such as time management and feelings of guilt for not reaching enough consumers, emphasizing the importance of finding balance and prioritizing efforts.

Contribution to Raising Awareness about the Dairy Industry:

• Guests highlight their efforts in bridging the gap between consumers and dairy farmers through education, advocacy, and personal interactions.

Memorable Interactions:

• Guests recall meaningful interactions with consumers, including inspiring children at events and sparking conversations with teachers after media interviews.

Aspirations and Goals for the Future:

• Guests share their future plans, which include pursuing education in law and agribusiness while continuing to advocate for the dairy industry.

Advice for Incoming Dairy Ambassadors:

• Guests offer advice to future ambassadors, emphasizing the importance of enjoying the experience, being genuine, and making the most of every opportunity.

Closing Remarks:

• Val expresses gratitude to the guests for their dedication to the dairy industry and wishes them success in their future endeavors.

Guest Contact Information:

• Guests provide information on where to follow the New York State Dairy Ambassador program on social media platforms.

Farewell:

• Val bids farewell to the outgoing ambassadors and encourages listeners to support the program and engage with its content.

Subscribe and Leave a Review for the Dairy Hour Podcast!

Don't miss out on the latest episodes of the Dairy Hour Podcast! Stay up-to-date with insightful interviews, engaging conversations, and valuable insights into farm life, family dynamics, and agricultural advocacy. Subscribe to the Dairy Hour Podcast on your favorite podcast platform to receive notifications whenever a new episode is released.

Your feedback is important to us! If you enjoy listening to the Dairy Hour Podcast, we'd love to hear from you. Leave a review and share your thoughts about the podcast. Your reviews help us improve and reach more listeners who can benefit from our content. So, take a moment to leave a review and let us know what you think!

Thank you for supporting the Dairy Hour Podcast. Happy listening! 🎙️🐄

• Welcome to the Dairy Hour podcast with your host, Val Lavigne and special guest, Stacy Rethman.

About Stacy Rethman:

• Fourth-generation dairy farmer from northeast Kansas.

Early Farming Experience:

• Stacy recalls early childhood experiences helping with farm chores, such as dipping cows after milking.

Transition to Full-Time Farming

• Started part-time farming while teaching, gradually increasing involvement over time.

Family Dynamics on the Farm:

• Stacy's husband works full-time off the farm but occasionally helps out.

Adoption of Robotic Milking:

• The farm began implementing robotic milking in fall 2019, initially installing four robots and later adding four more.

• The transition to full-time farming and adoption of robotic milking represent significant changes for Stacy and her family.

Working with Spouse:

• Stacy expresses her enjoyment of working with her husband without any significant issues, attributing their smooth collaboration to their complementary roles on the farm.

Balancing Work and Family:

• The conversation delves into the topic of balancing work and family life, with Stacy emphasizing the importance of setting boundaries to prevent burnout.

Farm Life Flexibility:

• Stacy discusses the flexibility of farm life, enabling her to weave in errands and other tasks around her farm duties.

Challenges and Rewards of Farming:

• Stacy reflects on the challenges and rewards of returning to the farm, emphasizing the satisfaction of working outdoors and caring for the animals.

Social Media Advocacy:

• Stacy talks about her decision to share her farming journey on social media, aiming to educate the public about dairy farming and promote the care of animals.

Random Questions and Inspirational Saying:

• Stacy shares her love for hiking in the mountains as her dream vacation and her preference for mozzarella cheese.

Closing Remarks:

• Thank you Stacy for sharing your insights! Please follow her on Instagram (@Blessed.farm.mama) for more farm adventures.

Guest Information:

• Guest: Stacy

This episode is sponsored by Renaissance Ag!  www.renaissanceag.com

Introduction of Alex Peterson:

• Peterson introduces himself as a third-generation dairy farmer from northern Missouri.

Description of Peterson's Dairy Farm:

• Peterson describes his family's farm as a unique operation in North Missouri.

Childhood Experience on the Dairy Farm:

• Peterson shares memories of growing up on the dairy farm as the youngest of three boys.

Thoughts on Farming and Family Dynamics:

• Peterson reflects on the family aspect of farming and the understanding and support among family members.

• Leadership and Opportunities:

• Reflection on leadership roles within the dairy industry.

• Experiences representing the dairy industry internationally.

• Adoption of new technologies to improve efficiency and sustainability.

• Importance of sustainable farming practices and reducing carbon footprint.

• Need for transparency and open communication with consumers.

Trade Mission Trips:

• Discussion on the speaker's involvement with the US Dairy Export Council and their shift in focus towards trade missions.

Partnerships and Advocacy:

• Collaboration with US government representatives, particularly the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), to advocate for US dairy products internationally.

Specialty Trips:

• Experiences from specialty trips, including participation in events like the UN Climate Summit (COP) to highlight sustainability efforts in agriculture.

Culinary Adventures:

• Reflections on culinary experiences during trade missions, including encounters with traditional Japanese cuisine and interactions with renowned chefs.

Personal Insights and Motivation:

• Personal motto of prioritizing meaningful experiences and integrity in all endeavors.

Closing Remarks:

• Appreciation for the support and recognition of the dairy industry's efforts.

Follow-up:

• Invitation to follow the Alex's adventures on social media platforms, including Twitter and LinkedIn (@Alex Peterson)

This episode is sponsored by Renaissance Ag!  www.renaissanceag.com

Introduction:

• Host: Dairy Gal Val or Val Lavigne

Overview:

• Paige's current role: Herds Manager for a 150-cow dairy in central Minnesota.

Paige's Background:

• Grew up in central Minnesota, surrounded by farming.

Career Path:

• Post-college: Worked for a dairy veterinarian in Rochester, Minnesota, focusing on large animal vet tech work.

Creamery Expansion:

• Creamery products: Initially started with cheddar cheese and cheese curds; expanded to seven consistent cheeses.

Personal Preferences:

• Go-to pizza order: Pepperoni with extra cheese.

Inspirational Quote:

• "If you have to eat a frog, eat it for breakfast. If you have to eat two frogs, eat the big one first." - Mark Twain

Guest Question:

• If Paige had to change her agriculture focus, she would choose row crop farming (corn and soybeans) for the enjoyment of tractor work and making hay.

Social Media:

• Paige's Instagram: @Paige_Farms

Please subscribe to The Dairy Hour Podcast to get updated when new episodes release.  Also please leave us a review and share us with friends!

Guest: 76th Alice in Dairyland - Ashley Hagenow

You can follow Ashley in her adventures:

Facebook @Alice in Dairyland

Instagram @aliceindairyland

LinkedIn: Alice in Dairyland

 YouTube @Alice in Dairyland 

Please, if you like this episode, please share it on social media or with friends and tag @DairyGalVal ! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube @DairyGalVal and you can contact me via http://www.dairygalval.com

Introduction:

• Welcoming Ashley Hagenow, the 76th Alice in Dairyland.

Role as Alice in Dairyland:

• Ashley talks about her role as the 76th Alice in Dairyland, representing Wisconsin's agricultural industry.

Background and Agriculture Involvement:

• Ashley discusses her agricultural background, growing up in a family with a love for agriculture.

Decision to Become Alice in Dairyland:

• Ashley reflects on her decision to apply for Alice in Dairyland, mentioning encouragement received after running for state FFA office.

Application Process for Alice in Dairyland:

• Discusses the ongoing recruitment for the next Alice in Dairyland (77th) and outlines the application process.

Involvement in Selecting the Next Alice in Dairyland:

• Explains the role of different judging panels for preliminary interviews and the Alice in Dairyland finals.

Alice in Dairyland Finals and Future Plans:

• Discusses the timing of the Alice in Dairyland finals in May.

Memorable Events as Alice in Dairyland:

• Shares some highlights of events she has attended, including Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, Wisconsin State Fair, and World Dairy Expo.

Wisconsin's Diverse Agriculture:

• Highlights the diversity of Wisconsin's agriculture, including ginseng, horseradish, green beans, cranberries, mink pelts, and various dairy products.

Personal Tidbits:

• Discusses her love for cookies and cream ice cream and her go-to music genre to get in the zone, which is movie soundtracks without lyrics.

Closing Thoughts and Quote:

• Expresses the importance of soaking in the experiences as Alice in Dairyland and making the most of the last few months.

Closing:

• Thanking Ashley Hagenow for being on the podcast and wishes her well in her remaining months as Alice in Dairyland.

In this episode we welcome Special Guest, Wilko Brouwer de Koning from the Netherlands, a third-generation dairy farmer.

• Discussing the significance of Holland as a dairy powerhouse globally and meeting Wilko at the World Dairy Summit in Chicago.

• Farm Operation: Brief overview of Wilko's dairy farm, location, and the scale of operation.

• Grazing Importance: Discussing the significance of grazing in Holland and its impact on milk quality.

Challenges in Dairy Farming:

• Land Restrictions: Explaining the challenges in starting a farm in Holland due to high land costs.

Sustainable Farming Practices:

• Innovations: Noting the presence of innovations on Dutch farms but challenges in their implementation.

Generational Transition:

• Transition Story: Discussing the transition from the previous generation to Wilko and his brother.

Global Dairy Industry:

• Comparison with the U.S.: Comparing family farms in Holland with the diverse sizes in the U.S.