From City Kid to Dairy Farm Herdsman: My Journey and Life on the Farm

Well hello there! I'm Paige, your friendly neighborhood dairy herdsman situated in the landscapes of west central Minnesota. Now, let me tell you, my journey to the #FarmLife wasn't what you would call conventional. While I didn't grow up surrounded by cows and corn fields, agriculture wasn't entirely foreign territory either. Here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, farming isn't just a profession; it's ingrained in our very way of life. My childhood was a blend of suburban living outside Minneapolis/St.Paul and true big city living, thanks to three unforgettable years in the overcrowded streets of Tokyo, Japan. Those adventures didn't just open my eyes to new cultures—they ignited a passion for exploration that still burns today. It might not seem like the typical trait for a farmer, life's all about embracing the unique. I've ignored my travel bug mostly but 2024 I decided that needed to change. We need to stop ignoring the things we are passionate about, maybe they all fit into life's puzzle better than we think they do.

Upon our family's return from Tokyo, suburban life continued on until I ventured off to the University of Wisconsin at River Falls. Like many college freshmen (even though everyone acts like they have it all together) I found myself uncertain on what to do next. Those students that act like they have it all together, don't believe them. I had 5 roommates in my senior year in college that were all my neighbors in the dorm freshman year. One of us ended up sticking with our major we declared freshman year, the rest of us decided maybe there was something better out there and switched.

In a decision that still baffles me to this day, I declared myself a psychology major when I walked on for orientation. I felt compelled to have an answer to the only question that ever seems to get asked as an incoming freshman, "What are you going to study?" The ambiguity of "I don't know" just didn't sit right with me. However, it didn't take long for me to realize that psychology wasn't my calling. Thankfully, fate intervened when my course load led me into the College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences. I was immediately captivated by the subjects available for study and the passion shown by my fellow students. There's something truly remarkable about the enthusiasm of those in Agricultural science and work. I want to be passionate about something to, and after 3 declared major changed I graduated with a Bachelor's in Agriculture Studies, specializing in dairy science.

The next hurdle in my journey was finding a job. With just five days left until graduation, I found myself without a job prospect in sight. Once again, the dreaded question of "what are you going to do after you graduate?" was a constant in life. As someone who didn't come from an agricultural background, I felt an extra layer of anxiety, fearing that my lack of roots in the industry would halt my prospects. However, at the stroke of proverbial midnight, I landed a position at large animal veterinary clinic near Rochester, MN, specializing solely in dairy cattle.

This job proved to be a valuable learning opportunity. While I gained priceless hands-on experience working alongside veterinarians with dairy cattle, I also discovered that office work wasn't going to be for me in the long haul. After about a year, I realized it was time for a change, driven partly by a desire to be closer to my family in the greater part of the state.

With the help of some mutual connections, I landed my current position as herdsman at a dairy and farmstead creamery, which at the time housed 200 cows. (Psst, check out Redhead Creamery for some ridiculously good cheese!) Returning home felt like the right move, and things seemed promising. My role encompassed a bit of everything initially, from milking cows and feeding to calves in the morning to assisting with cheese production in the afternoons. As time progressed, so did my responsibilities, and the farm underwent significant changes as well. Today, we care for a herd of approximately 150 cows across four milking robots, leveraging technology to be more sustainable on multiple fronts. While we still take pride in crafting farmstead artisan cheese, we've also diversified with Araga—a unique liquor derived from milk. Araga, essentially alcohol made from whey—a byproduct of cheese production—is crafted through a process involving filtration, fermentation, and distillation. It's just one of the many innovative steps we've taken to continue to grow our sustainability efforts.

As time went on, I also discovered my passion for sharing the farm's story was just as fulfilling as working on it. Alongside our creamery, we've ventured into agrotourism, hosting farm tours every Friday and Saturday at 12:30. When I was approached about becoming a tour guide, I'll admit I was intimidated. As someone who tends to be more introverted and reserved, the idea seemed daunting at first. One thing my parents always told me as a kid, though, was that I had a knack for public speaking—almost like I transformed into a different person. We joke that it might be because I'm the granddaughter of a pastor. Perhaps there's some truth to that. As I began leading more farm tours and growing a passion for storytelling, I decided to venture into online sharing. I've started and stopped a few times on that front, battling self-limiting beliefs like 'no one's watching,' 'no one cares,' 'oof, you're so cringy,' and the biggest one, 'they're all judging you.' But this time, I'm here to stay because, honestly, how many people remember the last social media post they scrolled past? Not many. So, I'm here to stay this time, aiming to make a meaningful impact by sharing stories about food and farming.

So here I am, embracing my role as both a farmer and a storyteller. As I step into 2024, I'm excited to embark on this journey with all of you. Together, we'll dive not only into the intricacies of farming but also explore the vast world of food—its origins, its diversity, and the incredible individuals who work tirelessly to nourish us all. With each farm tour, each blog post, and each social media share, I aim to foster a deeper connection between consumers and the food on their plates. So, buckle up, folks! It's going to be a wild ride, and I'm thrilled to have you all along for the adventure!