As I was flying from Rochester to Minneapolis and then all the way to  California, for my internship this summer with Fiscalini Dairy Farm and Cheese Company, I had the honor to talk to different consumers about the wonderful Dairy Industry, and once again I am surprised about how little people know about where their food truly comes from, or the the stereotypes that they have for dairy farmers and farming in general.
       One particular conversation stuck out to me on my very first flight from Rochester to Minneapolis. The women sitting next to me was intrigued, and wanted to  know all about what was going on in the dairy industry such as the difference between organic and conventional foods and of course the debate on Genetically Modified Foods. It was a short flight of an hour and a half, and as we neared Minneapolis and were preparing for landing she looked at me and said, “I would like you to know that everyone morning I either eat cereal and milk or have a glass of milk with my breakfast, and I constantly think about the hard working farmers that are always caring for their  animals to the best of their abilities.  I always think to myself Thank God for farmers! I enjoy all of the delicious dairy products all the time.” What she said to me meant so much, because sometimes all dairy farmers here are the negative stereotypes that consumers have toward them, and they are never thanked enough for all of the hard work that they put in everyday Consumers truly appreciate the amazing work that farmers do every single day three-hundred and sixty-five days twenty-four-seven.
        As dairy farmers we all love to hear people that appreciate the hard work, but there will always be negative stereotypes that are associated with dairy farmers. Of course advocating for the dairy industry, and helping consumers to understand why farmers do what we have to do is very important in reducing the number of people that have a negative stereotype.
        If you are a farmer reading this I personally thank you for all of your hard work you put in everyday, but I challenge you to interact with a consumer either by posting a status about the wonderful aspects of farming, or personally talking to consumers and informing them about the dairy industry.
        If you are a consumer  reading this I hope that you enjoy  dairy products as much as I do and always eat your three servings of dairy everyday, but I challenge you that the next time you see a dairy farmer personally thank them for their hard work!

HAPPY JUNE IS DAIRY MONTH! Eat Three Servings of Dairy Every Day!

Millie is now two months old and growing like crazy! She still drinks her milk morning and night to keep her bones growing and strong. Now she even gets to eat the delicious fresh hay, and sweet feed to help balance her nutrition.

Millie loves to run around in the tall lush grass on warm summer days. Watch the short video below to see how her long legs glide through the grass:

On farms, farmers have a lot of safety precautions they take with their cows to ensure the cows are safe. One of the many precaution would be dehorning the calves. This entails taking out the horn buds before they are able to grow to prevent problems. Cows do not need horns to survive, and sometimes horns can be life threatening to a cow or person. 

Millie is at the age where she needed to be dehorned and vaccinated to ensure her health. She is now dehorned so that her horns will not grow, and the procedure is done as painless as possible. Millie has also been vaccinated with a rabies vaccine and a respiratory vaccine to prevent her from becoming sick. There are plenty of examples of why dehorning is the right thing to do for Dairy Cows. Dehorning can prevent cows from seriously injuring each other, injuring the farmer, and even getting stuck with their horns. The pros definitely out way the cons for dehorning a dairy cow and keeping them safe. 

Millie is growing bigger and loving life!

Farmers do their best to care for their animals and offer the best care for them. Going above and beyond by waking up before dawn and working long stressful days to provide for the world. Next time you see a farmer say "Thank You" for all they have done. 

Dairy Farming is a wonderful job that positively affects and helps feed consumers in the world. Farming has a lot of hardships that come along with the job, but there are also a lot of great things that happen on a farm! One of the best things that happen on a dairy farm is a newborn heifer calf. Heifer means that the calf is a girl and will be able to produce milk in two years after she has her own calf.

Wee Kin Farm, a Guernsey farm owned and operated by the McKenna family (my family), has welcomed a new addition to our herd. Baby Millie is a strong and beautiful girl!
(Millie is pictured below)

Since Millie was born she needs milk to keep her growing strong and healthy. Calves are kept on an all milk diet for the first couple of weeks that they are born. The reason for this is because their stomachs are very small and not able to digest foods as well. Once their ruminant stomach is strong the calves are given grain and hay to add to their milk and water diet. A ruminant stomach is a stomach that is broken into four compartments known as the reticulum, rumen, omasum, and abomasum. These four compartments help with digestion, and makes it possible for cows to eat a high starch diet. The grain and hay help to keep them growing fast! 

Millie has a lot of energy from the food she loves to eat, and enjoys playing in the tall lush grass and running around with the other calve on the farm. She loves meeting new people, and giving them sweet calf kisses! 

Watch Millie grow throughout her life! I will be posting updates often as she grows! If you would ever like to meet Millie or any of the other Guernseys at Wee Kin Farm please contact me via email @jtm286@cornell.edu.

Childhood is such an important part of a human beings life, it shapes who they are and what they will become. I am so thankful that everyday I woke up to a full day of new adventures. My three older sisters and I were the best of friends, the worst of enemies, and the best imagineers ever! We were four little girls growing up on a farm trying to prove to our dad that we could be just as tough as any boy he could have ever dreamed of having. We were a forced to be reckoned with. There are plenty of stories to go along with growing up on a farm, and of course the McKenna girls have created plenty of stories worth telling! Here are a few ways that you can tell if you have grown up on a farm or not.

1) What is said or done out in the barn stays in the barn. In my family there was no arguing or wrestling in the house! Mom made it very clear that if we had enough energy to fight we had enough energy to clean! It did not take us very long to make the barn our ultimate wrestling arena. Being tied to poles, shoved off a fence, or getting dunked in the cows one-hundred gallon watering trough were all fare in this war! May the strongest, smartest, and quickest girl win! When mom and dad asked where the bruise came from, why there were tears running down our faces, or why our hair was tussled, our answer were always the cows did it! The number one rule was to not tell the real story!

2) Making forts in the hay mound! Organizing the hay bales just right so that everyone could fit into the fort, and of course take part in the secret meeting! This is way better than any blanket fort!

3) Playing truth or dare in the barn. This is way more intense than any sleep over truth or dare. We are talking lifting things heavier than you weigh, having milk squirting contests straight from the udder, and having to tell the deepest darkest secret you have ever held.

4) I am sure not all farm kids played Cadet kelley, but this is the famous game known to the McKenna family! After watching the Disney movie Cadet Kelley we marched out the barn, and created our own game! Caton being the oldest was immediately the Sergeant ordering the rest of us around. We would have to do any obstacle she had in mind like carrying hay bales, filling the water troughs using buckets instead of hoses, and who could milk the goats the fastest. She was very smart and normally during the game would have us do her chores, and then she announce the game was over! As she marched in the house Kerri, Betsey, and I were left to finish our own chores.

5) For those that are truly dedicated to their animals they will even taste the food that their animals eat. No the food will no kill you, however, from personal experience I would not recommend milk replacer it is not the best choice of drinks!

6) Show season brings about shaving the cows before the fair in order to make sure that they look their best. In my family my parents were very serious about not letting us girls shave out legs until we were old enough. Oh but there is always a way around every rule! The forty blade used on the cows udder were perfect for the job. Betsey and I trusted each other enough to shave each others legs!

7) Going out to do chores later than the normal in the dark can be very scary! Betsey and I would also grip each others hands and sing, "Jesus Loves Me" thinking that if anyone was in out barn, and they heard us singing a Christian song they would not hurt us. However, the only thing that was behind any door or turn was another sister, specifically Kerri, waiting for us so that she could be the monster to scare us!

8) Going to school with numerous injuries caused on the farm, and all of your friends gathering around to hear what could have possibly happened
! The main one getting a pitch fork stabbed in my foot. The pain might have been horrible, but now the story is fun to tell.

9) Being locked in a chicken coop for three hours and having to escape through a tinny window by my wonderful sister Betsey who is truly a ginger! However, she did have to do my chores for three weeks!

10) Being able to proudly say that you have raised animals from birth, and created a bond with this animal so that she comes running to the sound of her name!

There have been plenty of wonderful times and tragedies that have taken place on my farm, but through it all I would never have traded the memories, experience, or responsibility that I have been given! Not everyone has the opportunity to grow up on a farm, but every person has a connection to agriculture! Never take for granted the childhood you were given, and make the most of everyday and memory made!