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Sauk Centre, Minn.; Stearns County
100 cows

Tell us about your family. My family consists of my husband, Paul and six children: Michelle (24), Renae (22), Christine (20), Katie (18), Joe (16) and Mitchell (15).

Tell us about your farm. We farm 435 acres and milk 100 Holstein cows. We raise all our youngstock.

What's the busiest time of day for you? My busiest time of day is the mornings. Our morning begins at 4 a.m., with milking. Then, I feed the baby calves milk. We feed our cattle once a day, so mangers are cleaned and barn stalls are bedded with chopped straw. We scrape cattle lots and bed any pens outside that are in need. The last thing in the morning that I do is water my hutch calves while checking on them.

How much time do you spend doing farm work compared to housework? The majority of my time is spent doing farm work.

What do you do in your free-time and why? I spend my free time attending my children's sporting events, doing crossword puzzles, reading and spending time in my flower garden.

What's the best thing about farming? The best thing about farming is knowing that I am making a difference and helping to feed the world - all while doing something that I love.

When you look back on your life, what do you want to be remembered for? I want to be remembered as someone who is passionate and enjoyed being a dairy farmer.

Do you have any ideas that could make farming easier for you and all farming women? Always remember to keep smiling even if you're having a bad day.

Tell us your most memorable experience while dairy farming. I have many fond memories over the years, but the one that stands out in my mind is when our daughter, Christine, was crowned the 59th Princess Kay of the Milky Way. I enjoyed attending events with her across the state of Minnesota and telling my story.[[In-content Ad]]

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