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Eliza Ruzic
Greenwood, Wisconsin
Clark County
65 cows

Family: My husband, Phillip, Lucas, 11, Jane, 8, and Lucy, 6.

Tell us about your farm. Our farm includes 60 milking dairy cows, 375 acres of corn, soybean, alfalfa and a few fair project animals including two pigs and two steers.

What is a typical day like for you on the dairy? There is no typical day for me, because I work full time off the farm, which includes some travel. When I’m home, I milk with my husband in the morning, get the kids ready for school and then either work from my home office or support nutritionists and farms throughout the state as an account manager for Zinpro Corporation. I also breed cows on our farm, assist with treatment and vaccinations as well as hoof trimming as needed.

What decision have you made in the last year that has benefited your farm? We made the decision to sell our heifers and calves this past February. We were able to keep our springers and have an agreement with a neighboring farm to source replacements going forward. It has eliminated a substantial amount of work and coordination with feed inventory and managing a second location of animals.

Tell us about your most memorable experience working on the farm. My most memorable experience working on the farm would have to be working with, and showing fair animals, throughout the years. I loved showing dairy and swine as a kid, and it has been gratifying watching my kids take pride in their fair projects as well.

What have you enjoyed most about dairy farming or your tie to the dairy industry? The thing I have enjoyed most is meeting people throughout the county, state and country. I have met some of my best friends in the dairy industry, and I love how we all have a common bond of love for dairy even if farming practices may not be the same from one farm to the other.  

What is your biggest accomplishment in your dairy career? My biggest accomplishment in my dairy career has been raising my kids on a farm while working full time off the farm. I often get asked how and why I do both, but I wouldn’t have it any other way to raise my kids. I hope I am teaching them by example that if you have the drive to do something, nothing can stand in your way if you are willing to work for it.

What are things you do to promote your farm or the dairy industry? Some things we have done to promote our farm and the dairy industry are hosting the Greenwood dairy breakfast in 2015 as well as serving on the committee for dairy breakfasts since then. I also have written a blog called Meal Making Mommy and share things on social media including Facebook and Instagram. I also volunteer for Food for America and try to answer questions on a one-on-one basis.

What advice would you give another woman in the dairy industry? Keep doing the best you can with what you have where you are. I try not to let the little things get to me, and don’t ever underestimate yourself. You can do anything you want to if you are willing to make the decisions to get there.

When you get a spare moment, what do you do? In my spare time, I like to watch my kids and husband play sports, run, direct our church choir, relax at our pond, and bake and decorate cookies and cakes.

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