Cows are her choice

ATHENS, Wis. — Savana Mata is not the average dairy farm worker, and she was not the average student in her program at Northcentral Technical College.

“I have always loved cows,” Mata said. “Not just the animal, I was really curious about the dairy industry, but I have zero background. The closest I had ever been to agriculture was the dairy section of the grocery store. I have no idea where that interest came from.”

Mata is a native of Los Angeles, California, where she began her post-secondary education studying biology and philosophy at Loyola Marymount University, with plans to pursue a career in neuroscience.

“While I was in school, I always had dairy in the back of my mind, but I never thought I’d actually do anything with it,” Mata said. “Then during my junior (year) I met someone that came from a dairy farm, and after asking few questions, I realized it wasn’t just something in the back of my mind. I was fascinated by what I heard. I decided then after I graduated from Loyola, I was going into dairy.”

A Google search led Mata to visit the campus at Northcentral Technical College, where she saw her first cow at the school’s robotic dairy. Mata was sold on the school and enrolled. She obtained her associate’s degree in dairy science and agricultural business in May.

“When I started, I was embarrassed about having no experience,” Mata said. “I knew everyone else in my classes would have that background knowledge.”

Addressing both Mata’s concerns about her experience and her need for employment, the school facilitated a job for her in August 2022 working at Miltrim Farms Inc., in Athens. There she experienced dairy industry in the farm’s robotic milking facility, home to 1,800 cows, working under the barn manager, Jessica Pralle-Trimner.

“I was so overwhelmed coming in here my first day,” Mata said. “I had never even touched a cow. I was so scared — they were so big! I didn’t know how I would react being in a dairy with all the smells. I had never been around manure or anything, and I would get queasy sometimes during my internships in hospitals around blood and needles.”

Mata said the support of those around her helped her forge ahead.

“I didn’t know how to do anything; I didn’t know any of the vocabulary,” Mata said. “I had to ask so many questions, but I learned so quickly because they made me feel so comfortable. They put me under a cow pretty much right away working with Mary Phillips, the herdsperson.”

Mata said her fears began to be allayed as she learned new skills.

“They taught me how to IV a cow and that didn’t bother me; it’s so different from a person,” Mata said. “I feel much better in this industry, it’s so hands-on. I didn’t have to go to school for eight years before I could come in and do something. I was helping cows right away because of what Jessica and Mary taught me.”

Mata said not every skill came quickly to her.

“I really struggled learning how to strip a cow to take samples; I couldn’t get the hang of it,” Mata said. “I had to keep asking Mary how exactly I should hold the teat, where I should squeeze. I felt like it had never had to be explained to anyone before. To IV a cow, I understood the science, but I had a hard time at first hitting the vein. When it came to breeding, it took me forever to find the cervix and be able to hold on to it.”

After a couple of months of learning in the robotic barn, Mata began working in the maternity area at Miltrim, a job she said she loved.

“It was just a whole new area, a whole new set of skills,” Mata said. “I had never touched a calf or pulled a calf, and I was doing that on my own by my second or third day.”

After nearly a year of working at Miltrim, Mata secured another part-time job working at Duane Blaubach’s Athens dairy farm in July 2023. The Blaubachs milk 160 cows in a tie-stall barn. There Mata was able to learn about another management style.

“I learned about milking cows backwards — first with the robots, then with the tie-stall barn,” Mata said. “I just love every aspect about dairy farming I have learned.”

In addition to working at Miltrim and Blaubachs, Mata works at Merrill Equipment Company, where she is learning about the design work involved with building livestock housing. Later this summer, she will begin working full-time at Merrill Equipment Company, while continuing to work every other weekend at Miltrim as well as milking evenings and weekends at the Blaubachs.

“I love that everyone has been so supportive of me and everything I want to learn,” Mata said. “Everyone is willing to work with my crazy schedule. They all understand I’m trying to catch up on a lifetime of learning in the dairy industry.”

Mata has also taken the position of executive coordinator for the Marathon County Partnership for Progressive Agriculture, spearheading agricultural promotion efforts throughout Marathon County, including coordinating the annual dairy breakfast, the Ag Adventures Tent at the Wisconsin Valley Fair, the Farm City Dinner and planning a golf scramble.

“I love talking to farmers and hearing their stories,” Mata said.

Mata has embraced advocating for her new-found passion, sharing her experiences with students at Loyola Marymount each semester.

“I try to explain things from my experiences, to bridge that gap between the farm and consumers in a safe way,” Mata said. “I have come to love this industry. Nothing I’ve experienced has turned me away.”

With nearly two years of experience in the dairy industry, Mata said she knows she still has a lot to learn, and despite some tough days, her desire to learn has not wavered.

“Everyone has had so much faith in me, telling me that one day I’ll get it, that it just takes time,” Mata said. “That has kept me going. If I didn’t have that support, I don’t know if I’d still be in dairy today. I want to have an impact on the dairy industry.”