Women in Dairy: Amy Hildebrandt

Tell us about your farm and family. I farm with my husband, Ken, and our four adult children — Michael, Kevin, Angie and Ray — and Ken’s brother, Don. Michael is our herdsman; Kevin is our human resources person and also fixes anything that is broken; Angie and her husband, Billy, are responsible for the calves; and Ray is responsible for feeding and anything with cow nutrition. He also helps in the shop and with calves. Ken oversees all the jobs but now spends most of his time in the shop. Don is responsible for the crops, and his kids help when they’re not in school. Ken and Don started milking 150 cows here in 1981 along with their dad in a tiestall barn. We currently milk 1,400 cows in a 40-stall rotary parlor. We also have a double-10 parlor that is used as our hospital/fresh cow barn. We milk three times a day and ship our milk to V & V Supremo in Browntown, where it is made into Hispanic cheese.

What is a typical day like for you on the dairy? My job is evolving. Presently, I feed calves (newborns to 10 days old) and babysit grandchildren. The majority of my time is spent in the office as I handle all the bookwork for the farm. I pay bills, do payroll, meet with the accountant and prepare the financials for the banker.

What decision have you made in the last year that has benefited your farm? We purchased a bottle washer, which may seem insignificant; however, if you are the one washing the bottles, it is a gamechanger.

Tell us about your most memorable experience working on the farm. We built a rotary parlor eight years ago. The first day of milking was memorable because it was a culmination of three years of planning, building and implementing. Seeing it all come together was exciting.

What have you enjoyed most about dairy farming or your tie to the dairy industry? The dairy industry is full of wonderful people. I enjoy meeting and networking with others, seeing their operations and learning from them.

What is your biggest accomplishment in your dairy career? I was selected as an Illinois Master Farmer, which is something I never anticipated. It is an honor to be selected and recognized by your peers. I am also proud that all our children have chosen to return to the farm, and we have been able to make that work.

What are the things you do to promote your farm or the dairy industry? We host farm tours when asked. We have also hosted the dairy breakfast. I serve on the Midwest Dairy board, and we support our Farm Bureau and local 4-H and FFA groups.

What advice would you give another woman in the dairy industry? It is important to have a balance between work and family. I also think volunteering in your community is important.

When you get a spare moment what do you do? I like spending time with my grandkids. I also like to read, bake and travel.