Women in Dairy: Samantha Laveau Schmidt

Samantha Laveau Schmidt
Wrenshall, Minnesota
Carlton County
100 cows

Tell us about your family and farm. Laveau Dairy is a family-owned and operated farm owned by my parents, Peter and Kim Laveau, who are second-generation farmers. The farm is truly a multi-generational family operation. On any given day, you will find the second, third and fourth generations working side by side. This includes my husband, Steven; our daughters, Isabelle, Scarlett and baby girl No. 3 on the way; my siblings and their spouses, Timmy and Ashley and Christina and Ryan; and my nieces and nephews, Tyler, Griffin, Jeric, Elizabeth and Elena.

What is a typical day like for you on the dairy? I typically start my day by milking cows in the morning before going to my day job at Northwoods Credit Union. After work, I head back to the farm to help with evening milking, which sometimes includes helping feed calves or taking care of the barn chores. On the weekends, I might spend my day helping with fieldwork or cleaning barns.

What decision have you made in the last year that has benefited your farm? This is a tough question. I often joke that I am the brawn, not the brain, of the operation. My parents often discuss issues or plan with me, but I am truly there to help and support them.

Tell us about your most memorable experience working on the farm. My best memories of working on the farm are watching the kids learn and enjoy the farm life. I love being there to experience their awe of watching a calf be born, teaching them to operate equipment and watching their joy as they head out on their own. All my favorite memories include the kids experiencing something new on the farm.

What have you enjoyed most about dairy farming or your tie to the dairy industry? The lifestyle and the people. Farming is not a job; it is a lifestyle. I have enjoyed growing up as well as watching my kids, nephews and nieces grow up in this life. There are so many lessons learned every day that are just a part of this life. Dairy farming has also allowed me so much time with my family; I work with most of them every day.

What is your biggest accomplishment in your dairy career? I don’t have a big personal accomplishment in my dairy career. However, as a family dairy, we are still here. It isn’t easy most days to keep farming, but we are doing it. We don’t know for how long, but we will work hard at it as long as we can.

What are things you do to promote your farm or the dairy industry? I have promoted farming and dairy by being actively involved in our local 4-H and county fair. I am going into my fifth year as an adult volunteer for the Barnyard Buddies 4-H Club. I also just finished my fifth fair as the dairy barn superintendent for the Carlton County Fair.

What advice would you give another woman in the dairy industry? Slow down. Being a part of the dairy industry means having a million things to do on any given day. Don’t forget to slow down and enjoy life, have fun and cherish your family.

What is a challenge in the dairy industry you have faced, and how did you overcome it? The biggest challenge we face in the dairy industry is milk prices. It is something that impacts everyone and is a constant stress. We do our best to overcome this challenge by allowing on-farm sales where customers come to the farm with their own container to purchase raw milk. Another way we work to overcome this challenge is working jobs off the farm.

When you get a spare moment, what do you do? I spend time with my family, attend local events, family barbeques, movie nights and kids’ sporting events.