Visit dairy farms and attend conferences throughout the country to keep in touch with the needs of subscribers. Write articles and Farm Flashes for publication and blog weekly on an array of topics. - Oversee production of the World Dairy Expo Supplement, including articles and production of maps. Work with non-staff authors to edit copy and develop material of interest to readers. Focus specifically on feeding, nutrition, calves and youth development. Serve on the 4-H Dairy Conference Planning Committee as a liaison plan a tour of Fort Atkinson for 170 youth. Develop two of six Round Tables in Hoard’s annual Round Table series. Work with the summer intern to develop their communication skills to prepare them for a dairy related career.

Work on a 60 cow family dairy managing Holstein and Jersey cows and heifers. Own 28 registered Jersey cattle, responsible for breeding, health care decisions, and calf management.Gained skills in reproductive management, milking procedures, and herd health.Learned to effectively manage, vaccinate and rear calves, achieving a low mortality rate (<2%).

Wrote articles and edited copy for publication.Spent three weeks traveling throughout the United States to interview dairy producers and find story leads. Gained skills in electronic communication, working with website design, HTML coding, and blogging. Played a large role in organizing and writing articles for the World Dairy Expo supplement.Compiled and wrote copy for the Top 50 Cooperative list, the most reproduced page in the magazine.Summarized research papers as a regular contributor to the Farm Flash page.

Heifer raising internship focusing in wet calf care and management.Gained skills in calf care and illness prevention through visual appraisal of cattle. Learned how to operate automatic calf feeders and utilize the technology to aid in identifying ill animals. Communicated effectively, in both English and Spanish.

Focused on the transition period of dry cows and calf care on a 1700 Holstein cow dairy farm.Learned how to properly tag young stock, administer vaccinations, and manage pre-breeding heifers.Identified cows close to calving and those in need of assistance.Started work early and maintained a high, positive energy level throughout the day.