October 12 is National Farmer’s Day, a day dedicated to celebrating all the hardworking farmers who produce the food we eat every day.
Though most Americans are 3-4 generations removed from farming, the reality is that the average person in the US lives within 100 miles of a dairy farm. Dairy farmers are in your own community, working hard to provide nutritious and delicious foods for your families, while also protecting our planet.
Feeding Our Families
Dairy farmers are crucial members of our community. Few foods deliver milk’s powerhouse of nutrients in such an affordable, appealing, and readily available way. Without dairy farmers, we wouldn’t have the easy access to milk that we enjoy in New England.
Farmers take that commitment to feeding our communities seriously. Farmer Julie MacGlaflin from MacGlaflin Farm in Claremont, NH says “at the end of the day, no matter how long the day has been, no matter what hard stuff we’ve had to work through for the day, I know that the milk that we are producing here is feeding America and is feeding other parts of our world. That’s just a really good feeling knowing that what we’re doing really matters.”
Protecting Our Environment
Like most dairy farms in New England, Windyhurst Farm in Westmoreland, NH places a big emphasis on sustainability. “We’ve farmed this land for more than 65 years. We look forward to living on and working at the farm for at least another 65, and beyond. That means taking care of our patch of the planet is critically important,” says Alisha Adams, whose great-grandmother established the farm in the 1940s.
From planting cover crops and pollinator plants to using no-till planting whenever possible, Windyhurst, like other dairy farms has been able to reduce their carbon emissions and environmental impact. In fact, due to improved farming practices, the carbon footprint of producing one gallon of milk shrunk by 19% between 2007 and 2017, requiring 30% less water and 21% less land.
For Alisha, the importance of caring for the planet is even more personal: “Today, my two young daughters are a constant reminder that we must protect the earth for their sake, and the sake of their children.”
Making Our Gatherings Memorable
Dairy is part of all the things we love to eat and is present during some of the most special moments in our lives. From going all-out to create a memorable holiday feast, to finding small moments to connect with loved ones, dairy is there along the way.
Katie Lemons, PA-C, MS (@twist_of_lemons) recently shared “My grandmother often makes pies for holidays, and I realized we’ve never spent prolonged time in the kitchen together, just us two. So that is just what we did. We used local ingredients, and dairy was the star of the show, lending a hand with butter and ice cream, which added such depth in the flavor department.”
Similarly, Hailey Pipher (@SheLikesMilk) recalled the importance of dairy in creating the family breakfasts she cherishes with her family. Watch the full video here.
Dairy farmers work 365 days a year, including holidays, to ensure these celebrations and special moments are possible.
To help us celebrate National Farmer’s Day, check out our Meet Your New England Dairy Farmer campaign to learn a little bit more about some of your local dairy farmers.
