Amy Ruegsegger was raised on a 200 acre dairy farm. Growing up, she was involved in 4-H and FFA serving as FFA President and received her American Degree. She received a Bachelor’s of Science degree from University of Wisconsin Platteville in Technical Agriculture and animal science with a dairy emphasis. Today, Amy now owns and operates the farm where she grew up. She is involved in the local dairy promotion board and enjoys showing cattle with her niece. Amy enjoys helping some of the local FFA members with projects from her farm. About the only “non-farm” thing Amy says she does is play volleyball once a week on a city league team.
Amy’s Story in her own words:
When did you start farming?
July 2005 is when I purchased my own cows. I have always loved the dairy industry, cows and dairy farming. I own the farm I grew up on. I own the herd (about 115 milking and the young stock) and I am the primary caretaker, milker, calf feeder, heifer raiser on the farm. I am the book keeper and decision maker.
What are 3 things you want consumers to know about the dairy products you produce?
- We produce the safest products compared to any country in the world.
- Our products are free of antibiotics. Always have been and always will be.
- We truly care for our animals and want what is best for them. We need them to be happy and healthy to produce the quality product we work so hard to make.
As a Mom what do you want to share with others about the dairy industry?
A lot of us work day and night to care for our animals. We take pride in the products we produce and the cattle we care for. We deal with falling markets, rained on crops (or no rain on the crops at all!) and now have consumers making demands on how we raise and treat our animals. We are not ignorant, cruel or uneducated. We are professionals with a passion. Dairy farmers need to be business orientated, keep records, be accountants, meteorologists, agronomists, vet technicians, etc. we are human. We eat the same food everyone else does. We care about what everyone else eats too.
What is your favorite dairy product?
I don’t think I could name one favorite dairy product. I drink whole milk, eat and cook with a ton of cheese. Butter is in abundance in our home. Cheesecake is to die for and ice cream is bought in two and a half gallon tubs. My daughter thinks yogurt is a treat like candy and we use sour cream in almost every casserole or dish we make.
What is the most rewarding part of production agriculture? Challenging?
Being home with my family and carrying on a tradition. With the animals out in the fresh air every day. Close to the land and nature. For me I have very little time off the farm since I do so much of the labor. I don’t have much time to do things like this blog even!
Describe a typical/average day for you.
I get up a little before four a.m. And start by feeding calves. Then milk the cows. Clean up the parlor and then off to breakfast. During the days it varies on the season. Crops, bedding and cleaning sheds. Farm records. Errands. Around four p.m. start over and feed calves, milk. And after cleanup it is finally time for supper shower and bed.
Who is your favorite cow?
This is like the dairy product question. I love cows but couldn’t pick any one favorite famous cow and have been to the World Dairy Expo every year since I was a freshman in high school. Charity, Snickerdoodle, Rose, Pistachio Pie, Frosty, Apple and even though I love and have mainly Holsteins, I love milking Shorthorns, so Lady Luck is a new favorite. A good cow is a good cow regardless of color, breed show, commercial or pet.
What do you envision the future of the dairy industry looking like?
This is a complicated one. I used to think it was going to be like the times I grew up in. Now it is trending to large farms. But I feel the consumer and immigrant labor issues will change the industry and we won’t have the ability to control it.
Amy, thank you for taking time to share your story with us!
Entire Women in Dairy Series:
- Joanna Lidback of The Farm at Wheeler Mountain, VT
- Katie Boyke Grinstead of Vir-Clar Farm, WI
- Alicia Lamb of Oakfield Corners Dairy, NY
- Ysabel Jacobs of Ferme Jacobs, Canada
- Heidi Kovacs of Sugar Maple Jerseys, NJ
- Jolene Griffin, MI
- Melissa Woolpert of Country by Chance, VT
- Katie Sattazahn, PA
- Kim Bremmer of Ag Inspirations, WI
- Abigail Copenhaver of Farmstead Nutrition, NY
- Jodi Cast of JJC Jerseys, NE
- Amy Rowbottom of Crooked Farm Creamery, ME
- Britte Nooijens, Netherlands
- Julianne Holler, PA
- Cynthia Martel, VA
- Abby Swan of Kemridge Farm, WI
- Jamie Van De Walle, WI
- Joseta Halbur, WI
- Holly Smith, WI
- Jenny L. Baerwolf of Sassy Cow Creamery, WI
- Jenna Jongenotter, Canada
- Liz Neadow of Teacup Farm, NY
- Hannah Worden of Will-O-Crest Farm, NY
- Carla Wardin of Truth or Dairy, MI
- Amanda Freund of CowPots, CT
- Mandi Pacitti of Misty Brae Holsteins, Australia
- Jessica Chittenden Ziehm of Tiashoke Farm, NY
- Lisa Myers, MD
- Carissa Ann Tolzman, WI
- Danae Bauer of FarmGirl Photography, WI
- Ashley Kennedy of Messy Kennedy, MI
- Emily Lyons, Washington DC
- Joanna Rowher of Hollingstedt Schleswig Holstein, Germany
- Rita Mosset, ND
- Brianne Brown of Beslea Farms, Canada
- Pam Bolin, IA
- Janean Boss-Anderson, WI
- Jessica Peters of Spruce Row Farm, PA
- Amanda Williams, WI
- Trisha Boyce, PA
- Melissa Hanke, WI
- Tara Woyton, NY
- Melisa Konecky, NE
- Lizzie Frazier, NE
- Renee Norman-Kenny of Eat Farm Love, PA
- Amanda Killian of Dirt Road Holsteins, WI
- Kim Kester, WI
- Amy Ruegsegger, WI
- Alba Alvarez Nunez – Spain
- Emily Parker, WI
- Nicole Kearns, PA
- Cheyenne Ryzenga, MI
- Freynie Lancaster of Royalty Ridge, OR
- Maryanne Dudli, New Zealand
- Michelle, Keller, WI
- Ashley Abbott, VA
- Brenda Rudolph of Raising a Farm, MN
- Jennifer Heim, KS
- Janet Bremer of My Barn Yard View, MN
- Iris Barham Peeler, GA
- Laura Daniels of Heartwood Farms, WI
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