Building Community in Agriculture! Laura Daniels and Dairy Girl Network

This episode is brought to you by: The Barnyard Language Podcast @Barnyardlanguage !  Stop by and tell them Val sent you!

Guest information: Laura Daniels

Find her on her website www.Dairygirlnetwork.com or Instagram/Facebook @dairygirlnetwork

Episode Summary: In this episode, Val Lavigne sits down with Laura Daniels, the inspiring founder of Dairy Girl Network, to discuss her incredible journey in the dairy industry. Laura shares her story of growing up on a dairy farm, falling in love with cows at a young age, and eventually buying her own dairy farm. As a seasoned dairy cattle nutritionist, Laura transitioned to consulting and created Dairy Girl Network to support and connect women in agriculture. What started as a small networking event has grown into a nationwide organization offering conferences and virtual programs.

The conversation highlights the importance of community support in the dairy industry, particularly for women who face unique challenges in agriculture. Laura opens up about overcoming difficult times, the power of vulnerability, and the need for mental health support within the farming community. The episode wraps up with some light-hearted rapid-fire questions, giving listeners a glimpse into Laura’s personality and passions.

Key Takeaways:

• Dairy Girl Network’s Mission: Founded to support and connect women in the dairy industry, the organization offers valuable educational and networking opportunities, meeting members where they are in their journey.
• Importance of Networking: Laura emphasizes the significance of networking and asking for help for both personal and professional growth, especially in an industry as challenging as agriculture.
• 10th Anniversary Milestone: As Dairy Girl Network celebrates a decade of empowering women, it continues to help dairy women achieve their goals through community support and collaboration.
• Challenges for Women in Agriculture: Laura discusses the unique challenges faced by women in the industry, stressing the need for resilience, determination, and mutual support.
• Vulnerability and Mental Health: The episode underscores the importance of vulnerability in building connections and the need for mental health resources tailored to the farming community.
• Confident Kindness: Laura shares her mantra of "confident kindness," a guiding principle that helps women navigate the demands of the dairy industry while staying true to themselves.

Sound Bites:

• "I earned the title that will always be the one I'm happiest to have had, and that is Dairy Farmer."
• "If I can do anything and Dairy Girl Network can do anything to reduce the friction for all of those amazing women achieving their dreams or moving towards their goals, that's the good work of the world that I get to contribute to."
• "We have to be willing to ask for help, and there's nobody easier to ask than people who are like us, equally determined, and have actual experience."
• "She was just the best girl ever, and she lived to be like 16. It was just wonderful."
• "People wonder why we go to extremes as dairy people or 4-H moms. We do that because we know how meaningful it was when someone did that for us."
• "It's our job as moms to mortify our children at regular intervals."

Chapters:

• 00:00 - Introduction and Background
• 02:17 - Becoming a Dairy Farmer
• 05:30 - The Creation of Dairy Girl Network
• 08:14 - The Importance of Networking and Asking for Help
• 18:11 - Expanding Dairy Girl Network Nationwide
• 25:02 - The Love for Cows and the Dairy Industry
• 30:12 - The Power of Community Support
• 35:03 - Overcoming Challenges: A Personal Journey
• 38:56 - The Importance of Vulnerability and Mental Health Support
• 45:11 - Confident Kindness: Navigating the Challenges of Agriculture

Tune in to this insightful conversation with Laura Daniels as she shares her passion for dairy farming, the creation of Dairy Girl Network, and the importance of building a supportive community for women in agriculture.