Pepperoni, Pepperjack, & Passion! With Paige Roberts

This episode is sponsored by Renaissance Ag!  www.renaissanceag.com

Introduction:

• Host: Dairy Gal Val or Val Lavigne
• Guest: Paige Roberts

Overview:

• Paige's current role: Herds Manager for a 150-cow dairy in central Minnesota.
• Transition to robotic milking: Recently installed four DeLaval milking robots.
• Other responsibilities: Overseeing herd health, calf care, on-farm creamery (10% milk turned into cheese), and conducting farm tours.

Paige's Background:

• Grew up in central Minnesota, surrounded by farming.
• College: Initially a psychology major at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls.
• Shift to agriculture: Discovered a passion for agriculture during an environmental science class in the College of Agriculture.

Career Path:

• Post-college: Worked for a dairy veterinarian in Rochester, Minnesota, focusing on large animal vet tech work.
• Transition to on-farm creamery: Connected with Red Head Creamery, working for Lucas and Elise Salstrom.
• Eight years on the farm: Evolving from milking cows and creamery work to becoming the herd manager.
• Adoption of milking robots: Quick transition from discussing robots to implementing them due to challenges in finding labor for milking.

Creamery Expansion:

• Creamery products: Initially started with cheddar cheese and cheese curds; expanded to seven consistent cheeses.
• Future plans: Doubling creamery space, adding a distillery for fermenting whey into a clear alcohol called raga.

Personal Preferences:

• Go-to pizza order: Pepperoni with extra cheese.
• Drink of choice: Hot chocolate (non-caffeinated).
• Favorite cheese: Honey Chipotle or Pepper Jack.

Inspirational Quote:

• "If you have to eat a frog, eat it for breakfast. If you have to eat two frogs, eat the big one first." - Mark Twain

Guest Question:

• If Paige had to change her agriculture focus, she would choose row crop farming (corn and soybeans) for the enjoyment of tractor work and making hay.

Social Media:

• Paige's Instagram: @Paige_Farms
• TikTok: Limited presence, primarily active on Instagram.

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