In a conference focused on the issue of big data, it was only fitting that the Indiana Dairy Producers name Lance & Nan Sommer of Berne as the Young Dairy Producers of the Year at their annual meeting at the Livestock, Forage and Grain Forum last week. You see, Lance almost didn’t make it to the meeting. They had five robotic milkers installed on their farm just the day before.
“When I left home we were running the cows through the robots for the third time. I’m very tired at this point and very worn out.”
Not only will Lance & Nan be able to gather more information on their 200 Holstein operation through these milkers, but they’ll also have more flexibility in their lives. After all, it’s no secret that dairy producers live a daily grind.
“I still want to accomplish a lot of things in life. Just having that flexibility to be able to have a life still and to raise a family, being able to be there for people and still be efficient at the same time, to get that higher production and be very efficient milking my cows (means a lot).”
They say behind every man is a great woman and that’s no exception for this young couple. Nan tells HAT she enjoys her opportunities to work alongside her husband as a team on their farm.
“I got to help with pushing the cows through the robots. And of course getting meals to everybody, that’s helping out. I’m just looking forward to having more time. And on the grain farming side as well, we’ll have some time to be out in the field together and I enjoy doing that.”
Lance offers his advice to other young dairy producers who are trying to forge ahead in the industry.
“One of things I try to do is talk to older people and get a lot of ideas from them, learn as much as I can and I try to do as much research on topics as I can and overall just learn from other people.”