INDIANAPOLIS — To help promote the Indiana dairy industry and the importance of dairy farmers, the American Dairy Association of Indiana selects five young individuals each year to serve as dairy ambassadors.
Aubrey Dague from Kewanna is one of the five individuals elected to serve as a 2020-2021 dairy ambassador for ADAI.
Dague recently discussed her experience in the dairy industry and why serving the industry is important to her.
How long have you been involved in the dairy industry?
I was born and raised on a dairy farm.
What is your involvement within the dairy industry and how did you get started in it?
Having been born on a dairy farm, I have always been looked upon to help with the daily chores and responsibilities. These include feeding the baby calves their milk and feed, providing silage for the older steers and heifers and helping to milk and clean up the parlor after milking.
Other than being born into dairy, I can’t explain how I got started with the industry, but having years of experience I can explain why I chose to stay with the family dairy farm.
It has provided me with a home and a chance to be with my family. It has taught me how to work hard, be dedicated and accept responsibility. These are the types of life skills. I hope to one day teach my own children and I owe them all to my family and our farm.
What is your favorite memory you have made working with dairy cattle?
Each year my FFA chapter would host a petting zoo during FFA week. I was in charge of bringing the horse, donkey and, of course, baby Holstein calves. Kids in grades K-12 were able to attend the zoo, put the animals and learn about how agriculture affects their everyday life.
I have never had a more wholesome feeling than watching as the kids ran around excitedly petting each calf, asking their names and giggling when the calves tried to lick their fingers.