Cattlewomen say Boots in the Barn made lasting impact

AMES — Working with cattle can be an around-the-clock job, especially during certain busy seasons or when help is short.

But taking a break is essential, according to past participants of an educational program called “Boots in the Barn,” offered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

For the dairy and beef farmers who have participated in this program — that “break” is more like a few hours away from the farm to learn even more about farming.

But it’s time well spent, resulting in new ideas that improve farm efficiency and friendships with other cattlewomen.

“On the farm, we rarely slow down enough to rethink how we could be doing things or come up with other ideas,” said Molly Ihde, a dairy farmer from Windsor Valley Dairy, in Fayette County.

“The Boots in the Barn program provides dedicated time for doing this, while providing an opportunity to chat and share ideas among other producers.”

Ihde farms with her parents, Steven and Connie Schmitt; her brother, Lucas Schmitt; and husband, Sam Ihde. They milk about 300 head of grade Holsteins using five Lely robotic milking machines, and crop farm about 900 acres.

Molly Ihde graduated from Wartburg College in 2016, with a degree in public relations and journalism.

Following a stint as an ag communicator with Dairy Farmers of America and a county 4-H program coordinator, she returned to the family farm, where she helps with the dairy and continues some freelance work on the side, including a blog she writes for Hoard’s Dairyman.

She attended Boots in the Barn in spring of 2024, along with her mother, Connie Schmitt. Some of their favorite sessions included a calf birthing simulation (presented by the ISU College of Veterinary Medicine) and a review of calf nutrition and vaccination recommendations.

The birthing simulation offers participants a life-size model of a cow and calf and includes an inside look at the pregnant cow’s body, complete with the realistic task of pulling the calf in a variety of positions.

“The model helped improve our knowledge and our grasp of what’s actually happening internally when a cow is in labor, and when pulling a calf,” said Ihde.

As a result of lessons learned about rations and colostrum, the Ihdes have changed how they manage and store colostrum and also modified their calf vaccination protocol.

About a half-hour northeast of Windsor Valley Dairy LLC is the Enyart family dairy, where Monica Enyart and her family milk 125 head of dairy cows.

Enyart enjoyed the same Boots in the Barn sessions as Ihde and Schmitt, and likewise said the calving and nutrition sessions were helpful.

This was her second time completing the program, and each time she learned something new.

“It’s always good to have those refreshers, especially among other farm women,” she said. “You can ask a question and feel a little more confidence than you might feel if you were among a group of men.”

Enyart is a 2006 graduate of Iowa State University, where she earned a degree in agricultural education, with a minor in horticulture.

What she also likes about Boots in the Barn is the diversity among participants. Even though all are women, there is a wide range of ages, roles and backgrounds.

“Not everyone is the milker — some people just take care of the calves, some people just mix the feed or handle field work. So, it’s just nice to see that everyone does something different, and we can learn from each other because of it,” she said.

Boots in the Barn is typically offered in late winter and into the first part of spring.

To attend a future offering, contact your area dairy or beef specialist.