Instead of holding in-person meetings for its annual Boots in the Barn program, Iowa State University Extension will host it virtually in early 2021. This annual educational program is a three-part series for women involved in a dairy operation or industry, and will be held as a webinar series. The webinars will be Jan. 22 and 29, and Feb. 5, via Zoom from noon to 1:15 p.m. each day.

The Jan. 22 session will feature Sarah Adcock, assistant professor in animal welfare research at the University of Wisconsin. Adcock will discuss pain management for disbudding, and steps producers can take to stay ahead of consumer concerns and changing industry standards for this procedure.

On Jan. 29, Emily Krekelberg, farm safety and health Extension educator at the University of Minnesota, will present “A Better Farm Starts With a Better You.” With low commodity prices, high debt loads and challenging weather in recent years, farm families are experiencing a high amount of stress. The COVID-19 pandemic added an unprecedented set of circumstances to already stressful conditions on many farms. Some days, it can seem impossible to stay above it all.

Krekelberg will discuss wellness, self-care and strategies to help yourself and others cope with stress.

The third webinar on Feb. 5 includes a panel of dairy women sharing their own personal dairy hacks, tips and tricks. They will share experiences managing a dairy farm, owning a dairy farm and working in the industry. Find out how these three women take care of their animals and balance life. Bring your own ideas and join in the discussion of sharing dairy farm tips and tricks.

No fee, but you must register

There is no fee for this program; however, registration is required. Register in advance for this meeting at iastate.zoom. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

“We’ve had great success with programs designed specifically for women,” says Jenn Bentley, ISU Extension dairy specialist. “Women often prefer to learn in small groups and with hands-on opportunities. They like to ask lots of questions of presenters without feeling intimidated, so programs designed for women alone are very effective.”

In addition to ISU Extension, the program is also sponsored by a Professional Dairy Producers Foundation educational grant. For more information about Boots in the Barn, contact Bentley at [email protected] or 563-382-2949.

Source: ISU, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.