A Day in the Life

Come on! It’s time to take a walk—so put on some comfortable shoes. We’re going to be hanging out on a dairy farm!

Once a month, one of our DFA dairy kids will show you what it’s like to be on the dairy farm from sunup to sundown. So let’s get a MOOve on—we’ve got a lot to do in just one day!

Down on the farm
By Lee Rossi

My name is Lee Rossi. I am 15 years old and live on a dairy farm in Hudson, Colorado. My father and mother own the dairy, and along with my two older brothers, run the dairy and farm 1,600 acres. We have three milkers that milk the cows three times a day, but I have to take care of my Ayrshire heifers by myself.

Two years ago one of my heifers, Crushy did really well at the State Fair. Because of that, I got really interested in showing more of my heifers. Now I have over 20 heifers that I have to train in case they qualify to go to fairs.

Every day during the summer, I get up and go feed my heifers. I have a 'show barn' that I tie the heifers to so they get really calm and like to see me. I have to walk them with a halter and train them to stand in the proper way. They have to be washed and clipped before fair time.

I stay pretty busy during the summer, but everybody gets a break during the winter. The heifers get to be regular animals and I have to go back to school!