Rural Missouri - May 2017 - 25
Above left:While Jodi milks the cows, Larry shows her a photo of another farmer's cow that was found dead in an uncovered well, one of the hazards on old farmsteads. Above right: Although it's a mess at the moment, the couple is happy for the rain which has fallen recently. Spring rains will help the Wrights get a good first and second cutting of hay, which will help keeps costs down. Larry, Lora, Blake and Jodi Wright are the owners of Wrightvale Farm, a small registered Holstein dairy farm in Verona. photo courtesy of Larry and Jodi Wright "So, no, if we had to live on what we make milking our 60 cows, we'd likely go hungry," Larry says, "But we enjoy the rest of what we do, so we keep going." The "rest of" what they do is strive to raise a better Holstein cow through refined genetic breeding. Through the years, the couple has studied the stock and bred their best cattle to develop a line which has given them a chance to sell top-quality cattle across the nation and internationally. The Wrights sell embryos as well as cattle, and recently had their first heifer born from in vitro fertilization, something they also hope to do more of in the future. Because the work never seems to end, farmers rarely get a chance to network. Sometimes a wave of greeting as they pass in a pickup on the gravel road might be all they have the time to share. So, finding time for fellowship with others after long days of work on the farm are moments everyone needs. Women on the farm especially find themselves feeling cut off from the world if they don't purposely visit with other women who live similar lifestyles. "A couple of years ago, we had a good friend of ours in dairy farming commit suicide," Jodi says. "A group of us talked about the need to connect as women - to not be on the farm all the time, and to have an outlet besides our cows and family. That rekindled a group that had been dormant for quite a while." Jodi says that group, MU Extension Women in Dairy, now meets monthly in Mount Vernon and Mountain Grove, with the two groups joining together for one larger event each January. Reagan Bluel, an Extension dairy specialist, leads the group, with the goal of offering emotional, social and educational support to women in the industry. "We have everyone from young mothers with babies who attend to retired farm wives who no longer milk cows but want to visit with everyone. You really don't even need to live on a dairy farm. The group's open to any woman who wants to attend and just may need a break," says Jodi. "It's a great way to meet women who most likely face similar situations." A sign hanging in the Wrights dining room reads, "Faith makes all things possible - not easy," an affirmation which Jodi takes to heart. "Sure, there are days you wonder why you're doing all this work," says Jodi. "Then you think about your family, the cattle, what you've accomplished, and you remember why you do it - because you love it all." You may contact the Wrights at leroyw@mowisp.net or by calling 417-743-2921. To learn more about the MU Extension Women in Dairy program, contact Regan Bluel at Bluelrj@missouri.edu or call 417-847-3161. MAY 2017 | RURALMISSOURI.COOP 25