People

For Sieto Mellema of Dalhart, Texas, naming his dairy Full Circle Jerseys was an idea that came to him in the middle of the night. After thinking about his family’s process of growing the crops to feed their cows, which produce the milk to make the cheese at a plant, which ends up providing recycled water for their farm to irrigate crops – he drew a shape in the air with his finger and realized it all comes to a full circle.

For the last year-and-a-half, I have researched, written and shared about female entrepreneurs I admire and the lessons the dairy industry can learn from them. Before I reflect on the series ending, I want to share how it started.

I’ve been a dairy cattle photographer for over 20 years, and one thing is for certain – every day is different. There is no typical day for me.

Dr. Marissa Hake is a practicing calf veterinarian from northwest Ohio. She obtained her undergraduate degree in animal sciences from Michigan State in 2011 and continued there to finish her master’s in public health (MPH) and doctorate in veterinary medicine (DVM) in 2015.

“Grow through what you go through.” Those aren’t just words Jamie Pagel Witcpalek wears on a bracelet; it is a mantra that’s now embedded in her heart.

How did you get started in photography?