People

In the city of Garnett, Kansas, sits the registered Jersey cattle herd of Ratliff Jerseys, started over 20 years ago by Ron and Christy Ratliff, with the help of Christy’s brother Mike Kennedy. Together, the trio has bred, raised and sold numerous championship and nationally recognized Jersey cows.

On any given year during the first week of October, Madison, Wisconsin, is the hub for dairy enthusiasts from all over the world. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case this year.

How did you get started in photography?

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.