Reviving the Dairy Tradition: How Apprenticeships are Empowering the Next Generation of Farmers

Ben Wagner, a seasoned dairy farmer in central Minnesota, embodies more than just the farming life. At nearly 66-years-old, his multifaceted roles stretch from accountant and mechanic to herder, on a farm that sustains 75 cows and cultivates 300 acres of crops. His zealous partner, 25-year-old Jack Schouweiler, is instrumental in invigorating Wagner's farm, harboring ambitions to acquire the entire operation.
Every morning, Wagner tends to calves while Schouweiler manages milking and pasturing on organically grown lands. Their collaboration exemplifies the rare but dwindling model of pastured dairy farming, which faces a 5-10% annual decline as elder farmers retire without successors.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture-backed Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship (DGA) scheme offers hope. Founded in 2015, DGA's mission is to transition expertise and estates like Wagner's to apprentice farmers, ensuring the preservation and growth of pasture-based systems. With 70 journeymen graduates and 59 active farm-apprentice duos, DGA strides forward in sustaining dairy agriculture whilst enhancing local economies.
Notably, pasture-based dairies—providing over half a cow's diet from pasture—present ecological benefits unmatched by confined mega-farms. They're limited, representing merely 16% of U.S. operations, as larger farms absorb the smaller ones due to cost efficiencies and technological advancements. Yet, despite their challenges, pasture-grazing systems proliferate rural economies by approximately 20% more than other dairies, steeped in community resilience and nutritional superiority.
Wagner's journey denotes that transferring traditional wisdom to eager successors like Schouweiler can redefine the trajectory of the dairy sector profoundly. Amid climate uncertainties, the practices of these pastured systems champion the ideal balance between productivity and sustainability, advocating for farms grounded in ecological stewardship.