Meagan is a sixth-generation dairy farmer in Van Wert County, Ohio. Together with her dad and brother, they use robotic milkers and other technology to care for their 250 Holstein cows. Meagan also partners with ADA Mideast to deliver the Adopt A Cow program to elementary students in Ohio and West Virginia. 

Your role on the farm is to care for the calves. Why is this important?

I love being a part of this crucial time when calves’ health, growth and future are being defined. Calves are the future of dairy farms, and I want to make sure I am doing the best I can for our calves to reach their full growth potential and become great cows.

How do you use technology on your farm?

Using technology has helped us improve cow comfort and health. On my family’s dairy farm, we use four robotic milkers which allows cows to choose when they are milked. Our cows wear neck collar transponders for continuous monitoring to help us detect health problems earlier. We have an automatic feed pusher that runs every hour and allows the cows to have constant access to fresh feed. Our barns have temperature-controlled fans for warm days, that turn off when it gets cooler.

Does technology replace the personal care farmers give their cows?

Not at all. Technology doesn’t replace a farmer’s care, it actually enhances it. Robots help farmers have more time to focus on overall health of the animals and manage other aspects of the farm more efficiently. Robots provide farmers a vast amount of data on individual cows, like milk output, body temperature and activity levels, leading to better and more customized care.

Meet more Ohio and West Virginia dairy farmers.