Creeping across the pasture land. Got dirt on
the boots and a working hand. From the milk house
home to the auction call. These are the folks
standing strong and tall. Yeah, this is... Hey
there, dairy industry friends. Welcome back to
the Bullvine Podcast. I'm your host, and today
I've got a story that's going to challenge everything
you think you know about agricultural advocacy.
So picture this. You're scrolling through social
media, probably seeing the same old posts about
somatic cell counts and feed conversion ratios,
right? And then you stumble across this account.
where there's a mom in barn boots chasing twin
toddlers through a milking parlor while her husband
rolls his eyes in the background. You think,
wait, this is dairy farming content? That's exactly
what happened to me when I discovered Annalise
Wegner, better known as the modern -day farm
chick. And folks, what I found completely flipped
my understanding of how we should be talking
to consumers about our industry. Here's the thing
that blew my mind. While most of us in the dairy
world are still posting charts about butterfat
percentages and trying to educate consumers with
technical data, Annalise built a community of
over 100 ,000 followers by doing the exact opposite.
And get this, she's not just building followers,
she's building multiple revenue streams that
are putting real money back into her family's
farm operation. Let me tell you Annalise's story.
because it started in the most unexpected way.
Picture a young dairy farmer, fresh out of UW
River Falls with a dairy science degree, working
alongside her husband Tom at Wegner Land Dairy
in Wisconsin. They're milking about 650 Holstein
cows, solid operation, impressive 93 -pound herd
average with 4 .4 % butterfat. Everything's going
great until life throws her a curveball. Twins.
Now, I don't know about you, but I've seen plenty
of farm families navigate the chaos of newborns.
But Annalise describes this transition in a way
that hit me right in the gut. She told me, My
transition from full -time farmer to part -time
farmer and full -time butt wiper was tough. I
remember feeling so happy to be a mother, but
also a little lost. I had always been a farmer.
What was I now? This is where her story gets
interesting. Instead of retreating from agriculture,
She turned to social media as a lifeline. But
here's the kicker. She wasn't trying to become
an influencer. She just started sharing blog
posts with her grandparents and posting on Facebook
about the basic stuff happening on their farm.
Then came the moment that changed everything.
She posted about treating a cow with mastitis,
explaining how they use antibiotics, and all
the steps they take to ensure antibiotics don't
end up in the food supply. That post went viral.
It grew my following significantly, she told
me, and made me realize that people really care
and want to learn more about their dairy products.
But here's what's brilliant about Annalise's
approach. She didn't double down on the technical
education. Instead, she had this lightbulb moment.
Consumers weren't hungry for more agricultural
lectures. They were hungry for authenticity.
Now, this is where it gets really interesting
for all of us listening. who are trying to figure
out how to connect with consumers. Annalise discovered
something that completely contradicts conventional
ag advocacy wisdom. She told me, Someone once
told me that the best way to promote ag is by
not talking about it. Seems wild, but I've come
to see the truth in it. People connect with people,
not with their job. Think about that for a second.
While we're out here defending our practices
with data and studies, She's building relationships
by sharing her morning fitness routine, her twins
helping with calf chores, and Tom's perpetual
eye rolls at being filmed. Her content strategy
is genius in its simplicity. If you look at her
feed, you'll find a 4 to 1 ratio of lifestyle
content to education content. She's sharing recipes
featuring dairy products, workout routines, parenting
struggles, and farm life humor. And here's the
magic. When she does share agricultural content,
her audience is already invested in her as a
person. She calls it sliding in the vegetables,
like sneaking nutrition into mac and cheese.
Years ago, I started selling skincare online
and had the opportunity to meet women outside
of my ag circle, she explained. We bonded over
skincare, motherhood, being goal -oriented, so
many things, and now I am their go -to person
when they have a question about dairy. It's pretty
cool. Here's where this story becomes a masterclass
in agricultural entrepreneurship. What started
as therapeutic blogging has evolved into a legitimate
second income for the Wegner family. We're talking
multiple revenue streams, sponsored content with
agricultural brands like Armor Animal Health,
Her Farm Plus Grow Co., community offering workshops
and masterminds, speaking engagements at agricultural
conferences, merchandise featuring phrases like
I enjoy long, wet, romantic walks down the cheese
aisle. When I asked her about monetizing her
platform, her response was telling. Isn't that
crazy? When I started sharing on social media
over 12 years ago, I never thought I would be
able to monetize it. But here's what impressed
me most. She hasn't let commercialization corrupt
her voice. I still create the same fun, real,
and raw content because that's what my community
loves, she insisted. She's even brought on a
bookkeeper and podcast manager to handle the
business side while staying true to her authentic
approach. Now, one of my favorite aspects of
Annalise's brand is how she's navigated the challenge
of including her family in her public platform
while respecting boundaries. Her husband, Tom,
has become somewhat of a folk hero among her
followers as the unwitting participant who's
always getting dragged into content creation.
But here's what's interesting. That reluctant
husband persona? It's mostly character at this
point. He is actually the best supporter and
even shares content ideas from time to time,
she revealed. Don't get me wrong, he still hates
a camera in his face, but he kinda knows that
my followers love him and his antics. This evolution
reflects something crucial for any farm family
considering this path. Your family's understanding
and buy -in will grow as they see the positive
impact you're making. but it starts with clear
boundaries and respect for comfort levels. Perhaps
the most impressive part of Annalise's journey
is how she's used her platform to lift up other
voices in agriculture. Through her podcast, Ag's
Most Okayest Farm Girls with Courtney Feigl and
her Farm Plus Grow Co. initiative, she's specifically
focused on empowering women in agriculture to
share their stories. Listen to this tagline from
her podcast. For women who are craving connection,
laughter, solidarity, camaraderie, and just overall
encouragement in your everyday life and dreams.
The underlying message is powerful. Our whole
message is, we are not perfect. We are not the
best at what we do. Nobody is. It's okay to just
be okay. You're doing great. In a world of Instagram
perfection, this permission to be okay -est is
revolutionary, and it's working. Through Farms
Grow Co., she offers workshops like finding your
authentic ag voice, and masterminds focused on
social media strategy for farm entrepreneurs.
When I asked what holds people back from sharing
their stories, her answer was immediate. Confidence.
I have found that so many women don't think they
have a story to tell. They tell themselves things
like, I'm not on the farm enough to share, or
I'm just a farm mom, or I won't make a difference.
I've even heard, I'm not pretty enough. It's
absolute bullshit. Your story matters and you
can make a difference, but you have to get started.
Now, let's talk about something every agricultural
advocate faces, controversial topics. From animal
welfare to GMOs, we all know the scrutiny modern
farming faces. Annalise's approach here is particularly
enlightening. Just keep it simple and share the
truth, she advises. I try to put myself in their
shoes and understand where they are coming from.
I have learned that if I get defensive, it will
only escalate the situation. Positivity and being
honest goes a long way. She shared a perfect
example from her husband's class reunion. A classmate
was ranting about factory farms and how big farms
are bad. When he learned that Wegnerland Dairy
milks 600 cows, his response was telling, well,
I know you guys though. I know you aren't like
that. Just because you don't know the farmer
doesn't mean they are bad or operate like a factory,
she told him. This conversation crystallized
her approach. Consumers need to get to know their
farmers. Instead of myth -busting through confrontation,
she promotes what she loves rather than bashing
what she hates. There are so many myths and negative
stories we as farmers would like to bust, but
I have found that there is no need to bring more
attention to these things. Using a positive approach
to shed light works better. and makes you more
approachable for future questions. So what can
we learn from Analisi's approach? She offers
some refreshingly practical advice for dairy
farmers wanting to improve their consumer communication.
First, do it. Share because your story matters
and can make a difference. The way I talk about
agriculture may not resonate with someone, but
the way you talk about it could. Second, you
don't have to have thousands of followers or
posts daily to make an impact. Create quality
and authentic content, but most importantly,
let people get to know you. And third, be real.
I often hear that people are fearful to share
because they don't know it all. Shit, neither
do I. But I do have a perspective and knowledge
to share. Her advice for finding your platform
is equally straightforward. Just have fun and
be yourself. You don't have to utilize every
social media platform. Find what works for you
and what you enjoy. Most importantly, understand
your worth. You do have a story to share and
people need to hear it. After diving deep into
Annalise's approach, I think her success comes
down to five key ingredients. She leads with
vulnerability, not expertise. By acknowledging
what she doesn't know and sharing her struggles
alongside her successes, she creates space for
genuine conversation rather than one -way information
delivery. She prioritizes connection over conversion.
Rather than trying to immediately convince consumers
about farming practices, she builds relationships
first, making her a trusted source when agricultural
questions do arise. She makes agriculture approachable.
By integrating farming into broader lifestyle
content, she meets people where they are, rather
than demanding they enter her world first. She
embodies authenticity. In every post, podcast
episode, and workshop, Annalise shows up as herself.
Unpolished, imperfect, and utterly genuine. In
a world of carefully curated content, this realness
is magnetic. And finally, she remembers the human
element. Behind every consumer question or concern
is a person trying to make good choices for their
family. By honoring this human element, she creates
conversations rather than confrontations. Here's
what really gets me about Analisi's story. She's
proving that our industry's obsession with technical
education might actually be backfiring. Consumers
don't trust lectures about butterfat percentages.
They trust farmers they know personally. While
operating a progressive 650 -cow Holstein operation
with impressive production metrics, she built
100 ,000 -plus social media followers not by
explaining Dairy Comp 305 data, but by sharing
authentic motherhood and farm life moments. Her
connection before curriculum approach has generated
multiple revenue streams and created a community
of consumers who trust agriculture because they
trust her. This challenges every dairy farmer
still posting somatic cell count charts instead
of building genuine relationships with the people
buying their products. Progressive operations
worldwide are discovering that vulnerability
and storytelling create stronger consumer loyalty
than technical specifications ever could. As
I wrap up this story, I keep coming back to something
Annalise said. Your story can be the bridge between
some mom's grocery cart and agriculture's future.
In her hands, that bridge isn't built with statistics
or lectures. It's built with authenticity, humor,
and the everyday moments that make us all human.
Through twin tantrum stories, Tom's good -natured
eye rolls, calf care tips, and unfiltered glimpses
of dairy life, she doesn't just educate, she
welcomes people in. She makes Who Grew My Cheese
feel as personal as How's Your Day? And in doing
so, she's transformed the modern -day farm chick
from a blog for grandparents into a powerful
platform for connection that's changing how people
think about dairy farming one post at a time.
So here's my challenge to every dairy farmer
listening. Stop defending your practices and
start sharing your story. Your operation's profitability
and our industry's future may depend on it. Because
at the end of the day, in an era where consumers
are increasingly disconnected from food production,
people crave authentic connection with the humans
behind their food. And that, my friends, is exactly
why Annalise Wegner is worth following, both
literally and figuratively. Thanks for joining
me today on the Bullvine Podcast. Until next
time, keep thinking differently about how we
connect with the people who matter most. The
consumers choosing our products every single
day.