WEBVTT 00:00:10.220 --> 00:00:14.039 Creeping across the pasture land. Got dirt on 00:00:14.039 --> 00:00:18.719 the boots and a working hand. From the milk house 00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:24.000 home to the auction call. These are the folks 00:00:24.000 --> 00:01:02.130 standing strong and tall. Yeah, this is... Hey 00:01:02.130 --> 00:01:04.349 everyone, and welcome back to the Bullvine Podcast. 00:01:04.549 --> 00:01:06.569 It's great to have you with me today. Whether 00:01:06.569 --> 00:01:08.409 you've just finished morning chores, you're out 00:01:08.409 --> 00:01:10.769 for a drive, or stealing a quiet minute in the 00:01:10.769 --> 00:01:13.549 office, I'm glad you tuned in, because I've got 00:01:13.549 --> 00:01:17.290 a truly inspiring story for you. One about roots, 00:01:17.510 --> 00:01:20.489 vision, and how a little girl in a dusty Ontario 00:01:20.489 --> 00:01:23.250 fair ring could end up leading the charge for 00:01:23.250 --> 00:01:27.010 Canadian dairy's communication future. So, settle 00:01:27.010 --> 00:01:29.890 in, because this one's not just about milk, cattle, 00:01:30.030 --> 00:01:33.140 or data. This is about how one person's journey 00:01:33.140 --> 00:01:35.739 can change what's possible for everyone who cares 00:01:35.739 --> 00:01:40.959 about the future of farming. Let's start about 00:01:40.959 --> 00:01:43.959 as far back as you can. Imagine a little girl, 00:01:44.019 --> 00:01:46.319 just three years old, at Centerville Fair in 00:01:46.319 --> 00:01:48.819 eastern Ontario. You probably remember those 00:01:48.819 --> 00:01:51.780 days yourself. Show rings full of dust, calves 00:01:51.780 --> 00:01:54.519 fidgeting, your family bustling around you, everyone 00:01:54.519 --> 00:01:57.700 pitching in. Madison Diamond was that girl, holding 00:01:57.700 --> 00:02:00.939 the lead rope of her calf, Lilo. proudly marching 00:02:00.939 --> 00:02:03.900 into the ring alongside her older cousins. The 00:02:03.900 --> 00:02:06.599 sweet smell of fresh shavings mixing with summer 00:02:06.599 --> 00:02:09.759 air and the anticipation that only a county fair 00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:13.039 can create. Parents and grandparents lining the 00:02:13.039 --> 00:02:15.580 rail, heart in their throat, cameras at the ready. 00:02:15.759 --> 00:02:18.139 They're watching not just for ribbons, but to 00:02:18.139 --> 00:02:21.439 see the next generation take up the torch. Those 00:02:21.439 --> 00:02:24.560 moments matter. For Madison, that little slice 00:02:24.560 --> 00:02:27.199 of childhood, showing in the same ring as her 00:02:27.199 --> 00:02:29.969 cousins, surrounded by family, was the first 00:02:29.969 --> 00:02:32.530 chapter in a story that would change her and 00:02:32.530 --> 00:02:34.969 could change Canadian dairy for years to come. 00:02:35.550 --> 00:02:38.169 See, for Madison, dairy wasn't just an interest. 00:02:38.370 --> 00:02:41.250 It was in her bones, the fabric of daily life. 00:02:41.490 --> 00:02:44.490 Her mom's family, her dad's family, and even 00:02:44.490 --> 00:02:46.949 her stepdad's side were all, as she puts it, 00:02:47.009 --> 00:02:50.490 generational dairy farmers. Folks who still worked 00:02:50.490 --> 00:02:53.169 the land and put in the hours day in, day out. 00:02:53.289 --> 00:02:56.210 That wasn't just talk in her house. It was supper 00:02:56.210 --> 00:02:59.129 table strategy sessions. the play -by -play on 00:02:59.129 --> 00:03:01.689 heifer development, comparing notes on neighbors' 00:03:01.830 --> 00:03:04.650 breeding decisions, keeping up on every trend 00:03:04.650 --> 00:03:07.469 that hit the industry. And she didn't just inherit 00:03:07.469 --> 00:03:10.870 a work ethic. Madison's family is what she affectionately 00:03:10.870 --> 00:03:14.669 calls a chatty group. Open conversation, encouragement, 00:03:14.990 --> 00:03:17.669 support for taking different paths, all that 00:03:17.669 --> 00:03:20.990 was baked in. Yeah, she toyed with being a teacher, 00:03:21.129 --> 00:03:23.810 she considered vet school, even thought about 00:03:23.810 --> 00:03:27.009 being a marine biologist. But when it came right 00:03:27.009 --> 00:03:29.699 down to it, she found her greatest love was teaching, 00:03:29.960 --> 00:03:33.560 English, and of course, agriculture. Only back 00:03:33.560 --> 00:03:35.879 then, she thought she had to choose between those 00:03:35.879 --> 00:03:38.639 things. Here's where things take a turn worth 00:03:38.639 --> 00:03:41.379 remembering. A kitchen table kind of moment. 00:03:42.139 --> 00:03:44.419 Madison's mom, seeing her daughter's passions, 00:03:44.639 --> 00:03:47.560 recommends looking into agricultural communications. 00:03:48.500 --> 00:03:51.300 It's the kind of advice that sounds simple, but 00:03:51.300 --> 00:03:53.560 it changed the trajectory of Madison's life. 00:03:54.439 --> 00:03:56.740 Suddenly, Madison realized she didn't have to 00:03:56.740 --> 00:03:59.719 let go of any piece of herself. She could bring 00:03:59.719 --> 00:04:02.319 her love of teaching, writing, and farming together, 00:04:02.620 --> 00:04:06.520 maybe even become a professor one day. If you 00:04:06.520 --> 00:04:09.039 grew up on a farm, you know sometimes your story 00:04:09.039 --> 00:04:11.240 looks a little different than the next kid's. 00:04:11.860 --> 00:04:14.979 Madison never lived on a milking farm. Her family 00:04:14.979 --> 00:04:17.959 worked a small breeding operation instead. And 00:04:17.959 --> 00:04:20.339 before high school, they moved closer to town. 00:04:20.579 --> 00:04:23.199 She took responsibilities other farm kids may 00:04:23.199 --> 00:04:25.839 not have. and when high school hit, she started 00:04:25.839 --> 00:04:28.660 milking for a neighbor, balancing chores at home 00:04:28.660 --> 00:04:31.480 and at the barn down the road. She credits her 00:04:31.480 --> 00:04:33.800 parents for teaching her and her sisters the 00:04:33.800 --> 00:04:36.899 value of hard work, work that's less physical 00:04:36.899 --> 00:04:41.019 for her these days, but just as driven. Madison's 00:04:41.019 --> 00:04:44.100 parents didn't just foster a love of work, they 00:04:44.100 --> 00:04:47.939 made sure she felt free to explore. She remembers 00:04:47.939 --> 00:04:51.540 them encouraging every career phase any kid can 00:04:51.540 --> 00:04:54.240 imagine. never pushing her in one direction, 00:04:54.379 --> 00:04:56.759 but always ready to support the decision she 00:04:56.759 --> 00:05:00.680 made. But then reality hit. If Madison wanted 00:05:00.680 --> 00:05:03.259 to pursue agricultural communications at a deeper 00:05:03.259 --> 00:05:06.699 level, she had to leave home. There just wasn't 00:05:06.699 --> 00:05:09.439 a robust program in Canada that would let her 00:05:09.439 --> 00:05:12.379 blend her love for teaching, English, and agriculture 00:05:12.379 --> 00:05:15.420 in a purposeful way. It was a hard thing to face, 00:05:15.560 --> 00:05:17.620 but Madison understood that she would have to 00:05:17.620 --> 00:05:20.699 move away, not for a semester, not for a summer. 00:05:21.079 --> 00:05:23.399 but for years if she wanted to chase this dream. 00:05:23.980 --> 00:05:27.079 So off she went, first to the University of Kentucky, 00:05:27.259 --> 00:05:30.639 then down to Florida for her PhD. And it was 00:05:30.639 --> 00:05:33.480 more than a change of scenery. Madison found 00:05:33.480 --> 00:05:36.100 her way into the orbit of Dr. Ricky Telg at the 00:05:36.100 --> 00:05:38.959 University of Florida, a man who's often called 00:05:38.959 --> 00:05:42.180 the father of agcom, doctor. Telg has built his 00:05:42.180 --> 00:05:44.800 legacy, shaping the very core of how many modern 00:05:44.800 --> 00:05:47.480 agricultural communications programs operate 00:05:47.480 --> 00:05:50.449 all over the US. breathing life into curriculum, 00:05:50.670 --> 00:05:53.589 faculty training, student mentorship, the works. 00:05:54.230 --> 00:05:57.269 Madison describes Dr. Telg as a superhero in 00:05:57.269 --> 00:05:59.689 so many ways. He taught her about how to be a 00:05:59.689 --> 00:06:02.290 great teacher, how to give back, even how to 00:06:02.290 --> 00:06:05.209 nurture faith. And importantly, Dr. Telg's take 00:06:05.209 --> 00:06:08.290 on communications wasn't stuck in the past. It 00:06:08.290 --> 00:06:11.629 was broad, creative, and alive, showing Madison 00:06:11.629 --> 00:06:14.110 that agricultural communications could mean everything 00:06:14.110 --> 00:06:17.089 from digital media to crisis management, social 00:06:17.089 --> 00:06:20.000 media, educator training, and defending dairy 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:23.360 in the court of public opinion. Another massive 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:26.759 influence was Dr. Jamie Loezo. Under her guidance, 00:06:26.939 --> 00:06:29.319 Madison learned not to let the limits of what 00:06:29.319 --> 00:06:32.300 you see before you dictate how you go about your 00:06:32.300 --> 00:06:35.800 work. Loezo pushed her to be creative, to push 00:06:35.800 --> 00:06:39.220 boundaries, and, importantly, to always think 00:06:39.220 --> 00:06:41.699 a little bit bigger than what everybody else 00:06:41.699 --> 00:06:45.399 thought was possible. This philosophy on mentorship 00:06:45.399 --> 00:06:48.839 is something Madison holds close. She deeply 00:06:48.839 --> 00:06:51.620 values getting to know her students or mentees 00:06:51.620 --> 00:06:54.459 for who they are. It's not just about classroom 00:06:54.459 --> 00:06:56.860 struggles, but about understanding the whole 00:06:56.860 --> 00:07:00.000 person, the farm they came from, the problems 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:02.120 that might be weighing them down outside class, 00:07:02.259 --> 00:07:05.360 and where they want to go. Through these years 00:07:05.360 --> 00:07:07.699 of study and teaching, Madison's understanding 00:07:07.699 --> 00:07:11.639 of AgCom grew. Originally, she, like a lot of 00:07:11.639 --> 00:07:14.100 students she'd later meet at Guelph, really just 00:07:14.100 --> 00:07:16.699 thought of it as bridging the gap between producers 00:07:16.699 --> 00:07:20.240 and consumers. Managing messaging, fighting misconceptions, 00:07:20.720 --> 00:07:24.079 telling our side of the story. But she'd come 00:07:24.079 --> 00:07:27.240 to find out the field was so much bigger. Agcom 00:07:27.240 --> 00:07:30.139 covers everything from government policy to agricultural 00:07:30.139 --> 00:07:33.019 marketing, from consulting to science communications, 00:07:33.420 --> 00:07:36.339 from rodeo broadcasting to digital media production, 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:40.980 and yes, even law. That realization opened up 00:07:40.980 --> 00:07:43.550 an entirely new world. Not just for Madison, 00:07:43.750 --> 00:07:46.089 but for all the students she's now hoping to 00:07:46.089 --> 00:07:49.250 help back in Canada. One of the coolest projects 00:07:49.250 --> 00:07:52.189 Madison's tackled, one she's honestly proudest 00:07:52.189 --> 00:07:55.029 of, was her dissertation. Not just because it 00:07:55.029 --> 00:07:57.810 meant finally holding that PhD parchment, but 00:07:57.810 --> 00:07:59.850 because of the way she was able to co -create 00:07:59.850 --> 00:08:02.589 knowledge with her participants. She talks about 00:08:02.589 --> 00:08:04.470 the difference it makes to bring people into 00:08:04.470 --> 00:08:07.470 the research in a real way, letting their voices 00:08:07.470 --> 00:08:11.129 and experiences guide the work. Her hope, and 00:08:11.129 --> 00:08:13.350 it's a big one, is to leverage that research 00:08:13.350 --> 00:08:16.329 to help other faculty get a head start, sharing 00:08:16.329 --> 00:08:19.290 mentorship, building up the discipline, bringing 00:08:19.290 --> 00:08:22.189 even more educators up to speed as AgComm grows. 00:08:23.269 --> 00:08:26.170 During her time in Florida, Madison teamed up 00:08:26.170 --> 00:08:28.370 with Dr. Time, Lloyd's O on the Streaming Science 00:08:28.370 --> 00:08:31.089 Project, an international collaboration featuring 00:08:31.089 --> 00:08:34.389 scientists, grad students, undergrads, and alumni 00:08:34.389 --> 00:08:38.539 from the University of Guelph. Together, They 00:08:38.539 --> 00:08:41.539 created podcasts that shone a light on sustainable 00:08:41.539 --> 00:08:44.820 farming, science, and the very heart of agriculture. 00:08:45.340 --> 00:08:47.620 This wasn't just about building a student resume. 00:08:47.799 --> 00:08:50.299 It was testimony to what happens when you let 00:08:50.299 --> 00:08:52.740 learning reach beyond the classroom and into 00:08:52.740 --> 00:08:56.159 real hands -on advocacy. She's always had her 00:08:56.159 --> 00:08:59.240 eye on the practical meaning of her work. Madison 00:08:59.240 --> 00:09:02.179 says, I want to adequately represent producer 00:09:02.179 --> 00:09:05.840 experiences and amplify their voices when I can. 00:09:06.490 --> 00:09:08.990 That producer -first, community -partnership 00:09:08.990 --> 00:09:12.289 approach is really her secret sauce. She doesn't 00:09:12.289 --> 00:09:14.450 see herself dropping research on people from 00:09:14.450 --> 00:09:18.509 above. Instead, she dives in with them, makes 00:09:18.509 --> 00:09:21.149 the work about what matters to real folks, so 00:09:21.149 --> 00:09:23.529 the findings aren't just academic, they're usable 00:09:23.529 --> 00:09:26.950 back on the farm. All that, and Madison still 00:09:26.950 --> 00:09:28.990 says her biggest professional accomplishment, 00:09:29.309 --> 00:09:31.970 that dissertation and the work she did in co 00:09:31.970 --> 00:09:34.629 -creation, is something she's most proud of. 00:09:34.990 --> 00:09:37.190 She hopes the payoff is that new and veteran 00:09:37.190 --> 00:09:39.990 faculty alike can feel a bit more satisfied and, 00:09:40.049 --> 00:09:42.750 in turn, help the discipline of AgComm keep growing. 00:09:43.070 --> 00:09:45.850 She sees that discipline expanding, tackling 00:09:45.850 --> 00:09:48.090 new topics like natural resources communications, 00:09:48.710 --> 00:09:51.850 more variety in who pursues these programs, and 00:09:51.850 --> 00:09:54.730 bolder, broader impact in both education and 00:09:54.730 --> 00:09:57.730 in the industry. So what does all this mean for 00:09:57.730 --> 00:10:01.509 Canadian dairy? In Madison's eyes, the big challenge 00:10:01.509 --> 00:10:04.000 has always been how do we build an education 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:06.779 system up here that means kids don't have to 00:10:06.779 --> 00:10:10.139 leave home to chase their passions her vision 00:10:10.139 --> 00:10:12.679 is to create a formal agricultural communications 00:10:12.679 --> 00:10:16.360 program an actual undergraduate and graduate 00:10:16.360 --> 00:10:19.799 option at the university of guelph and she wants 00:10:19.799 --> 00:10:23.000 it to be for everyone the high schooler leading 00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:25.960 their first show calf the producer facing another 00:10:25.960 --> 00:10:28.720 round of consumer misconceptions the lifelong 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:31.519 farmer who wants their story told with fairness 00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:35.200 and pride. And let me tell you, she's not alone 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:38.259 in this vision. She's seen similar efforts work 00:10:38.259 --> 00:10:41.539 in places like the UK and Australia, where other 00:10:41.539 --> 00:10:44.559 AgCom leaders have set up new programs in universities 00:10:44.559 --> 00:10:48.159 that had nothing before. There's interest right 00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:50.879 here, too. Alberta has started experimenting 00:10:50.879 --> 00:10:53.580 with AgCom offerings, and Madison's research 00:10:53.580 --> 00:10:56.019 has shown that kids, parents, and professionals 00:10:56.019 --> 00:10:58.899 are all hungry for more. But she also knows the 00:10:58.899 --> 00:11:02.259 job's not done until real change happens. Not 00:11:02.259 --> 00:11:05.080 just more classes, but a new way for Canadian 00:11:05.080 --> 00:11:08.960 dairy to get its story out there. In an industry 00:11:08.960 --> 00:11:11.679 where succession and legacy matter just as much 00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:15.179 as daily yield, this isn't optional. If the next 00:11:15.179 --> 00:11:17.840 generation of dairy leaders, and let's be honest, 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:20.059 the farmers who carry the stickiest criticism 00:11:20.059 --> 00:11:22.600 from outsiders, wants to weather the storms, 00:11:22.840 --> 00:11:25.019 they'll need the skills to advocate, connect, 00:11:25.240 --> 00:11:28.889 and build credibility. online and off. Madison 00:11:28.889 --> 00:11:31.450 is adamant you can't leave storytelling to outsiders. 00:11:32.549 --> 00:11:34.830 Dairy farmers across the country are under more 00:11:34.830 --> 00:11:37.389 pressure than ever to communicate clearly about 00:11:37.389 --> 00:11:40.909 welfare, sustainability, food safety, and economics. 00:11:41.250 --> 00:11:43.649 She wants to put the power back where it belongs, 00:11:43.929 --> 00:11:46.710 with the families who are living the story every 00:11:46.710 --> 00:11:49.789 day. Now, you can't talk about farming today 00:11:49.789 --> 00:11:52.950 without mentioning technology. And Madison is 00:11:52.950 --> 00:11:55.590 all in on this too, as long as it's used ethically. 00:11:55.980 --> 00:11:58.720 From AI -powered social tools that help farmers 00:11:58.720 --> 00:12:01.779 manage outreach and reputation, to using data 00:12:01.779 --> 00:12:04.620 to tell the true story about herd health, productivity, 00:12:04.980 --> 00:12:08.220 and sustainability, this is the next leap dairy 00:12:08.220 --> 00:12:12.179 needs to make. Farms generate enormous data every 00:12:12.179 --> 00:12:14.600 day, and Madison contends that with the right 00:12:14.600 --> 00:12:17.440 training and mindset, that data becomes our greatest 00:12:17.440 --> 00:12:19.879 asset in defending and defining the industry 00:12:19.879 --> 00:12:22.779 to consumers, processors, and even government. 00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:26.629 Let's not forget. She wants to equip her students 00:12:26.629 --> 00:12:29.909 and future dairy leaders to transform that jumble 00:12:29.909 --> 00:12:32.750 of milk weights, feed conversion, and animal 00:12:32.750 --> 00:12:35.730 health data into not just spreadsheets, but real, 00:12:35.789 --> 00:12:39.070 relatable narratives that move people, open doors 00:12:39.070 --> 00:12:42.570 to premium contracts, new partnerships, and community 00:12:42.570 --> 00:12:45.509 trust. Throughout all these achievements and 00:12:45.509 --> 00:12:49.230 dreams, Madison's never lost focus on home. She's 00:12:49.230 --> 00:12:51.690 honest about missing Canada, about what it means 00:12:51.690 --> 00:12:54.629 to set roots somewhere. and feel the tug to come 00:12:54.629 --> 00:12:58.129 back. That's not just nostalgia. It's a call 00:12:58.129 --> 00:13:01.429 to action. She sees the chance to bring everything 00:13:01.429 --> 00:13:04.549 she's learned back to Ontario to help build a 00:13:04.549 --> 00:13:07.330 truly world -class program and to make sure that 00:13:07.330 --> 00:13:09.950 kids like her, kids like your own, don't have 00:13:09.950 --> 00:13:12.210 to choose between their communities and their 00:13:12.210 --> 00:13:15.830 calling. She isn't alone in this either. She's 00:13:15.830 --> 00:13:18.350 grateful to folks like Crystal McKay, pioneers 00:13:18.350 --> 00:13:21.070 who've carried the torch for agricultural communications. 00:13:21.820 --> 00:13:24.860 showing what can be done with grit, vision, and 00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:27.940 a whole lot of passion. Madison wants her legacy 00:13:27.940 --> 00:13:30.340 to be a road home for the next wave of agricultural 00:13:30.340 --> 00:13:33.659 communicators, and for every farm kid with big 00:13:33.659 --> 00:13:37.159 dreams and muddy boots. So, what can we take 00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:40.399 from all of this? Madison's story is, in a lot 00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:42.940 of ways, the story of every farm family who has 00:13:42.940 --> 00:13:45.279 ever wanted more for their kids than just what's 00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:48.840 easy. It's about roots, about the value of mentors, 00:13:51.470 --> 00:13:53.789 parents or just neighbors who cheer you on at 00:13:53.789 --> 00:13:56.830 the show it's about believing that every story 00:13:56.830 --> 00:13:59.590 from the biggest operation to the smallest show 00:13:59.590 --> 00:14:03.029 ring matters it's about the power of coming home 00:14:03.029 --> 00:14:06.289 if you're listening right now as a producer as 00:14:06.289 --> 00:14:09.009 someone who works hard and stays humble don't 00:14:09.009 --> 00:14:12.529 ever doubt the value of your own voice madison's 00:14:12.529 --> 00:14:15.230 journey from show ring to classroom and back 00:14:15.230 --> 00:14:18.149 again is about making sure that voice is strong 00:14:18.149 --> 00:14:20.960 enough to shape not just your own future but 00:14:20.960 --> 00:14:23.120 the future of Canadian dairy for generations 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:28.419 to come. So here are my key takeaways. Roots 00:14:28.419 --> 00:14:31.419 matter. Even when the soil changes beneath our 00:14:31.419 --> 00:14:34.240 feet, those roots are where we draw our strength. 00:14:34.980 --> 00:14:37.700 Mentors matter. Whether they wear barn boots 00:14:37.700 --> 00:14:40.620 or cap and gown, those who encourage us deserve 00:14:40.620 --> 00:14:43.539 a thank you. Your story matters. From the kitchen 00:14:43.539 --> 00:14:46.240 table to Parliament Hill, every farmer's voice, 00:14:46.419 --> 00:14:49.889 every producer's reality has power. Sometimes, 00:14:50.029 --> 00:14:52.509 you do have to leave home for a while, but nothing 00:14:52.509 --> 00:14:54.710 beats coming back and planting seeds for the 00:14:54.710 --> 00:14:58.330 next person. And legacy, it's not the grand gestures, 00:14:58.429 --> 00:15:01.149 it's the little lessons and honest work handed 00:15:01.149 --> 00:15:07.110 down through the years. Thanks again for joining 00:15:07.110 --> 00:15:08.909 me on the Bullvine Podcast. Madison's journey 00:15:08.909 --> 00:15:11.110 has given me, maybe all of us, a little more 00:15:11.110 --> 00:15:13.769 hope. Hope that through education, communications, 00:15:14.070 --> 00:15:16.769 and a whole lot of heart, we can make sure the 00:15:16.769 --> 00:15:19.009 world hears our story the way it deserves to 00:15:19.009 --> 00:15:22.169 be told. If you liked this episode, share it 00:15:22.169 --> 00:15:24.529 with a friend, send us your thoughts, and remember, 00:15:24.690 --> 00:15:27.649 your story, whether milk -soaked, mud -streaked, 00:15:27.649 --> 00:15:30.850 or wrapped in ambition, is worth telling. Signing 00:15:30.850 --> 00:15:33.570 off for now. Keep your boots dry, your cows content, 00:15:33.870 --> 00:15:36.789 and your heart in the right place. I'll see you 00:15:36.789 --> 00:15:38.590 next time, right here on The Bulldog.