Small Dairy, Big Dreams: FFA Members Discover Career Success

What started as a dream has grown into a thriving family-owned dairy business, inspiring FFA members to pursue their own agricultural goals. 

During the 99th National FFA Convention & Expo, members visited Dandy Breeze Creamery in Sheridan, Ind., for a Career Success Tour, where they gained firsthand experience with dairy production and small-business operations. 

For some members, the tour offered an entirely new experience, including the opportunity to milk a cow for the first time. 

Joe Hopper, a farmhand at Dandy Breeze, explained that the operation raises Jersey cows rather than the more commonly recognized Holsteins. 

Hopper, who has a background in farming, returned to the dairy industry after being inspired by his neighbor. He says building the creamery required years of dedication, and the owner balances teaching and dairy responsibilities. 

“So if you want to make it a career, you’re probably going to have to work for it,” Hopper says. 

For Sydeny Kramer of the Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial FFA in Minnesota, the message was personal. Her family moved from the city to a small farm two years ago and began raising pigs. 

“I think it’s pretty cool being able to start small and build your way up,” she says. 

Zackery Parker of the Cheraw FFA Chapter in South Carolina says the experience demonstrated the opportunities available through agriculture and FFA. 

“Dreams are a possibility with agriculture,” he says. 

Through hands-on learning and real-world examples, Dandy Breeze showed members that agricultural success doesn’t always begin with a large operation, but with passion, perseverance and a willingness to start small.