Boots in the Barn

Iowa State University Extension Dairy Team and Iowa Lakes Community College have teamed up to host Boots in the Barn, a program for women beef and dairy producers.
Boots in the Barn is a three-part series for women involved in a dairy or beef operation and/or industry and will be held at the Iowa Lakes Community College Farm in Emmetsburg. The sessions will be held Feb. 10, Feb. 24 and March 10 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

“We’ve had great success with [agriculture] programs designed specifically for women,” said Jenn Bentley, dairy specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “Women often prefer to learn in small groups and with hands-on opportunities. They like to ask lots of questions of presenters without feeling intimidated… Programs designed for women alone are very effective.”
The Feb. 10 session will feature Dr. Caitlyn Messerschmidt, veterinarian at Iowa State University. Dr. Messerschmidt will guide participants using Frosty (a life-size cow model), practicing putting chains on a calf to pull it and learning how to assist a cow in calving. Other topics include immediate calf care and colostrum. This session is sponsored in-part by a Professional Dairy Producers Foundation educational grant.

On Feb. 24, ISU Extension and Outreach beef and dairy specialists and Iowa Lakes Community College instructors will lead participants in how to help calves nurse, selecting colostrum products, mixing milk replacers and how to wean calves from milk and start them on dry feed. Participants will view both maternal and calf housing.
The third session will be held on March 10 and cover health basics and how to determine whether an animal is healthy or unhealthy. Activities include handling medicines and vaccines, giving injections, safety in working cattle and two national programs, Beef Quality Assurance and Farmers Assuring Responsible Management. These sessions will be led by ISU Extension and Outreach and Iowa Lakes Community College staff.

There is a $15 fee for this program and pre-registration is required. Register online at www.bit.ly/bootsinthebarn by Saturday, Feb. 6, at which time registration closes.
For more information on Boots in the Barn, contact Fred Hall or Beth Doran at 712.737.4230.