One of the individuals that was selected to serve as a dairy ambassador is Jill Merritt, who is from Lebanon.

How long have you been involved in the dairy industry?

For five years.

What is your involvement in the dairy industry and how did you get started in it?

I work on a local dairy farm that I was introduced to through an agriculture teacher. I went on a tour for a school project, then became involved in the 4-H leasing program through that farm.

In the leasing program through that farm, kids who do not have dairy cattle of their own are give the opportunity to show cows and heifers. I worked in 4-H for two years before being offered a job where I milk the cows and this past year I was one of the of the leaders for the very leasing program that really gave me my start in dairy.

What is your favorite memory you have made working with dairy cattle?

My favorite memory would have to be delivering a surprise set of twins from one of my favorite cows. It was raining outside and I was going to get the last few cows from the barn when I spotted Vogue, the cow, licking off a brand-new calf.

She was due to calve, so that wasn’t much of a surprise. What was a surprise, however, was the second set of hooves on the way. I ran to go get the farmer and we worked to get Vogue and the new calf into the hospital barn.

We were just in time, too, as the second heifer was not far behind. It was incredible to watch Vogue and her twins thrive after that.