Wisconsin Life

[twangy guitar] Sunrise over Lake Michigan signals the start of a new day at one of Manitowoc County's largest dairy farms.

– Rosario Ibarra: Hey, mommies!

I love to be involved in every area of the farm.

- Rosario Ibarra greets every day with a smile.

- Good morning!

- Despite the early morning wake-up call.

- Usually, my day starts at 5:00 am.

I arrive to the farm, and then, usually, I do a tour around the farm, checking that everything is okay, and I start to get calls.

Hi, Melanie, thank you.

Ah, yes, the interviews went very well.

- Farm life means Rosario is constantly on the go.

- I like to say hello to everybody in the farm.

- As the general manager, she supervises the daily operations at Grotegut Dairy Farm near Newton.

- Currently, in this farm, we are over 50 full-time employees, and 90% of them only speak Spanish.

- Mm-hmm, okay.

ndele pues, Chuy.

iGracias!

Bye.

I should pay attention to my English teachers because I always used to say, "Why do I need to learn English?

I'm never going to use it."

And look at me!

- Growing up in Mexico, Rosario earned a science degree in soil management and crop production, opening doors for an internship in the dairy state.

- I was selected to do my professional practices here in Wisconsin, specifically in New Holstein.

- However, there was just one problem.

- I remember we saw this map of the US, and we're like, "Okay, we are here.

So, where is Wisconsin?"

When I arrived to the farm, I ask myself, "What the heck I'm doing here?"

And that was my first experience with cows, really.

That was the first time that I saw a real Holstein.

That's the reason I am here because someone gave me an opportunity.

- For more than a decade, Wisconsin has been home.

A place where dairy farming requires long hours and hard work.

- So, it's not for everyone, but someone has to do it.

For now, that person is me.

So, that's my focus.

Do it and do it right.

- As day turns to night, Rosario is back on the farm for a second round of evening chores.

- They are curious, and they know that it's time to get their milk.

[cow lowing 'moooooooooo-ooooooo'] So, it's a challenge when the time changes and it's dark.

Hey, princess, here, here; Come on!

Parece que estn comiendo bien, hay le checan.

And usually, I am around the farm at this time.

There is a lot that I can do at night.

I do some of my office jobs at that moment because, usually, it's a quiet time.

[ink jet printing] And I can go home between 10, 11-ish pm.

Perfect!

Okay, Jorge, gracias.

Bye.

A good day at the farm is when we can go home with a clean conscience and with peace of mind.

- For Rosario, it's always 'farming with a smile.'

- Every day is different, so I just try to do my best.

It's a lifestyle, for sure.

[cow moos]