Michelle Schilter is a third-generation dairy farmer from Chehalis. Farmers are notoriously bad at finding time to vacation so it’s a wonder that Schilter has found herself away from the milking parlor and smack dab in the middle of the South by Southwest music and film festival in Austin, Texas.
“When most people think of technology in Washington they’re thinking Microsoft or Amazon, but I want them to start thinking about dairy,” said Schilter in a press release from the Washington State Dairy Council.
As it turns out, a full score of dairy farmers made the trek to Texas in order to take their message to the masses. The 20 farmers in attendance are particularly focused on educating people about common food myths and the benefit of technology in modern food production.
“I use technology every day on the farm and I’m excited to share that story with attendees at SXSW,” said Schilter in the release. “I want people to feel comfortable about the relationship between technology and farming and recognize the benefits it has on our food system and planet.”
Schilter is used to delivering her message to strangers since she serves as a board member on a national dairy organization, Dairy Management Inc., and chairwoman of the Dairy Farmers of Washington Board of Directors.
“Consumers want to know the story of their food from farm to table, as well as the faces behind it,” Schilter noted. “I’m eager to answer their questions and highlight the reasons why dairy is a perfect product — it’s local, responsibly produced and packed with nutrients.”
Schilter said her main goal is to put a face first hand perspective on the often mysterious world of the milking parlor.
“People think we wear overalls and a straw hat, but I’m ready to promote the advancements we’ve made and show what modern-day dairy farming is like,” explained Schilter. “From robotic milkers — which actually improve the cows’ quality of life — to climate-controlled barns to anaerobic digesters that can turn waste into electricity, we are becoming more sustainable and efficient every day.”
Updates on Schilter’s efforts at SXSW can be found on the Dairy Farmers of Washington Facebook page.
