A life shaped by agriculture

From a very young age, I could be found in the cow yard feeding calves or riding in the tractor with my father. I grew up on a small cow-calf operation alongside my three siblings — Jax, Bethany and Ella — and my parents, Tony and Paula Bauer, near Hayfield. Agriculture was not just a part of my upbringing; it was the foundation of my daily life.

At 2 years old, you could find me in the show ring at the local county fair. One of my earliest memories from the Dodge County Fair was when I was 7 and my grandparents, Dale and Marlys Hickley, gave me two calves. They were twins, one dairy steer and one freemartin heifer. Boy, was I excited. I even gave them matching names, Squirrel and Chipmunk.

Our parents started a tradition: When you turn 9 years old, you get your own registered calf in your name to show for 4-H. The oldest, my brother, got a Hereford heifer. When my oldest sister Bethany’s 9th birthday rolled around, everything changed.

We went to the World Dairy Expo to see my mom, who was working at her company’s booth at the trade show. Bethany went wandering around the barn and discovered a cow that captured her attention — Old Mill E Snickerdoodle, one of the greatest cows in the show industry. So, a couple weeks later, my parents and sister headed to a dispersal sale in Wisconsin and found a calf Bethany was in love with. This started our crazy obsession with the “Big Brown Cow.”

Once I reached 9 years old, my parents purchased me a Brown Swiss heifer. My father and I went to Wisconsin for a sale and found my first calf; her name was Jilly. Now, she wasn’t the most correct heifer one ever saw, but she had many wrinkles on her neck and head, and that is what drew me to bidding on her. A weird reason to buy an animal, but what can I say, I was 8.

That cow didn’t enjoy me one bit. I remember one year, at the Olmsted County Fair, I walked into the ring with her when she was a dry cow. Within moments, she knocked me to the ground. Despite this setback, I remained determined to build a bond with her. This experience taught me resilience and persistence — qualities that have continued to shape me.

In the seventh grade, I was able to join the local FFA chapter, where I developed leadership skills while also taking on various leadership roles at both the chapter and regional levels. My adviser, Jack Crowson, consistently encouraged members to pursue excellence. He has always made giving his students life-changing opportunities a priority. For me, it was forcing me to compete at the state dairy handling contest, where I ended up winning and advancing to nationals in Indiana. Crowson’s mentorship through my later high school years had a profound and lasting influence on my personal growth and leadership development.

While also in high school, I worked for a local dairy farmer, Kevin Connelly, feeding calves. I would feed calves every evening and occasionally the mornings on school breaks.

Just after my first year of college at South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota, my family decided to make a life-changing decision. The summer of 2023, we moved to Chatfield, where we bought a local dairy close to my grandparents. Here, we raise the heifers and take care of the dry cows. This transition has allowed me to spend more time with my animals while also being able to see family more consistently.

One of the most meaningful accomplishments with my own cattle was with my show heifer, TCC Sizzling JJ. At the 2024 Southwestern National Brown Swiss Show in Stillwater, Oklahoma, she was named Junior Champion in the junior and open shows. Her pedigree traces back to that very first cow I owned, Jilly, making this achievement especially significant.

What began as a simple 4-H project has now evolved into a life-altering experience. Through agriculture, I have developed responsibility, perseverance and a deep appreciation for the industry. These experiences have not only shaped my upbringing but have also influenced my future aspirations.