#112: A Family Legacy of Dairy and Determination
” No matter what, if you don't care for your animal, no matter what size of farm, if you don't care for it, it's not gonna produce milk. And if they don't produce milk, then we're out of a job.”
Farming is in your blood. That early morning routine, the smell of silage, the way the cows know you by your boots. It's not something you do—it's something you live. And if you're raising kids at the same time, you know the line between "work" and "life" is pretty much nonexistent.
That's why I loved sitting down with Madi Skubal on the Farming on Purpose Podcast. She's a fourth-generation dairy farmer in Southeast Iowa, raising kids and cows alongside her family. Her story is a powerful look at what it means to return to your roots, juggle motherhood and farm life, and still dream forward into something new.
A Farm That Came Back to Life
Madi's family farm didn’t take the usual path. Her grandfather had to sell the cows in the 1980s due to health issues and tough times. But instead of selling off everything, he kept the land and buildings for the next generation. Years later, Madi’s dad and uncle brought cows back to the farm and restarted the operation. When her uncle left, her dad kept it going—milking 150 Holsteins and raising heifers with the help of family and hired hands.
That decision to hang onto the farm made it possible for Madi to grow up surrounded by it all. It gave her the chance to walk away, go to college, and then choose to come back.
Choosing to Come Home
Madi left for college thinking she'd do something different. She picked a major, moved to the city, and thought she was done with 3 a.m. wake-up calls. But pretty quickly, she realized she missed it. She missed the animals, the work, and most of all—her family.
So she made a change. Switched colleges. Changed her major to dairy science. Came home to the farm.
That decision wasn’t just about a career. It was about building a life that kept her close to her roots and the people she loved. Even when it meant long hours, early mornings, and a future that wasn’t totally clear.
Day-to-Day on a Dairy With Kids in Tow
Before having her third daughter, Madi was milking three to four mornings a week. That meant waking up at 3:00 a.m., heading to the barn, and then coming back home to get the girls ready for the day. Her mom helps a lot, and her husband, who farms nearby, jumps in when he can—but they both have their own operations.
Some weeks are smooth, others are a mess. Supper might be mac and cheese or pizza on the way home from the farm. Bedtime doesn’t always happen on time. But Madi has learned to go with the flow. She’s teaching her girls that farm life comes with a rhythm of its own. Sometimes birthdays and ball games get moved for corn silage. That’s just the way it goes.
Balancing Traditions with Big Decisions
The family has worked hard to keep the farm updated and safe. They’ve replaced old silos with silage bags. They’ve updated barns and equipment. Madi’s dad always says, whatever happens, the farm should be in good shape for the next family that comes along.
That mindset helps guide tough choices. Like when Madi and her husband had to decide where their future was going to be. Both had farms. Both wanted to keep farming. But eventually, they made the call to move to his family’s farm and start something new there.
Even though it’s hard to leave her childhood farm, Madi is taking cows from her family’s herd to start her own small raw milk dairy when they move. She wants to keep the genetics her dad worked so hard to build. And more than that, she wants to build something for her kids to grow up with.
The Raw Milk Opportunity
Iowa recently made it legal to sell raw milk directly to customers—as long as you have fewer than 10 cows and follow certain rules. For Madi, this opened a door. She and her husband are planning to bottle and sell raw milk from a small herd once they get set up.
It’s not the easiest route. They won’t be able to use their current setup, and they’ll have to invest in building out the right equipment. But growing up on a grade A dairy taught Madi how to do things clean and safe. That’s how she plans to build her own dairy, too.
She knows the risks. She’s aware of the stigma around raw milk. But she also knows that consumers want to make their own choices, and that more and more people want to know where their food comes from.
Telling the Real Story
One thing Madi is passionate about is helping consumers understand the real story behind their milk. That means showing the day-to-day care that goes into dairy. Clean barns, good feed, healthy cows. And being honest about the hard parts, too—like why culling happens or how financial decisions impact animal care.
She’s not trying to speak for every farm. But by showing her own experience on social media and talking openly with visitors, she’s helping people trust farmers again. People want to support families. They want to see how animals are treated. They want to feel good about what they’re buying.
And Madi is opening the door to that kind of connection.
Looking Ahead
Farming isn’t just what Madi does—it’s the foundation for how she’s raising her kids, building her future, and staying rooted in family. Whether she’s milking cows or building a raw milk business from the ground up, she’s doing it all with purpose.
She may not have all the answers. But she has the work ethic, the heritage, and the drive to keep building something real.
And that’s what makes the future of agriculture feel hopeful—families like Madi’s, doing what it takes to keep this life going strong.
To connect with Madi visit Hilltop Dairy Inc. Facebook and Instagram.
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About the Host of Farming On Purpose, Lexi Wright:
I’m your host, Lexi Wright. I started the Farming on Purpose Podcast from a passion for sharing the future of production agriculture.
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