For Steve Harnish, it comes down to service, responsiveness, and a commitment to helping dairy producers succeed. Hear why he believes DRMS remains a trusted partner for dairy farms and the industry as a whole.
From Milk Test Day to Today
Growing up on his family's dairy farm, Steve Harnish remembers a familiar monthly routine.
“Milk test day” meant collecting samples from each cow and sending them off for processing. As a kid, he didn't think much about what happened after that.
“Take a little sample bottle, take a sample from each cow, and it goes off to a lab somewhere,” Steve recalled. “When I was younger, that was the extent of my knowledge.”
Years later, Steve came to understand there was much more behind those records than he realized.
While producers often work directly with their local DHIA service affiliate, Steve learned there was also a larger organization supporting the data, information, and tools used across the dairy industry.
What stands out most to Steve is what makes DRMS different.
“What I find unique about DRMS is that they're independent,” he said. “They're not owned by somebody else. It's a non-profit.”
For Steve, that independence helps keep the organization focused on the people it serves.
“As a non-profit, they have to be responsive to their end customers,” he said. “Their obligation is to serve those customers versus having an outside owner somewhere.”
That commitment is one reason Steve continues to value his relationship with DRMS today. Steve also serves on the DRMS Advisory Board, representing Lancaster DHIA. In that role, he helps provide producer input on the future direction of the organization.
He appreciates the opportunity to provide feedback and help shape the future direction of the organization.
“It's been a pleasure to work with this organization,” he said. “To be involved in helping them decide what to do next, where to go.”
As the dairy industry continues to evolve, Steve believes organizations that listen, adapt, and remain connected to producers will continue to play an important role.
“And together, as an industry, we're moving to a place where we rely on data to make decisions and to make improvements,” he said.
For Steve, DRMS represents more than data and information. It represents an organization built to serve dairy producers for the long term.