Why Having a Seat at the Table Matters for Our Farm & Cooperative

By Clara Ayer

When people think about dairy farming, they often picture the early mornings in the barn, the tractors out in the corn fields, or the quiet routine of caring for our herd. And while those daily tasks are the foundation of everything we do at Fairmont Farm, there is another critical side to keeping a farm thriving for generations to come: the decisions made around the board table.

For the past several years, I have had the privilege of serving on the Board of Directors for Agri-Mark. Our farmer-owned dairy cooperative that brings you Cabot products and processes our milk. My path into cooperative leadership has been one of the most rewarding journeys of my life, and I want to share a bit of that story, and why I believe every farmer, especially the next generation, should consider stepping up to lead.

How My Journey Began: From Guest to Board Member

My involvement didn't start with a formal election or decades of executive experience. In 2019, I joined our Young Cooperators leadership team. That program gave me the opportunity to sit in the Agri-Mark boardroom as a guest and see cooperative governance firsthand.

Sitting in those meetings opened my eyes. I loved watching the interaction between the board and executive management. How big decisions were discussed, challenged, and ultimately made. More than anything, it helped me realize that I had experiences, ideas, and a perspective that could genuinely contribute to those conversations.

That initial exposure sparked a fire. In 2022, I was elected to the Agri-Mark Board of Directors.

Within my very first year on the board in fall 2022, I was selected to serve on the steering committee responsible for hiring a new CEO. Being involved in choosing the leader who would steer our cooperative through its next chapter was an enormous responsibility and a massive learning opportunity. By 2023, I joined the Executive Committee, deepening my understanding of our cooperative’s overall strategy, finances, and long-range goals. Since 2025, I have had the honor of serving as Vice Chair of the Board.

Governance & Turning the Page

In 2025, I also had the opportunity to co-chair our Governance Committee, leading our cooperative through significant structural updates, including a major bylaw rewrite.

That experience reinforced for me how vital good governance really is. It isn't just about policies on paper; it's about making sure the organization is structured to make sound decisions and remain transparent and accountable to its farmer-owners. Over my time on the board, I have been front and center during a major business turnaround for Agri-Mark. Seeing where we were, participating in difficult discussions, and now watching our cooperative stand in a significantly stronger position has been incredibly fulfilling.

Why Cooperative Leadership Matters to Our Farm

There is a deep sense of ownership that comes with cooperative leadership. I’m not serving on the board of a corporate entity that is disconnected from my daily life. The decisions we make directly affect my family, our farm, our employees, our fellow farmer-owners, and the future of dairy farming across our region.

Having a seat at the table, means having a direct voice in our cooperative’s strategy, market security, and long-term policies. Because we are cooperative owners, the financial health and success of Agri-Mark come directly back to the profitability and security of our own farm.

On a personal level, board service has made me a much better farm business owner. Exposure to high-level financial reporting, strategic planning, risk management, and executive leadership has completely expanded how I evaluate our own farm business at home. It has also taught me the vital lesson of looking beyond Fairmont Farm. I have learned to ask not just "What is best for my farm?" but "What is best for our entire membership?"

Don't Wait to Get Involved

If there is one key message I want to share with other farmers, especially young farmers,it is this: You don’t have to wait until you feel like a seasoned expert to get involved.

My path started by simply raising my hand for the Young Cooperators program and sitting in a boardroom as a guest. That single step opened doors to broader dairy leadership, legislative advocacy, conversations about milk promotion investments, and relationships with incredible leaders across the agricultural industry.

Cooperatives only work when their members are engaged, ask thoughtful questions, seek to understand the business, and are willing to step forward. Your voice, your perspective, and your passion are needed.

When we participate in the organizations we own, we build a stronger, more resilient future—for our co-op, for our local communities, and for the family farms we love.