Meet Minnesota Milk board member Tom Walsh

Tell us a bit about yourself and your farm. 
My family and I live in Murdock, Minn., and I’ve been farming for over 30 years. I’m a partner at Riverview. I farm with my wife, Lisa, and my oldest son, Jackson. I also have two daughters: Halle, who works for a livestock marketing business, and Mia, who is currently in college.

Tell us why you are committed to the organization and what it means to your farm. 
I believe it’s extremely important for dairy farmers to remain active in their membership organizations. I am involved in Minnesota Milk because I want to advocate for dairy farmers in St. Paul. Minnesota Milk is very prominent in this area, and legislators know they can reach out to our organization with any questions about the state’s dairy industry. As dairy farmers, it’s essential that we engage in the policymaking process. This is why I am on the board: to represent the interests of dairy farmers in the state and 
advocate for beneficial policies. 

What are you currently enjoying the most in your role on the board, and what are you looking forward to in 
the months ahead? 
What I enjoy most is participating in our events, including Dairy Day at the Capitol and Ice Cream Day at the Capitol. We always receive a great response from many people there. I’ve found these events to be an excellent opportunity to engage in direct conversations with legislators, to understand their thoughts on upcoming agenda items and to have face-to-face time with them. They respect the opinions of farmers and are eager to hear our perspectives.