Before most people wake up, dairy farmers have already made dozens of decisions that shape the food people eat every day. Some draw on data and technology; others on close observation and years of experience. All are part of caring for animals, leading a business and keeping the many moving parts of a farm working together.

Portraits of Modern Dairy offers an inside look at those decisions through seven women across six U.S. farms. Photography, video and the farmers’ own words reveal how relationships with animals, families, employees, neighbors and communities shape the work. Together, their stories bring the people and daily realities behind dairy farming into view, creating a fuller picture of the industry today and a closer connection to the people who produce our food.