Local Woman Documents Real Stories On Farming

Robin Fitch of West Winfield wants the world to know: dairy farmers have it rough.

For years Fitch, whose roots are in family farming, thought about how to let people know the reality of being a farmer.

On call 24/7. Few, if any, vacations, other than going to the county or state fair. Milk prices set at the direction of the government with no chance to bargain.

Fitch said she gets a cause in her heart and runs with it.

Last year she organized a day at the West Winfield VFW for an organization that helps veterans.

This year suicide prevention will be the focus of a benefit.

And around all that, dairy farmers.

“Consumers need to hear the story of the farmer,’’ Fitch said. “What it takes, 365 days a year.’’

It’s not to garner sympathy that Fitch is devoting hours to this.

She said the country is in a crisis as dairy farmers around the country give up their farms.

“The farming industry is weak,’’ she said. “Years ago it was a career kids chose because that’s what their family did.’’

The average age of people farming is 62, Fitch said. “Very few next generations are following. The young ones see all the hard work with little payoff and do something else.’’

Fitch, with the help of a father and son from Massachusetts, is putting together a documentary that shows the real life of farmers and what it takes to put food on the tables of consumers.

“We want to have a lot of voices,’’ Fitch said. “Too many people think milk comes right off a shelf.’’

Donovan Hudson Sr. and Donovan Hudson Jr. are the behind-the-scenes filmmakers.

Fitch helps them as a voice for wedding videos and convinced them to get involved in the documentary.

By educating the public on the processor's side, people will better understand what is covered by the cost of milk in stores.

“The farmer actually gets very little,’’ Fitch said.

As farmers go out of business, so do supportive industries such as hauling milk to plants.

“They’re feeding the whole country, and there are very few places to send milk to,’’ Fitch said.

Milk is the only product in America, she said, where the producer has no say or input on setting the price.

“If farmers stood together, they could bring the dairy industry down in a heartbeat,’’ Fitch said. ...