Today, we’ll meet Taliah Danzinger from Wisconsin, a passionate advocate for inclusivity and allyship within the agricultural community. Taliah’s journey as an ally began with a deep-rooted desire to create a more welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ individuals in the dairy community. This led to the launch of the Dairy Pride Alliance and the creation of Pride Cow Pins to make her allyship more visible.
Taliah’s commitment to fostering visibility and support culminated in the creation of the Pride Cow Pin project, a tangible symbol of allyship proudly worn by members of the agricultural community. Taliah is paving the way for a more inclusive future in agriculture through her dedication and allyship.
Connect with Taliah on LinkedIn.
How are you involved in the agriculture community?
I am a few generations removed from my original family farm, though I can definitely say it is in my blood. I wanted to be a farmer my entire life, but I experienced a sense of “otherness” as someone who did not grow up on a farm.
I was involved in FFA in high school, started working on farms to earn money for school, and eventually pursued degrees in agriculture.
Today, I manage the Dairy Intelligence department at a herd management software company, driving the utilization of dairy herd data into actionable insights—probably the coolest job in the world.
I also own Verity Farm, which is a horse boarding and direct-to-consumer beef farm, which I operate with my husband.
Why are you proud to be part of the agriculture community?
I love caring for animals and the land, and I think being part of the food production ecosystem is a great privilege. It is so rewarding to farm on land that has fed people for the last hundred years and to consider myself a part of this land’s legacy.
I also take a lot of pride in being transparent about farming practices, hence the name Verity Farm for our farm. Honesty and trust are huge drivers to me as a farmer and I love sharing that story.
How have you felt or seen support for people who identify as LGBTQ+ in agriculture and rural communities?
I have always felt a slightly different perspective as a woman in agriculture. I had to fight a little harder than my male counterparts for my place in the industry, and while it bothers me, I consider it my job to pave the way to make things a little bit easier for the next generation of women.
I also had the privilege of working with numerous people over the years within the dairy industry who identify as LGBTQ+. I noticed that they couldn’t speak as openly about their relationship status and I recognized a shift in our working relationship and interactions once they knew I was a safe person to be “out” to.
A pivotal moment was when a former supervisor introduced me at a dairy industry event by saying: “This is Taliah. She is an ally.”
The whole dynamic of the following conversation changed. I was glad for that moment, but it pained me to realize that not everyone could see me for who I am. My greatest wish is for everyone to bring their authentic self to the table when they interact with me.
I wanted to find a prominent way to announce my allyship, and that was where the idea for the Pride Cow Pin project and the Dairy Pride Alliance was born.
How do you consider yourself an ally?
I want to consider myself as an ally out loud. Sometimes, that means doing things that feel a little difficult and scary, but I recognize that I have a place of privilege as a cis-het person, and I need to exercise that privilege for those who don’t have it.
The loudest way I do so is through Pride Cow Pins. My thought was that a rainbow cow prominently displayed on my backpack, coat, etc., would make me immediately identifiable as an ally and a safe person for authenticity.
I worked on the idea with a great friend and fellow industry member, Jordan Kraft-Lambert, and Grand Champion Designs (an LGBTQ+-owned business) to design the logo and color scheme. I then had 400 pins made for others who wanted to demonstrate their support.
I remember proudly showing my pin off to another person in the industry and explaining the story being them. They stated that they had never seen anything like it in the dairy industry, and they had never felt seen or represented by the industry they love the way the pins did. That absolutely filled my heart and made me believe even more in the mission.
I now sell the pins (with all proceeds going to LGBTQ+ charity or the distribution of pins to those who can’t afford them), and it makes me happy beyond belief when I see someone else loudly displaying their allyship.
It took some time to get here, but I am no longer nervous to speak up about being an ally and advocating for the rights of people who identify as LGBTQ+. I want to surround myself with people who have similar beliefs and values as me, and the more I speak up, the easier it is for those people to find me.
What can people in the agriculture community do to be strong allies of LGBTQ+ people?
I really believe in open allyship, but that takes time to be comfortable with. I think there is strength in quiet corrections of things that hurt the LGBTQ+ community (correcting pronoun use, stopping conversation that uses slurs or disrespectful language) and enthusiastic support of things that help, like employee resource programs that support the LGBTQ+ community.
One of my favorite quotes is, “Imperfect action is better than perfect inaction,” and I believe it to be true. I’d rather people try something small outside of their comfort zone and work their way towards being the ally they want to be than be so afraid of getting it wrong that they do nothing at all.
Where can we get a pride cow pin to show our allyship?
Contacting me directly is great! Pride Cow Pins are $5 each plus shipping, and I can be found on LinkedIn, via email, or by phone at (608) 332-3889.
Also, feel free to join the Dairy Pride Alliance on Facebook. I would love to grow the group as a place to share ideas around being an ally and provide a place of community within the dairy industry for those who identify as LGBTQ+.
About Dairy Pride Alliance
The Dairy Pride Alliance is intended as a gathering space for people in the dairy industry who identify as queer or as allies.
- Create a safe space for people in the dairy industry who identify as LGBTQIA+ and allies to network
- Share safe workplaces in the dairy industry and circulate job opportunities
- Promote queer-owned dairy-based businesses
- Advocate and inform the industry about inclusion
- Build visibility within the industry
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