What's Your Dairy 'Why' | Joya McCarthy
They say kids grow up to be a product of the environment they grow up in, and that certainly rings true for Joya McCarthy, VAS Product Manager. Her passion for dairy runs as deep as her family’s 100 year-long legacy in the dairy business.
It all started when her great-grandfather came from Portugal to California and started the family dairy in 1922, which was then taken over in 1967 by Joya’s grandfather. Another nearly 40 years later, the next generation, Joya’s father, took over the farm. As the fourth generation on the family farm, Joya spent most of her upbringing working alongside her father, taking in the day-to-day work and learning everything she could about being a good steward of the land and animals. She still helps out on the dairy when she can, assisting the cows with birthing and taking care of the newborns.
Dairy is truly Joya’s calling. She explains, “Everything in my life has pushed me further and further into the dairy industry. From growing up on the farm, to showing heifers at the fair, studying Dairy Science in college, interning at a dairy nutrition and herd consulting company, judging for the Modesto Junior College Dairy Cattle Judging Team, working as a genetic consultant, starting a hoof care business with my husband, and now working for VAS as a Product Manager.” Joya continues, “Everything in my life has always been dairy-centric, and there’s never been a doubt in my mind that this is where I belong!”
Want to help us celebrate June Dairy Month? Whether you’re a farmer, work in the industry or an agvocate, head to our social channels and comment your ‘why’ on one of the weekly What’s Your Dairy ‘Why’ posts. For every comment left in June, we’ll donate to a dairy-related cause.
