08/24/2026
Henry Dizek is part of the 6th generation at Mapleline Farm in Hadley, MA. He's going into his junior year of high school, but during the summer he works on the farm.
Dairy farming is a year-round job, but summer can be especially busy. Multiple times during the summer, farmers cut grasses, alfalfa, or a mixture of the two when the plants are at the right stage for good nutrition. After cutting, the forage is spread out in the field to dry. Once it reaches the right moisture level, farmers gather it and either bale it as hay or chop and store it as haylage. This carefully timed process helps farmers preserve nutritious forage that will feed their cows throughout the year.