Midwest Assistant Regional Dairy Director​

By Denice Rackley
Auna Badke enjoys working with and representing National Farmers. “Everyone from the directors to the support staff and all the producers are great. You often hear people comment about company culture, comparing coworkers to family. But at National Farmers it’s true – We are a family working together to support family farms and provide the very best ag products for consumers,”Badke said. She is the Midwest assistant regional dairy director and field rep.

Badke grew up on a farm in northern Indiana with sheep and goats. Like many farm kids, 4-H was a big part of her childhood. “I showed our registered Shetland and Jacob sheep.” Not to be left out, Badke’s dogs also entered the show ring, competing in obedience, agility and showmanship.

Auna attended Western Michigan University for a degree in biology. After college, Badke worked for the state of Indiana conducting meat and poultry inspections in slaughterhouses and processing plants. Ensuring regulations were followed and the meat products were safe for consumers was an important job, but it wasn’t the ag industry position she envisioned. When a position opened to work with dairies as an inspector, she jumped at the chance.

Making sure that state and federal regulations were followed, Badke saw that all equipment on farms was properly cleaned and sanitized, medications given to the cows were recorded, and that water quality was acceptable. “Working with live animals sure beats working with dead ones,” she said.

When Badke noticed National Farmers had an opening in the dairy division, she applied. Now her days are filled with ensuring our farmers have the resources they need to produce and ship Grade A milk. “A lot of the work is being the go-between for producers, state and federal regulatory personnel, and processing plants. Problem-solving whenever issues arise, whether that is on farms, with hauling, or at plants, is also a large part of my job.”

Badke is quick to acknowledge that what she is able to accomplish wouldn’t be possible without all the other individuals involved, the dedicated dairy producers and wonderful National Farmers staff.

Off the job, you can find Badke target shooting with her dad or gardening, tending her flowers and vegetables with her four-legged family nearby. There is Vika, a Rough-coated Collie from days as a small ruminant producer, and two Chinese Crested Dogs that she professionally shows at AKC confirmation events – Peanut and Sassafras. I hear Sassy can be opinionated and isn’t shy about letting the world know her thoughts.