Karen Bohnert & The Bohnert Family

About Me:  Hi, I’m Karen Bohnert of Bohnert Jerseys located in the Illinois Quad Cities area. I am a mom, dairy farmer’s wife and dairy enthusiast—through and through. My pride and passion for each of these roles could fill a barn!
My life has taken its turn east since growing up on my family’s 100-cow dairy farm in central Oregon and graduating from Oregon State University in 1998 with a B.S. in agricultural economics and a minor in writing.
After launching my career nearly 20 years ago, giving me great opportunities to communicate the voice of dairy farmers from coast to coast, while working with various organizations such as the American Jersey Cattle Association, Cooperative Resources International and Swiss Valley Farms—I am now where I dreamed I’d be. 
That dream place is being a stay-at-home mother to two to three children, and wife to the hardest working dairy farm man I know.
My husband Scott is a first generation dairy farmer—who has reached much success and recognition at a young age from his awesome cow care, elite genetics and excellent milk quality and production. He, with his parents and brother, owns and operates a 500-cow Registered Jersey dairy farm and farms 1,300 acres. My husband’s devotion to his family, cattle and land made me realize that he was my soul mate for life and the man I wanted to raise a family with on a farm.
Our lives are busy chasing kids, milking cows and taking great pride in our farm—and we wouldn’t have it any other way. We are simply living our dream.

My farm: Bohnert Jerseys, East Moline, Illinois

My role: Along with my husband, Scott, and his brother and parents, I own and operate a 500 Registered Jersey cow dairy and grow 1,300 acres of corn, soybeans, rye and wheat. I handle farm budgeting, communications and genomic marketing for the farm. In addition, I'm a mother to three children: Tyler, 13; Cassie, 11; and Jacob, 7. In addition, I work with dairy organizations as a freelance writer and communicator.

My hobbies: Showing cattle, traveling, and writing

Ask me about: how safe our food is, how we care for our livestock, how nutritious dairy is, food prices, sustainability, etc. (pretty much comfortable with most topics. Probably least comfortable with non-GMO).