1. What is your name and where are you from?
“Carly Olufs from Petaluma, California”
2. When did you start working for All West, what is your current title, and where do you work?
“I started working for All West on June 1, 2020 after being the 2018 All West Summer Intern and am now a Dairy Program Specialist and Sales Representative in Sonoma and Marin County, California.”
3. How did you get involved in the A.I. industry?
“I first got involved in the dairy industry when I was ten years old. I started with just one grade Holstein heifer and increased my herd with registered Jerseys to where it is now with nearly 30 Registered Holsteins and Jerseys carrying the Carly-O prefix, which wouldn’t have been possible without the help of many incredible people.
My experience in the A.I. industry started when I interned for All West/Select Sires in 2018 while I was a sophomore attending Oklahoma State University. The following summer, I interned for Select Sires Inc. as their marketing intern. We spent the whole summer picturing daughters all over the country and it was a great experience. Those summers really sparked my interest in genetics and how they can help a herd become more profitable.
I graduated from Oklahoma State University in May 2022 with a BS in Animal Science and a minor in Agricultural Economics. I was lucky enough to be offered a job by All West when I graduated in 2020 and I have been loving it ever since!”
4. Describe a typical day in your life on the job.
“I typically start my route early in the day. I stop by the dairies I serve and try to visit with the dairy producers as they are completing their morning chores. I fill their nitrogen tanks, check and re-stock their semen inventories, and we have conversations about their goals. By the afternoon, I return home and complete my day by working on my computer work for each herd. As a Dairy Program Specialist, it is my duty to perform the functions of our Select Mating Service (SMS) program, and I also implement the Optimal Genetic Pathways (OGP) tool for our producers. I also spend time managing and organizing my own inventory in my van to make sure that I am prepared for the upcoming days. Since I live in Petaluma, I make a couple trips to Turlock each month to re-supply my inventory, as well as visit a handful of dairies in the valley where I provide SMS and OGP services.”
5. What do you enjoy doing when you are not at work?
“Now that I have moved in to a home of my own, much of my spare time is spent doing projects and improvements to the house. I also own dairy cattle in partnership with several dairy leaders and am in the process of creating a beef cattle venture. I am also very active as a volunteer leader for our local dairy 4-H club and help to host monthly meetings for the youth. More recently, I have joined the board of the Redwood Empire Holstein Association and am looking forward to continuing to advance our association activities. I also enjoy spending time with my boyfriend, my family, my friends, and my dog, June.”
6. If it was your choice, what unique name would you give our next best-selling bull?
“GRAVENSTEIN”
7. What is your favorite part of your job?
“My favorite part of my job is the people! I love working with the dairy producers every single day. No day is the same and it’s exciting and interesting to experience the day-to-day changes with them. I really enjoy getting to hear their stories and their passion for the dairy industry.
The dairy industry is such a rewarding industry to be a part of. The people are welcoming and amazing. The dairy farming community is so caring and supportive of our youth. I look at our 4-H group and thank all of the dairy producers who are allowing the kids who may not have had the opportunity otherwise to get involved and show cows, just like I did as a kid.
I enjoy working for All West because it is a true family atmosphere. Starting my career during COVID and living further North than most, I wasn’t sure how much support I would receive, but anywhere I go in All West Territory, both team members and customers are always making sure that I am taken care of. We are always on the phone with each other and I feel like I talk to at least one of my coworkers every day! It is nice to know that I have people to reach out to and that I feel so comfortable with them.”
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