Special Publications - Living Here - Living Here_People

POSTED: Sunday, Mar. 30, 2008

Brooke Vander Veen, president of FFA, Lynden High School

Name: Brooke Vander Veen.

Age: 17.

Jobs: President of FFA, Lynden High School. President of Barnyard Kids 4-H Club. Western regional representative of the American Guernsey Association. Owner of Ritz Bits, a Guernsey cow she raised from a 6-month-old calf. All-around farm hand and office assistant at Veen Huizen Farms, a Lynden dairy farm co-owned by her parents that is home to 1,300 Holstein cows.

Background: 4-H Club reporter, secretary, vice president and now president.

Most frequent question: "How do you do it all?"

Most unusual question: "Why did I choose a Guernsey when we have all Holsteins on our farm — and Holsteins produce more milk?"

Answer: "Guernseys have more beta-carotene in their milk, higher fat and protein percentages, and are a more temperate breed overall. They're also the cutest breed!"

Best tip: "Follow your passion. Starting a Guernsey herd in the middle of a Holstein herd wasn't easy. You don't have to always do what people expect you to do."