Loving a Daily Crisis (Farm)

Amy Vaughan-Roland phone pic

Amy-Vaughan Roland '06 is thankful for a Hood education and her family legacy, Daily Crisis Dairy Farm in Whitehall MD

Dr. Amy Vaughan-Roland: Educator and Family Farmer

Graduation Year

2006

Program

  • Elementary/Special Education (B.A.)

Department

  • Education
  • Alumni
  • Alumni
By Michelle Burnett, Editor,

Dr. Amy-Vaughan Roland '06 is grateful for the financial aid from Hood that allowed her to get a great undergraduate education while not too far from her family dairy, Daily Crisis Farm, which became a Grade A independent dairy in 2021. She and her sisters still run the farm with their father and are now teaching all 6 of their (collective) daughters how to carry on the family legacy. Dr. Vaughan-Roland is also a full time teacher with Catholic Charities. How does she do it all? The gift of "grit" from her Dad and growing up on the farm.

What brought you to Hood as a student? What drew you to the field of education?

I wanted something close enough to home that I could still be active in our family farm, but still get the college experience. Hood also offered me a tremendous financial aid package that made getting a higher education possible! I'll always be grateful for that!

I received my doctorate in 2022 studying the Farm to School movement and how getting kids involved in growing their own food effects the climate and culture of schools. I work as a therapeutic ecology teacher for Catholic Charities and run a successful environmental education program there and am a certified Trauma Informed Educator. 
 

 

Tell us about your adjacent second career as a dairy farmer? Why the name Daily Crisis Farm?

I've lived on my family's farm my whole life. It takes all of us to keep the farm going especially since we became a Grade A independent dairy in 2021. That means in addition to caring for the cows we also have to arrange all our own processing, marketing, and sales. While I have a full-time job off the farm as a teacher I help my two sisters with the marketing and social media as well as do grant writing campaigns, but being in the barn with my dad for evening milking will always be my favorite! 

What's a favorite memory or two from your years as a student?  Did any professors or friends have a strong impact on your life after Hood?

My senior year I brought one of my cows to Hood and we tied her to the pergola during spirit week. When everyone came out to go to class that morning there she was just hanging out on the lawn.

What are your hopes for the future of the farm? How does dairy farming affect your perspective in general?

I give the farm a lot of credit for my grit! My dad really instilled in my sisters and I a " well how hard can it be," attitude when it comes to trying or learning something new . I think living and working with my family everyday also has created a bond between my sisters and I that we now get to share with our girls. Yep, ALL girls! 3 daughters and now 6 granddaughters all on the farm together!

Lightning Round:
  1. Favorite Food (more than one if you like!)
  2. Favorite Drink
  3. Burgers or Dogs?
  4. Pineapple Pizza: absolutely... or absolutely not?
  • Lasagna 
  • Crispy fountain Coke
  • Cheeseburger with our farm horseradish cheddar 
  • Immediately to jail!

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