Brittany Johnson
Cheese Factory QA Supervisor + Licensed Cheese Grader
“I’ve always loved sharing my passion for agriculture. I share a little bit on instagram, but do not have a large following by any means. As people become more and more removed from agriculture, I think it’s super important for those involved in ag to share where food comes from and how it’s produced. My goal out of college was to make a career of this and figured quality was a great first step. Not only would I learn a lot, but it would help me become a credible source for consumers to turn to and trust since I’ve experienced food safety and quality first hand.” Now, Brittany has been involved in the dairy manufacturing industry since 2015 and is a licensed cheese grader, owns a small herd of show cattle with her sister, and is an all-around cheese enthusiast!
How did you become involved in agriculture?
Both of my parents grew up on dairy farms. In middle school I joined 4-H and in high school I became involved in FFA. Through those organizations I was able to become involved with activities like Dairy Quiz Bowl, Dairy Judging, and Dairy Product Judging. In college I joined Dairy Club and also helped start up a Dairy Products Judging Team. Thanks to some partnerships and exchange programs UWRF was working on at the time I was able to attend a short dairy focused study abroad trip and spend about a week in the Netherlands and a few months later competed in a dairy product judging contest with European students in Poland.
What is your role in the agriculture industry?
I work in a cheese factory that produces bulk mozzarella and provolone. Our cheese is sold to other companies that then shred or slice it and the majority goes into the food service industry. My day to day tasks include managing our lab, which tests the cheese for analytics and micro. We also have a robust environmental program which involves a lot of swabbing to ensure our equipment and surrounding areas are clean. Other than the lab I also review a lot of paperwork. Release product once all documentation is correctly completed, testing is in completed and in spec, etc. I perform quality training with new hires and seasoned employees annually. I oversee and manage multiple quality programs that were put in place to keep our products safe. Lastly I assist with audits, which can be internal, customer, regulatory, or 3rd party.
What are your hobbies?
Showing dairy cattle, gardening, reading, shopping, making charcuterie boards, sharing dairy recipes, trying to keep up with our active pup, traveling, trying out new breweries with my husband, and spending time with family and friends. Needless to say, my husband and I do not spend many weekends bored!
Why is sharing information about agriculture important to you?
I want consumers to feel comfortable learning where their food comes from straight from the source. I wish they trusted farm families that grow and raise their food as much as they believe news/media headlines. I believe it’s important for those involved in agriculture to share their story before someone else writes it for them and possibly does so without the best narrative.
WE ARE COMMONGROUND –
