Ryan Dennis: Dairy dads, disappearing farms and the story he didn't tell

Progressive Dairy Podcast · Mar 10, 2026 · 37m

Columnist Ryan Dennis has been writing for Progressive Dairy for many years. In addition, he’s also a published author. His most recent book is titled Barn Gothic: Three Generations and the Death of the Family Dairy Farm. It's a memoir about his own family dairy farm. At the center of the story is his dad, who taught him everything about handling cattle, farming and running a dairy. Most dairy dads are heroes. And Ryan’s book is a tribute to his own dairy hero and the many others just like him.

Walt and Ryan talk about father-son working relationships, the pressures of writing a monthly…