In celebration of the International Year of the Woman Farmer, we’re honoring the women whose paths into agriculture were shaped not by tradition, but by curiosity, mentorship, and a deep commitment to learning. For Luciana Jonkman, a dairy farmer, consultant, and lifelong problem solver from Oakley, California, agriculture became a calling not because she was born into it, but because people along the way took the time to encourage her to explore different fields of study.
Luciana didn’t grow up on a farm but was introduced to agriculture through 4-H at the age of nine. Those early experiences with 4-H sparked a lasting interest in animals and problem solving. Luciana carried that curiosity to college, enrolling at Humboldt State as a math major. While she enjoyed the logic of mathematics, she found little joy in the discipline on its own. What energized her was applying problem solving to real-world challenges, especially those involving animals. After two years, uncertain about what career opportunities existed in agriculture but confident she wanted meaningful, hands-on work, she transferred schools and ultimately found her way to UC Davis in the fall of 1995.
She graduated in 1998 with a degree in Animal Science and a minor in nutrition science, but it was the guidance of her academic advisor, a dairy researcher, that proved transformative. He encouraged her to work at the university dairy, opening the door to an immersive education in dairy farming. There, she learned about cow physiology, diet formulation, and the delicate balance between nutrition, productivity, animal welfare, and economics. Through internships at the university dairy and with an independent dairy nutritionist, Luciana began blending her love of math with animal nutrition, ensuring cows were fed optimally while supporting both biological outcomes and operational efficiency.
Each experience revealed new layers of complexity. Calves had vastly different needs than lactating cows, and every stage of production introduced variables that demanded constant adjustment and careful thinking. A summer internship at Woody Hill Farms in New York further broadened her perspective. Working alongside Cornell graduates and witnessing a large-scale dairy operation firsthand reinforced the importance of exposure. From that point on, Luciana became a strong advocate for internships, believing that understanding what you don’t want to do is just as valuable as discovering what you love.
After graduating from UC Davis, Luciana took that belief beyond borders. She spent nearly two years working on dairy and sheep farms in Australia and New Zealand, not as a student, but as a farm laborer. She milked cows, fed livestock, moved fence lines, changed pastures, and sorted wool, gaining a grounded understanding of the daily realities of farming. Those hands-on experiences affirmed her desire to keep learning and led her back to the classroom to pursue a master’s degree at Cornell University, where she worked with professors who continued to challenge and shape her thinking.
Her career evolved when she joined Cargill as a dairy nutritionist, where she intentionally positioned herself as an expert in transition cows. That foundation led her to start Progressive Dairy Solutions, a consulting business that eventually served approximately 12 percent of the national dairy herd. While Luciana no longer handles day-to-day nutrition consulting, she remains involved on a project management basis.
Together with her husband, Luciana expanded her work beyond consulting. They launched Diamond J Custom Farming and Dairy, a harvesting, farming, and manure-spreading operation. In 2016, they purchased their own dairy farm. With that growth came new challenges, particularly around manure management, an issue Luciana views as one of the most significant risks facing the future of dairy.
Managing manure responsibly became both a professional focus and a personal commitment. With limited acreage, no direct access to water, and 1,000 cows, the question wasn’t whether manure could be managed, but how to do so ethically and efficiently. Luciana began exploring innovative approaches to capture and recycle nutrients while reducing environmental impacts. With support from programs like Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP) and Dairy Plus, she implemented systems such as manure separators and weeping walls, technologies that separate liquids from solids and significantly reduce methane emissions. To Luciana, manure isn’t waste, it’s a resource that demands thoughtful stewardship.
Her long-term vision is rooted in continuity and care: to modernize dairy farming in ways that ensure it can be passed on to the next generation. She wants the dairy industry not only to survive, but to evolve, grounded in science, innovation, and responsibility, so that her children can inherit a farm built to last.
When reflecting on the role of women in agriculture, Luciana sees strength in perspective. Women, she believes, bring valuable approaches to problem solving and decision-making that add depth to teams and operations. She credits the strong, humble men who supported her along the way, noting that the best leaders understand the value of collaboration and big-picture thinking.
As the International Year of the Woman Farmer reminds us, agriculture is sustained not just by land and livestock, but by people willing to learn, mentor, and share what they know. Luciana Jonkman’s story is a testament to the power of mentorship, proof that when knowledge is passed forward, it creates pathways not only for individual success, but for the future of farming itself.