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Farmers hear about culture, concerns of workers from Mexico

Dairy Strong Conference panel discussion about culture and issues facing workers from Mexico featuring Ignacio Escamilla, Joaquin Vasquez, and Ricardo Jaime.

An American dairy farm employee from Mexico says language and culture differences cause fewer problems for Latino workers now, but they still exist.

Ignacio Escamilla

Ignacio Escamilla, who calls himself Hispanic, manages a dairy parlor near Alma Center, Wisconsin where he has been employed for 22 years.  He tells Brownfield religion and certain holidays are important in their culture.  “Mother’s Day is one of the big ones and it’s like a holiday for us because we celebrate our mothers, and the other is Día de Muertos, that’s another big holiday in Mexico.”  Día de Muertos is a celebration of the dead that dates back to ancient Aztec culture.

Chuck Ripp

Dairy farmer Chuck Ripp’s operation has grown to about a thousand cows, and he has nine employees from Mexico.  After hearing Escamilla and others speak at the Dairy Strong Conference about their culture, Ripp tells Brownfield he will be making some changes.  He says, “We found that the more we can work with them and help them find areas in the community that they can go to and feel comfortable, it makes their stay here much better and I’m going to work on that more on our farm because I just never thought of it until today’s session more, of listening to the three gentlemen on what’s important.”

Escamilla has become a U.S. citizen and is involved in improving communication between workers and owners at other farms.

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