DH's grandparents used to mainly be a dairy farm, until the big dairy in the area bought them out. DH only drank fresh milk (pasteurized, of course) for the first few years of his life. They said that was really hard work- dairy farming- and they didn't have a huge operation.
They're getting old now and can't do as much as they used to. Grandpa just had back surgery this week. No doubt it'll be hard when they can no longer keep it up. Once that happens, I think they'll go downhill FAST.

Cool about your partner that he took classes and learned from a mentor. I think that's really neat. Does he do it full time now?