UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Extension recently hired Daniela Roland as a dairy educator in Franklin County. Roland has more than 20 years of experience working with farmers in the dairy industry and is dedicated to helping farmers build more sustainable and resilient businesses.
Most recently, she was the manager of member communications at Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association, where she was responsible for developing a wide range of communications programs and professional development efforts for the cooperative’s 900-plus member farmers.
As part of her work, Roland oversaw the Young Cooperator program and planned leadership programs, legislative events and educational farm tours. A certified evaluator with the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management Program, Roland performed animal care and environmental stewardship evaluations on dairy farms throughout the Northeast.
She and her husband Bill are former dairy and beef farmers. They operated a 50-cow Jersey herd, milked in a tie-stall barn and raised an additional 40 replacements. They also grew corn and hay on their 140-acre rented farm. After dispersing their dairy herd, they operated a small beef herd and grew crops until 2019.
In addition, Roland served as manager of regulatory affairs at the National Milk Producers Federation in Arlington, Virginia. She earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of Maryland.
Roland and her family reside in James Creek, Pennsylvania. She and Bill have two sons and a daughter and are active in their kids’ sports and 4-H activities.
–Penn State Extension