Upon completion of her undergraduate degree, LaMendola accepted an internship in the marketing department of the Almond Board of California, where she analyzed various programs. LaMendola then returned to UC Davis to pursue her master’s degree in agricultural economics. After graduating with her master’s degree, the Almond Board of California offered Tiffany a full-time position, which she took thinking the almond industry was her final destination.

Move to the dairy industry

To LaMendola’s surprise, her boss moved to Western United Dairies shortly after she joined the Almond Board and recruited her to be their economist. “So about one short year in, I moved to the dairy industry and have never left… I’m on almost 24 years now just thinking about dairy markets and a lot about dairy producers,” LaMendola said. Western United Dairies provided LaMendola with an intense but essential initiation to the dairy industry. LaMendola explained that during her time there she learned about the dairy markets inside and out, met many of the dairy producers in California, and ultimately “fell in love with it.” One facet of the dairy industry that LaMendola discovered she loved was its never-ending complexities. Even after over 20 years of experience, LaMendola said, “I still learn something new … every day.”

Growing in expertise

Although LaMendola has found great success and fulfillment within the dairy industry, she reflected on her journey as not always being an easy one. Tiffany recounted that she would stay up until midnight during her first job, putting in the extra hours to study and understand everything she encountered at work. LaMendola advised anyone starting out, “Just put in the time, put in the effort, and put yourself out there. That time and commitment is only going to establish your ability to do better at your job later on.”

A resource for dairy farmers

Since 2010, LaMendola has been a crucial leader in Ever.Ag’s risk management team, where she shares her expertise and insights with dairy farmers who don’t have time to watch the markets every day. “We can step in and be their eyes and ears, and I… truly feel I’m an extension of their team, and I try to act that way,” LaMendola said. Valuing the trust and partnership she has created with her clients, LaMendola said, “We may not get it perfect every time, but we’re surely going to do our best by them every day.” A key aspect of LaMendola’s work is looking for opportunities to protect dairy farmers’ bottom lines and remove volatility from their milk price revenue. When LaMendola finds such an opportunity, she will call or text her producers to suggest an action to capitalize on the situation. LaMendola’s diligent work helps protect producers’ profitability and takes a great weight off their shoulders. To learn more about risk management for dairy farmers from Tiffany LaMendola, you can learn about navigating the complexities of dairy pricing here: https://www.ever.ag/navigating-the-complex-world-of-dairy-pricing/