A Dairy Story
In the rolling hills of southwest Scotland, David and Wilma Finlay are reimagining dairy farming. After implementing successful regenerative practices, they decide to take an even bolder step: pioneering a system that allows calves to remain with their mothers while continuing milk production for human consumption. For centuries, dairy farming has relied on the routine separation of calves from their mothers to sustain output, but the Finlays discover that the milk keeps flowing even when the family stays together. Filmed over two years with intimate access, the documentary follows the daily realities of this transition—the financial risks, early setbacks, and quiet breakthroughs that reveal the depth of maternal bonds within the herd. As Wilma faces a terminal cancer diagnosis, their commitment to reshaping the future of dairy farming takes on new urgency. The film is both an agricultural case study and a tender meditation on care, mortality, and the bonds we share. —Michelle Svenson
Program Notes
Film program 78 minutes; total program runtime approximately 80 minutes.
Director/s
Ian Findlay
A Dairy Story is Ian Findlay's directorial debut. Ian is an award-winning designer and photographer whose eye for composition translates naturally to moving images. Based in southwest Scotland, Ian brings a distinctive observational approach to documentary filmmaking, which is enhanced by a deep understanding of place. His expertise in visual storytelling, combined with a gentle commitment to minimal interference and maximum observation, enabled the capture of beautifully authentic footage of the people and animals on the farm.