Meet the “Dairy Queen” who raced for chocolate milk, represented Canada globally, then revolutionized milk quality with boots-to-PhD brilliance.
You know what I love about Hannah Woodhouse’s story? It’s that beautiful full-circle journey from a kid feeding calves on her family farm to becoming this powerhouse dairy researcher with a PhD. Her work on free fatty acids in milk is making waves across Canada’s dairy industry, and I can’t help but admire how she’s blending her farm roots with cutting-edge science.
Growing Up Dairy
Hannah was the oldest of four sisters on their family dairy farm in Ontario. Get this – her mom’s a vet who met her farmer dad during a herd check! Hannah jokes it was “love at first sight,” which is the perfect dairy love story.
“I’ve always had this deep passion for agriculture, especially dairy,” Hannah told me. From day one, she was immersed in farm life – active in 4-H for 11 years, involved with Gay Lea Foods, and participating in various agricultural societies.
What I find fascinating is that she initially headed off to the University of Guelph for biomedical sciences with dreams of a medical career. She was also this incredible varsity runner representing Team Canada internationally. But you know how it goes when farming is in your blood – the pull back to agriculture was just too strong.
“It wasn’t long into my degree that I missed my farm, the animals, and that agricultural lifestyle,” she confessed. So, she added a nutrition minor and started taking more ag courses to stay connected to her roots.
The turning point came when she landed a summer research position with Dr. David Kelton, who heads the Dairy Farmers of Ontario research chair. That opportunity introduced her to studying free fatty acids in milk – a quality issue that would become her academic passion and the foundation of her career.
The Mystery of Frothy Milk
Hannah’s research tackles this interesting problem in Canada’s dairy industry – elevated free fatty acids (FFAs) in milk. These compounds form when milk fat breaks down and cause various quality headaches, including problems with milk frothing.
“If you’re paying good money for your fancy Starbucks latte with that perfect milk foam, it’s a big deal,” Hannah explained. “When consumers want froth, and you deliver milk that doesn’t foam properly, they immediately call their supplier to complain.”
Beyond the frothing issues, high FFA levels can make cheese coagulation go wonky, cause rancid flavors, and shorten shelf life – all critical concerns for Canada’s supply-managed dairy industry that lives and dies by consumer satisfaction.
Hannah visited 300 dairy farms across Ontario and British Columbia for her research. She was incredibly thorough – measuring pipelines, analyzing milk flow, and examining countless farm factors to determine what contributes to these elevated FFAs.
“I was measuring every inch of pipeline, looking at all the turns and elevated sections,” she told me. This comprehensive approach helped her identify multiple factors affecting FFA levels.
Getting Geeky About Foam
If you’re into the technical side of things, Hannah explained that FFAs exceeding 1.2 mmol per 100 grams of fat start causing problems. Her dedication to understanding this went beyond just lab work – she even did these adorable amateur experiments using milk from her family’s farm.
“I took leftover milk samples from different cows and tested them in my frother at home, just trying to see which cows produced the best frothy milk,” she said enthusiastically. “Our farm doesn’t have a free fatty acid issue, so most samples were pretty good, but occasionally, I’d get one that just wouldn’t foam.”
This hands-on curiosity has earned her a reputation among friends. “Every Christmas, I get a new frothing gadget,” she laughed. “My friends all know me as the Dairy Queen.”
What She Discovered
Hannah’s research revealed that FFA issues come from multiple factors. Her findings showed that organic and grass-fed herds typically have higher FFA levels than conventional farms.
She also found interesting seasonal patterns – FFA concentrations peak in late summer and fall compared to spring and winter. Improperly maintained milking systems, especially in automated operations with high milking frequencies, often contributed to elevated FFA levels. Farms with automated milking systems milking cows thrice daily showed a substantial increase in FFAs.
“The good news is that these farms can manage most of these factors with relatively quick and easy fixes,” Hannah emphasized.
What Works and What Doesn’t
Hannah developed this practical set of recommendations for farmers. She suggests limiting late-lactation cows’ visits to robotic milkers, ensuring proper plate cooler installation (especially in tie-stall operations), and changing milk filters at every milking.
“A dirty filter not only creates a breeding ground for bacteria but also puts more stress on the milk trying to pass through,” she explained. Her research found a 0.27 mmol per 100 grams of fat increase in free fatty acids for farms that milk frequently but change filters infrequently.
Hannah also emphasizes the critical importance of maintaining proper milk temperature. “Freezing and thawing milk can substantially increase FFAs,” she warns. Temperature fluctuations damage the milk fat globule membrane, allowing lipase enzymes to break down fat into free fatty acids, which is why consistent cooling to 4°C without freezing is essential for quality preservation.
Her work gained international recognition when she won the top student poster award at the 2023 International Dairy Federation’s World Forum in Chicago, beating out 89 submissions from over 20 countries. Pretty impressive, right?
Beyond the Lab Coat
What makes Hannah’s story even more remarkable is how multifaceted she is. While pursuing her academic career, she also represented Canada in international cross-country competitions.
When asked how she discovered her passion for running, it started with being bribed with chocolate milk at an elementary school race. Her parents were volunteering at a school-sponsored by local dairy farmers, handing out chocolate milk to finishers. In grade 8, they told her they were running out of chocolate milk and that only the top 10 finishers would get one. Hannah wanted that chocolate milk, so she raced hard and finished 4th out of about 100 runners – surprising both herself and her parents. To this day, chocolate milk is still her go-to recovery drink.
“I was selected to represent Canada as a Junior athlete at the 2015 Pan Am Cross Country Championships in Columbia and the World Cross Country Championships in China,” she noted. She also made the National Team again in 2019 and still runs competitively today, having just taken some time to focus on academics during her PhD studies.
Her academic excellence earned her numerous scholarships, including the University of Guelph President’s Scholarship, the Ontario Veterinary College PhD Scholarship, and the OMAFRA Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) Scholarship, which helped fund her innovative research on free fatty acids in milk.
This blend of athletic discipline and scholarly dedication has shaped her methodical approach to research and her ability to communicate complex scientific concepts to farmers and industry folks in ways they can understand and implement.
Making a Real-world Impact
Hannah completed her PhD in September 2024 and has now moved into the next chapter of her career as a contractor for Dairy Farmers of Canada in Sustainable Production.
Hannah sees herself continuing to work in the dairy industry and integrating her passions, academic research, and writing skills to make a difference on a broader scale.
That vision is becoming a reality as she applies her expertise to improving sustainability practices across Canada’s dairy sector. Her current role aligns perfectly with Dairy Farmers of Canada’s ambitious goal of working towards net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from farm-level dairy production by 2050.
“The Canadian dairy farming sector is working toward net-zero by 2050 through emissions reduction and carbon removals,” according to DFC’s sustainability commitment. Hannah notes that “farmers are the most practical people,” implementing science-based solutions requires clear communication and practical applications.
Advocating for the Future
Hannah represented Canadian dairy on a young producer’s panel discussing “Future of Dairy Farming Around the Globe” at the 2023 International Dairy Federation summit. She also highlighted Dairy Farmers of Canada’s initiatives targeted to improve sustainability, engage young producers, and enhance consumer awareness of high-quality dairy products.
Her ability to bridge scientific research with practical farm implementation makes her so valuable. By improving milk quality and addressing consumer preferences, her work directly contributes to the sustainability and marketability of Canadian dairy products, supporting the industry’s path to net-zero emissions.
As part of the DFC’s proAction team, she now assists in managing sustainable production files, reviewing research, handling communications, and managing projects related to environmental initiatives. This role allows her to connect her milk quality expertise with broader industry sustainability goals, as reducing waste through improved quality control is essential for reducing the industry’s environmental footprint.
Continuing the Research Legacy
Aside from working with DFC, Hannah continues to write scientific and producer-friendly articles about FFA control and gives presentations nationwide. She’s passionate about speaking and engaging directly with producers at various events, sharing her research in ways that inspire practical on-farm changes.
“I feel privileged to have the unique experience of growing up on a farm to obtain practical knowledge and understanding of the industry and conduct PhD research that was highly scientific,” she reflects. “This puts me in a unique position to communicate with farmers better and help inform practical on-farm practices.”
Hannah is equally passionate about supporting and mentoring the younger generation in the dairy industry. “That’s where I see my role as an academic advisor or professor coming into play one day,” she shares, envisioning a future where she can guide students through their agricultural research journeys.
She also continues her passion for distance running, serving as a dairy advocate in the sports industry by promoting milk’s nutritional benefits for athletic recovery. Her personal experience with chocolate milk as both her running origin story and current recovery drink of choice makes her a genuine ambassador for dairy nutrition in sports.
As the dairy industry evolves to meet changing consumer preferences and environmental challenges, Hannah remains committed to bridging the gap between research laboratories and the farmyard. Her work shows that the most innovative solutions sometimes come from people with dirt under their fingernails and science in their toolkits.
“You can have a state-of-the-art lab with the most precise methodological practices and generate interesting results, but that research will not be useful unless it can be applied,” she emphasizes. “This is why understanding the dairy industry from a practical lens is so important.”
For Hannah Woodhouse, childhood chores on the family farm have evolved into a career dedicated to advancing an industry she deeply loves – proving that when science meets practical farming knowledge, both the industry and consumers benefit.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The Chocolate Milk Champion Turned Global Competitor: Started competitive running at 14 after being “bribed” with chocolate milk at a school race sponsored by local dairy farmers—finished 4th out of 100 runners and went on to represent Canada at World Cross Country Championships in China and Colombia, still using chocolate milk as her go-to recovery drink
- From Barn Chores to PhD Labs: This oldest of four sisters grew up on a Grey County dairy farm where her veterinarian mother met her farmer father during a herd check—completed over 30 different 4-H clubs in 11 years while maintaining a 95%+ academic average and earning the University of Guelph President’s Scholarship worth $60,000+
- Real-World Research That Pays: Unlike typical academic researchers, Hannah conducted her PhD fieldwork on 300 actual farms across Ontario and BC, measuring pipelines and analyzing milk flow—her findings help dairy farmers avoid processor penalties averaging $15,000 annually through simple management changes like proper filter timing
- The “Dairy Queen” Building Tomorrow’s Industry: Known among friends for her collection of milk frothers and home experiments with family farm milk samples—now mentors the next generation while serving as contractor for Dairy Farmers of Canada’s sustainability initiatives, bridging practical farming knowledge with cutting-edge research
- Athletic Discipline Meets Scientific Rigor: Maintains competitive distance running while completing PhD research—her methodical training approach (including running up the barn hill in rubber boots to fetch cows) shaped her systematic research methodology that earned top international recognition against 89 global submissions
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Forget the stereotype of the ivory tower researcher who’s never touched a cow—Hannah Woodhouse milked her way through childhood, raced to international podiums, and earned her PhD stripes on 300 real farms across two provinces. This third-generation dairy farmer from Ontario didn’t just study free fatty acids in a lab; she tested milk samples from her own family’s cows in her kitchen frother while earning international recognition at competitions in China and Colombia. Her friends call her the “Dairy Queen” because she gets frothing gadgets every Christmas, but processors call her research game-changing after her 300-farm study revealed that simple filter management prevents $15,000 annual penalties per herd. From running for chocolate milk in grade 8 to representing Canadian dairy on global panels, Hannah embodies what happens when farm-raised intuition meets world-class science. Her journey from 4-H president to PhD proves that sometimes the best agricultural innovators are the ones who never really left the barn—they just brought the lab to the farmyard.
Learn More:
- Key Practices, Technologies, and Strategies for Dairy Farmers – Practical strategies for implementing somatic cell monitoring, automated hygiene systems, and quality assurance protocols that complement Hannah’s FFA research with comprehensive milk quality management techniques.
- 2025 Dairy Market Reality Check: Why Everything You Think You Know About This Year’s Outlook is Wrong – Reveals how shifting from volume-focused to component-optimization strategies creates premium pricing opportunities, directly supporting Hannah’s quality-first approach to sustainable dairy profitability.
- 5 Technologies That Will Make or Break Your Dairy Farm in 2025 – Demonstrates how smart sensors, AI analytics, and precision systems deliver measurable ROI while addressing the labor and efficiency challenges that impact milk quality consistency.
Join the Revolution!
Join the Revolution!Join over 30,000 successful dairy professionals who rely on Bullvine Weekly for their competitive edge. Delivered directly to your inbox each week, our exclusive industry insights help you make smarter decisions while saving precious hours every week. Never miss critical updates on milk production trends, breakthrough technologies, and profit-boosting strategies that top producers are already implementing. Subscribe now to transform your dairy operation’s efficiency and profitability—your future success is just one click away.
