For many years, the Calf Notes blog served as the primary educational outlet for sharing ideas, observations, and science-based recommendations related to calf management. When Calf Notes Consulting, LLC was formed in 2024, our initial goal was to continue Calf Notes.com as a written blog and to provide consulting services to producers and companies involved in calf raising. As we developed our business plan and developed our vision and mission, it became clear that written articles alone were no longer sufficient to meet the needs of a changing audience. New employees entering the industry, students, and even experienced producers increasingly expect information to be delivered in multiple formats. We recognized that if Calf Notes was going to remain relevant and useful, its educational offerings needed to expand beyond the traditional blog.
A major part of that expansion was the move toward video-based education. Video allows concepts to be explained visually, repeatedly, and in ways that written text cannot always accomplish. It also better reflects how people now learn—through short explanations, longer guided lessons, and recorded seminars that can be paused, revisited, and shared. While developing high-quality video content requires more time, planning, and resources than writing, we believed the educational value justified the investment.
At the same time, we could not ignore the growing role of social media in how information is discovered and consumed. Many people encounter calf management content for the first time through short clips, images, or links shared on social platforms. Being present in those spaces is no longer optional if the goal is education rather than promotion. Social media provides an entry point—an invitation to learn more—while longer-form content on Calf Notes Academy provides the depth and context that meaningful learning requires.
The most difficult discussion centered on whether this expanded content should be placed behind a paywall or offered freely. Producing video content is expensive, and the idea of charging for access was carefully considered. In the end, we decided that restricting access conflicted with the core purpose of Calf Notes. We are taking a calculated gamble that income from consulting services provided by Jim and Calf Notes Consulting can support the ongoing development of educational content. Our hope is that by keeping education open and accessible, we strengthen the broader community, create trust, and sustain the mission that Calf Notes was built on.