Sonny Johnson’s Granddaughter: Carrying the Highland Dairy Farm Legacy Forward
Member Feature Stories
The Beginning
Rena Johnson grew up in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains on her family’s dairy farm in Southwest Virginia. Her grandfather, Sonny, founded Highland Dairy Farm in 1946, quickly gaining respect as a motivated dairyman.
Rena witnessed firsthand the long hours and financial uncertainty that came with dairy farming. But these instances only strengthened her determination to continue the work started by her grandfather and strengthened through her parents. “It instilled in me a deep admiration for the sacrifices my family has made to keep the farm going and a fierce pride for the job that we do, milking and caring for cows and feeding the world,” Rena said.
After earning a Dairy Science degree from Virginia Tech, Rena returned home as the third generation to carry the farm forward.
Growing the Herd
Today, Rena partners with her parents to manage Highland Dairy Farm. She oversees the dairy operation that milks 650 cows three times a day.
Rena has taken improvement initiatives that use technology to monitor rumination, eating, activity and milk production. “As a result, we have a healthier herd of cows who get pregnant sooner, stay in the herd longer and produce more milk. Our rolling herd average has increased by almost 10,000 pounds,” she said.
Motivation
Rena’s motivation is rooted in her family’s legacy. She is determined to see Highland Dairy Farm become a century farm in 2046, honoring the land her family has worked on for over 80 years.
The cows also inspire Rena each day. “Healthy, high-producing cows chewing their cud in the milking parlor is just about the prettiest sight in the world to me and every day I want to do the best I can for them,” she said. In Rena’s eyes, each day is a chance to do better for the cows, land and generations to follow.
The AWARD Program
As a Farm Credit member, Rena was nominated by Farm Credit of the Virginias to participate in the 2026 Farm Credit AWARD Program, a leadership initiative created by the Farm Credit Council in celebration of the International Year of the Woman Farmer. Through the AWARD Program, Rena hopes to strengthen her leadership skills and bring back tools that will help inspire her team.
As a leader in agriculture, Rena’s dad has taught her to show up fully and do the same jobs that her employees do to set the example. Rena does not take this idea lightly and continues to do even the tough jobs on the farm more than 20 years later.
Rena hopes the next generation will feel proud of her the way she is proud of those who paved the way for her. “But mostly I want people to remember me as Sonny Johnson’s granddaughter, who successfully carried on Highland Dairy Farm through her lifetime,” she said.