The Cooking with Cows book not only offers delicious recipes and fascinating stories of the dairy industry, it is also providing valuable support to women in the sector.

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An initiative of the Power of Women in Dairying group, the book also marks the organisation's ten-year anniversary.

Sales from the book help to provide funds for the Power of Women in Dairying Scholarship, which gives recipients the opportunity to attend one of the world's most prestigious dairy events.

Recipients travel to the United States to attend the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin.

The expo is one of the world's largest dairy-focused events, drawing more than 60,000 people annually for a week of cattle shows, global networking and the latest innovations in dairy production and genetics.

The last recipient was Bridget Liebelt, Meadows, in 2025, with the next scholarship being awarded in 2027.

Power of Women in Dairying committee member and Fleurieu Peninsula farmer Mandy Pacitti said the Cooking with Cows book was put together thanks to the help of dairy farmers across Australia.

While farmers from across the nation submitted recipes, they didn't necessarily need to have a dairy product focus.

"We asked what are your go-to recipes and what are your favourites?" Mandy said.

The original suggestion for the book came from northern Victorian dairy farmer Jessica Gavenlock, who came up with the idea of producing a cookbook to support Power of Women in Dairying's work.

"It grew from a cookbook into a coffee table book," Mandy said.

There was a huge response to the idea of putting a book together, with 180 recipes received from dairy people across Australia.

Not wanting to play favourites, Mandy said there was a wealth of various recipes in the book from chicken carbonara to carrot cake.

The book was officially launched at International Dairy Week in January and had sold out by late February, leading to a reprint.

"It's been very well received," Mandy said.

"It's not just a cookbook, it also highlights niche processors across Australia as well."

The book also tells the stories behind major dairy industry awards and significant individuals in the sector.

One of these is the story behind the Bette Hall Award.

A trailblazer in the dairy industry, Bette grew up at Streaky Bay and her connection with the dairy industry began when she, alongside her husband Colin, bought a farm near Penola in the mid-1950s.

As the farm came up with dairy infrastructure, they began milking a few Jerseys, and later Holsteins, and so began a lifelong passion for the industry.

A respected classifier and dairy judge, Bette had great success exhibiting her own cattle.

Today, the Bette Hall Power of Women in Dairy Award for Excellence, Leadership and Achievement recognises the contribution of outstanding women in the sector.

Mandy was a recipient of the award in 2022.

"I didn't expect it or know it was coming, which was surprising because the dairy industry isn't good at keeping secrets," she said.

"It was amazing, the people that came up to congratulate me that didn't even know me."

The book also celebrates Lex Bunn award recipients.

The award was established in 2002 at International Dairy Week to honour an individual within the industry who is a major contributor without seeking award or recognition. It honours a man many regard as one of the leading dairy cattle showmen of all time.

The book also tells the stories behind industry people who have passed away and had given major contributions to the sector including South Australis's Greg Tiller and Victoria's Sheri Martin.

Mandy will have copies of the book available for sale at the Royal Adelaide Show dairy tent, and it is also available online.