Podcasts

Uplevel Dairy Podcast

What does it take to be a successful, profitable and competitive dairy farm business? This is the podcast for dairy owners, managers and advisors who are after their next level of success. Join Uplevel Dairy host Peggy Coffeen each week as she sits down with the industry’s leading dairy producers and thought leaders for real conversations about business, management and leadership.

Latest Episode

111 | Intentional Motherhood, Management and What Matters Most with Sarah Daugherty

As we come up on Mother’s Day this weekend, I’ve asked Sarah Daugherty from Paramount Calves back to talk about being a mother of 6, and balancing a high-performing work life and a high-performing family life. From performance pressure to kids’ sports to setting priorities and saying no, any mom or dad who pursues excellence both at work and at home will relate and can grab a few nuggets of wisdom from this honest conversation about hard things and what really matters. This one hit home for me, and I think it will do the same for you. This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components, and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more at https://www.adisseo.com/en/

May 9 • 27m 6s

Episodes

111 | Intentional Motherhood, Management and What Matters Most with Sarah Daugherty

May 9 • 27m 6s

110 | 3 Human Resource Hacks to Take Control of Turnover Today

If you are spending way too much time on hiring new employees, training and retraining, only to keep experiencing the exhaustion of turnover, this episode is for you. And my guest today is a higher performer in deed: Sarah Daugherty, workforce development manager at Paramount Calves LLC, in Darlington, Wis. Sarah is going to tell you how she has saved herself the time and stress of constantly training new employees and the drag and drama of hard conversations to experiencing very little turnover and creating systems that support Paramount’s high-performing teams, which include 50 employees across three sites in Wisconsin and Kansas, who care for 25,000+ replacement heifers. And these 3 hacks you are about to hear aren’t fancy. In fact, all you need to do it yourself are a few pieces of paper. Keep listening to learn … The simple exercise Sarah walked herself through that has crafted the core of the culture at Paramount Calves The key benchmark she monitors for employee turnover And the hack she created with just four sheets of paper that changed the game on retention. If zero employee turnover and high performing teams is what you are striving for … I believe you will want to really take some tips from Sarah. Bonus: And Sarah will join us again later this week to shift gears from management to motherhood. I’ve invited this mom of 6 back on for a special message for all the moms as we head into Mother’s Day! This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components, and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more at https://www.adisseo.com/en/

May 7 • 25m 5s

109 | Young Leader with Ytsje Andringa

Meet Young Leader Ytsje Andringa, a driven woman whose path seems to always lead her back to the driver’s seat of a silage truck. Ytsje shares how she shifted her career course from health care to follow her heart back to her family dairy farm, Sunrise Dairy in Clear Lake, South Dakota. She’s the daughter of Dutch immigrants, oldest of 6 and a mother to 3. This Young Leader will blow you away with her determination to do hard things and go after her dairy farming dreams every single day. Hear about: The challenges she faces as a young dairy producer dealing with salespeople and managing employees three times her age The one skill set she believes she must develop to be successful as a dairy producer And a few fun silage truck-driving stories The Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast is the special podcast series for producers and professionals in the first 5 years of their dairy careers. Find it on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, as well as its own platform, Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.

May 2 • 29m 23s

108 | How This Dairy Manager Slayed the Time-Consuming Data Monster

If data has turned into the time-consuming monster that is stealing your focus, delaying decisions and dragging down your progress, you will want to keep listening because I’ve got something important that could change the game for you on this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast. Our guest understands these challenges because he was a dairy manager himself in Texas for well over a decade, who faced the same struggles: He wanted the right data, at his fingertips, integrated in a way that allowed him to use it as a tool to improve performance and move his dairy forward. And so he created his own solution: Dairy Performance Network. Manny Salcedo founded DPN seven years ago, and you are about to hear: How Manny came up with his own solution for slaying that time-consuming data monster The story behind this customized software integration and data analytics system that connects people, cows and technology The results: Higher levels of employee engagement and hitting real performance benchmarks that make a difference to the dairy producer’s bottomline Follow DPN https://www.facebook.com/dairyperformancenetwork/ https://www.instagram.com/dairy_performance_network/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/dairy-performance-network/ Contact DPN 806-639-5166 support@dpnconnect.com www.dpnconnect.com

April 30 • 31m 50s

107 | How Good Can We Get? with Megan Schrupp, DVM, NexGen Dairy

“How good can we get?” That’s a question high-performers ask themselves and the teams they lead every single day. It’s also a question Megan Schrupp, DVM, at NexGen Dairy in Eden Valley, Minnesota, uses to push the potential for cows, people and her dairy farming business. This 20-minute episode is the hot take from one of our most popular podcasts of all time, Episode #36: Full Potential Dairy Farming. Megan details how this question drives: - A culture of excellence among people - Data-driven decision-making to enhance transition, nutrition and repro details This episode is part of the High-Performance Mindset Series, powered by Nedap. Listen to Episode 36 for the full conversation with Megan here: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/6H45sTWc4Ib

April 25 • 21m 36s

106 | Dairy Farming on Three Continents with Young Leader Laurens Rutten

Meet the 28-year-old from Belgium who has embarked on a hands-on dairy farming journey around the globe.... Laurens Rutten challenged himself to dive into dairy on three continents, starting on a commercial grass-based dairy in New Zealand, then the world’s largest robotic dairy in Chile, and we catch up with him today on the third leg of his journey at Sunnyside Farms in New York. Laurens reveals the two critical questions he asked himself that spurred this adventure, and the lessons he is learning along the way and leaves us with some solid takeaways on blazing your own trail, defining your future and taking bold action. The Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast is THE podcast series for producers and professionals in the first 5 years of their dairy careers. Find it on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, as well as its own platform, Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Join the Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/792440762650346/

April 23 • 38m 54s

105 | U.S. Milk Production + Feed Cost Predictions: HighGround Dairy April Monthly Market Update

As the US milk supply tightens, what opportunities and challenges are ahead for Class 3 and 4, as domestic demand lowers and exports pick up? Corn planters are starting to roll across the countryside, how might the early planting predictions impact your feed cost? That’s what we are covering today with Curtis Bosma in the HighGround Dairy Monthly Market Insights. Find out how the markets are moving and how it could impact your bottom line. Grab Your April Market Report Here: https://marketing.highgrounddairy.com/producer-market-update-april-2024 About HighGround Dairy This episode is brought to you by HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain. Learn more at ⁠https://highgrounddairy.com/⁠ or email them at info@highgrounddairy.com Information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes and is not a solicitation to buy or sell commodities. Opinions expressed are current opinions as of April 17, 2024 at 11 a.m. CST and only represent the views of the speaker and not those of HighGround Trading, unless otherwise expressly noted.

April 18 • 22m 56s

104 | 7 Secrets to Employee Retention Success

Over the past 6 months or so, I’ve sat down with some pretty incredible people in the dairy industry. The owners and managers of excellent dairies and some of the most sought-after consultants who specialize in employee performance, training, and retention. Many of these are conversations you’ve heard on the UPlevel Dairy Podcast, and you can certainly go back and listen to them all, but if you really just want some cliff notes, some common themes, and take-home points that tie together several of the best conversations we’ve had here on the topic of getting a new employee off the best start, so they can perform well for you, see a path for their own future by being part of your team for the long haul, that’s what you are going to get today on the UPlevel Dairy Podcast. My goal is to make it easy for you by pulling together some powerful shares from seven recent guests - some of the industry’s best owners, managers, and consultants. We are going to walk through three critical phases of employee retention, starting with: First, onboarding Next, uncovering individual potential And finally, motivation - giving good people a reason to stay. I’m giving you some high-value nuggets from these recent Uplevel Dairy guests so you can raise your own bar own employee retention. Listen to the episodes of the ones mentioned on today's show below. 85 | 3 Keys to Maximize Profit and ROI from Your People: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/vdFC7gRqPIb 97 | Empowering People: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/upleveldairy/episodes/97--Women-Leading-the-Way-at-Pagel-Family-Businesses-Empowering-People-with-Ashley-Pagel-e2h3ng0 61 | Empowering Mid-level Managers, Cell Phone Policies & Team-Building Activities: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/upleveldairy/episodes/61--Empowering-Mid-level-Managers--Cell-Phone-Policies-and-Team-Building-Activities-with-Bridget-Schilling--Schilling-Farms-e2ctl74 63 | One Question Most Progressive Dairy Managers are Asking: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/upleveldairy/episodes/63--The-One-Question-the-Most-Progressive-Dairy-Managers-are-Asking-with-Elsie-Gonzalez-Leach-e2d7bgm 88 | 3 Steps to Set Up Middle Managers for Success: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/upleveldairy/episodes/88--3-Steps-to-Set-Up-Middle-Managers-for-Success--the-Dairy-Calf-and-Heifer-Association-Annual-Meeting-with-Clint-Al-Ag-e2ftu22 92 | Pursuing Greatness: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/upleveldairy/episodes/92--Pursuing-Greatness-with-Hans-Nederend---Part-1-Secrets-to-World-class-Milk-Quality-e2gl916 74 | 5 Principles of Leadership: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/upleveldairy/episodes/74--5-Principles-of-Leadership-with-Juan-Quezada--Director-of-Training-and-Development--Milk-Source-LLC-e2e6a9u

April 16 • 27m 20s

103 | Young Leader Takeover at the Midwest Dairy Challenge!

On this Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast, I’m turning the mic over to a trio of up-and-comers in dairy industry communications to interview three Dairy Challenge alumni who shared their experiences on a panel at the Midwest Dairy Challenge held in Green Bay, Wis., in February. Social media interns interview Dairy Challenge alumni: Nichole Gerard, Iowa State University student, interviews Crystal Prom, Cargill Torri Burch, Iowa State University student, interviews Tony Schmitz, Schmitz’s East Branch Dairy Irene Nielsen, Iowa State University student, interviews Liz Schiebelbein, Phibro Animal Health Torri and Irene talk about their Dairy Challenge experiences, as past competitors and social media interns Learn more about the Dairy Challenge: https://www.dairychallenge.org/ The Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast is the special podcast series for producers and professionals in the first 5 years of their dairy careers. Find it on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, as well as its own platform, Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.

April 11 • 14m 47s

102 | From Bleeding $500,000 to Better than Breaking Even

It wasn’t just their dairy farm on the line. It was their house too. Pauly Paul from Complete Management Consulting is back to tell us how he helped one dairy family on the verge of losing it all turn around from bleeding red to a positive cash flow in 6 months. Not only were they able to keep the farm and the house, but today, it is a financially sound business in the process of transitioning to the next generation. Find out how Pauly and his team: Lowered their breakeven Reorganized labor Brought them back from a $500,000 loss to breaking even or better in 6 months This Episode is Sponsored by Complete Management Consulting Contact Pauly Paul www.CompleteManagementConsulting.com completemanagementconsulting@gmail.com 920-418-3135

April 9 • 17m 26s

101 | Mental Toughness: The 75-Day Transformation

No alcohol, 2-a-day workouts, following a diet, daily personal development reading and drinking a gallon of water … every day for 75 days. That’s 75 Hard, a transformative commitment for building mental toughness and self discipline, and these two Michigan dairymen just completed it, alongside the 4x4x48 endurance challenge from Episode 100. Tommy Oesch from Swisslane Farms and Clare Alderink from Ryzebol Dairy are back to dish it out on what they did, what they read and how 75 Hard transformed their habits and their mindsets. Hear more from Tommy Oesch on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast Episode 100: 4 Miles Every 4 Hours for 48 Hours The 7,000 Cows in 7 Years Vision Finding Balance with a Big Vision - Part 1: Faith, Family and Dairy Farming Finding Balance with a Big Vision - Part 2: Health, Relationships and Accountabiity This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more at https://www.adisseo.com/en/

April 4 • 13m 5s

100 | 4 Miles, Every 4 Hours for 48 Hours with Tommy Oesch, Swisslane Farms and Clare Alderink, Ryzebol Dairy

Last year, Michigan dairyman Tommy Oesch from Swisslane Farms, told us right here on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast that he planned to complete David Goggins’ extreme 4x4x48 endurance challenge: That’s running 4 miles, every 4 hours for 48 hours. Today, Tommy is back and he brought his friend Clare Alderink, general manager at Ryzebol Dairy, to talk about the grueling physical and mental challenge they completed in March, and the surprising ways it’s made them better as dairymen, family men and friends. This episode is all about mindset: Self discipline Developing habits Doing hard things If you are pushing for your next level of performance, I promise, this episode drops some real life wisdom and will leave you with a new vision of what’s possible for you too! Here more from Tommy Oesch on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast: The 7,000 Cows in 7 Years Vision Finding Balance with a Big Vision - Part 1: Faith, Family and Dairy Farming Finding Balance with a Big Vision - Part 2: Health, Relationships and Accountabiity This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components, and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more here: Adisseo.com

April 2 • 57m 38s

99 | How a Texas Dairy Beats the Heat to Hit 55% Conception Rate

Welcome to central Texas, where summer days exceed 100 degrees and heat stress is one of the greatest threats to cow health, reproduction and performance. But since adding monitoring technology to their 1,250-cow herd last year, dairyman Hidde Osinga from Overwhere Dairy is using collar-collected data to: Find and treat compromised cows sooner Catch silent heats Capture 15 percentage points on conception rate Find out how his team has learned to trust the system, and hear about Hidde’s excitement for the future of dairying in this episode, part of the High-Performance Mindset Series, powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farms by revolutionizing cow-side care through technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering and identification. Find more episodes in Nedap’s High-Performance Mindset Series here: 4 High-Impact Actions to Create a Winning Farm Culture with Travis Speirs, Shiloh Dairy Dairy Tech in Texas: Managing 8,000 Cows with Activity Monitors featuring Nathan Moroney, Del Rio Dairy Protecting His Price and Managing Risk with Nathan Moroney, Del Rio Dairy Managing More Cows, More People and More Data with Derrick Josi Full-Potential Farming: Reaching the Highest Level of Performance with Cows and People through Technology with Megan Schrupp, NexGen Dairy Olympic-level Business, Management and Mindset with Elle Purrier-St. Pierre and Jamie St. Pierre

March 28 • 27m 33s

98 | Soybeans are Getting Crushed, Texas Dairy Cows Under the Weather: HighGround Dairy March Monthly Market Update

We catch up with Curtis Bosma, vice president of producer services for HighGround Dairy, to hear about: Soybeans: All-time high crush capacity and largest carry in more than 15 years Managed money short covering corn and beans Domestic cheese demand slips while butter takes off Why are Texas dairy cows under the weather? Learn more and find market resources at https://highgrounddairy.com/ This episode is brought to you by: HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain. Please note: Information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes and is not a solicitation to buy or sell commodities. Opinions expressed are current opinions as of March 18, 2024, 12 p.m., and only represent the views of the speaker and not those of HighGround Trading, unless otherwise expressly noted.

March 26 • 19m 1s

97 | Women Leading the Way at Pagel Family Businesses: Empowering People with Ashley Pagel

In the final episode in this series with the women who are leading the way at Pagel Family Businesses, in Kewaunee, Wisconsin, we sit down with Ashley Pagel, human resources manager. Find out: Ashley’s transition from a career in health care to heading up human resources How she has professionalized processes and paperwork Improving employee retention Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Our dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs. For more information, contact the Compeer Dairy Industry Experts .

March 21 • 20m 3s

96 | Women Leading the Way at Pagel Family Businesses: Sharing Dairy’s Story with Chase Pagel

We continue this 3-part series with the women who are leading the way at Pagel Family Businesses, in Kewaunee, Wisconsin. Today, Chase Pagel debuts her new children’s book, Rosco’s Sweet Treats, a story that not only depicts modern dairy farming, but also a real-life tale of a steer raised by her daughter that had a taste for cupcakes and other treats. Chase talks about: How the challenge to find accurate dairy farm books to read to tour groups became her motivation How her family is her inspiration And the next books to come in this series. Rosco’s Sweet Treats is currently available for pre-order on Amazon. Follow Chase’s journey online: Dairy Diaries LLC on Instagram and Facebook Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Our dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs. For more information, contact the Compeer Dairy Industry Experts .

March 20 • 26m 38s

95 | Women Leading the Way at Pagel Family Businesses: From Grief to Growth with Jamie Pagel Witcpalek

This week, we bring you a 3-part series, as we celebrate the month of March: the month of women’s history, international women’s day, as well as National Agriculture Day. What better way to do this than in Kewaunee, Wisconsin, at Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy, with three very special guests from Pagel Family Businesses … three women who have risen to the challenge to be leaders … here at the dairy, in their community and far beyond. This family has overcome hardship, in particular, the tragic loss of well-loved industry leader and the family’s patriarch, John T. Pagel, along with his son-in-law, Steve Witcpalek, six years ago. Yet, the family has rallied together to carry on a legacy and a business. In this episode, Jamie Pagel Witcpalek, chairwoman of Pagel Family Businesses, opens up about loss, grief and moving forward. Tune into the next two episodes in this series to hear from: Chase Pagel on Sharing Dairy’s Story Ashley Pagel on Empowering People Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Our dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs. For more information, contact the Compeer Dairy Industry Experts .

March 19 • 37m 47s

94 | 3 Things the Top 10% of Dairy Producers Do

In this episode of the UpLevel Dairy Podcast, host Peggy Coffeen welcomes back guest Leland Kootstra, an accountant well-versed in the dairy farming business sector and founding partner of Frazer, LLP. The dialogue offers a trove of wisdom for generational dairy farmers, focusing on the skills needed to take over the helm and steer their family businesses to new horizons. Leland emphasizes the importance of meticulousness in business operations, where an in-depth understanding of costs, schedules, and right-sizing is crucial for superior management. He also brings to light the significance of integrating robust risk management strategies to hedge against uncontrollable market volatility. The three things that Leland sees the top 10% of dairy farmers doing are: Being extremely knowledgeable on the details of the business Having an action plan around risk management Being cognizant of what it takes to be a reputable business This episode is brought to you by HighGround Dairy HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain. Learn more about them below or at ⁠https://www.highgrounddairy.com/⁠.

March 14 • 8m 34s

93 | How to Pass On a Multi-million Dollar Dairy Farming Business: 3 Critical Questions for Succession Success with Leland Kootstra

In this episode of the UpLevel Dairy podcast, host Peggy Coffeen interviews Leland Kootstra, an accountant with Frazer, LLP, about the importance of succession planning in multi-generational dairy businesses. Kootstra shares three critical questions he asks both the senior and incoming generations to help them define their goals, timelines, and long-term outlook. He emphasizes the need for open and ongoing communication to ensure a smooth transition and alignment of expectations. This episode provides valuable insights for dairy farm owners and managers looking to pass on their businesses successfully. Hear more in this episode about: The importance of early and ongoing dialogue between generations to ensure successful transitioning of the family dairy businesses. Three critical questions posed to the senior generation to help them identify their vision of success, ideal transition timelines, and their willingness to re-invest in their current business if given a chance to start over. Corresponding in-depth questions directed at the incoming generation aimed at understanding their definition of success, skillset gaps, and their long-term perspective on the regional dairy industry. The emotional and familial sensitivity surrounding transition planning and the role of an advisor in facilitating healthy conversations. Insights on the dynamic industry, changing expectations, and how generational goals can inform and sometimes transform the succession planning process. This episode is brought to you by HighGround Dairy HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain. Learn more about them below or at https://www.highgrounddairy.com/.

March 12 • 38m 14s

92 | Pursuing Greatness with Hans Nederend - Part 2: Perseverance and Living on Purpose

Hans Nederend isn’t only committed to producing high-quality milk on his dairies. He’s also committed to living a high-quality life. Whether it’s leading his family or leading his team, hear how Hans keeps his faith at the center of his roles as both a dad and a dairyman. In his responses to the “Uplevel 5,” Hans talks about: The book that changed his life and his leadership The Calvin Coolidge quote on his business card Honoring God by living out your purpose Hear more from Hans in Part 1: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/upleveldairy/episodes/92--Pursuing-Greatness-with-Hans-Nederend---Part-1-Secrets-to-World-class-Milk-Quality-e2gl916

March 7 • 13m 7s

92 | Pursuing Greatness with Hans Nederend - Part 1: Secrets to World-class Milk Quality

What does it take to maintain milk quality at a level of less than 75,000 SCC on 9,000 cows for 15 consecutive years? You might be surprised. We are catching up with Hans Nederend III from Nederend Dairies in Marsing, Idaho, who shared his secrets to milk quality success at the 2024 National Mastitis Council Annual Meeting. A past National Dairy Quality Award winner, Hans talks about: ✅ Consistency, persistency and his daily tracking spread sheet ✅ His performance-based pay system ✅ How he motivates his team of milking professionals 👀 Spoiler alert: He doesn’t talk about any magical technology, tube or treatment. This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components and maintain the health of their high-performing herds.

March 5 • 50m 56s

91 | WonderCow: A California Dairy Family’s Faith-filled Journey to Create a Superfood Supplement

In this episode, Peggy sits down with a seventh-generation dairy family, Rob and Erica Diepersloot, from Madera, California, as they share their story of co-founding bovine colostrum company, WonderCow, including: The heartbreak they experienced as parents of a daughter with chronic ear infections, and how that led them to look in their own backyard to create a dairy-derived solution. How inconsistency and mislabeling in the market place led Rob and Erica to create their own trusted and transparent brand, from their own cows and other dairies that share their values Navigating the challenges of Amazon and the supply chain And the faith-filled journey of building the WonderCow brand. Find WonderCow: https://wondercow.com/ Follow WonderCow: @wondercow on Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok

February 29 • 39m 47s

90 | Young Leader Madison Busse, United Dairies, Alexandria, Minnesota

She manages 15 employees, 1,200 baby calves and 700 maternity cows … and she’s just 24 years old. Our Uplevel Dairy Young Leader today is Madison Busse, Calf and Maternity Manager for Minnesota-based United Dairies. The Ohio native didn’t grow up on a dairy but learned to love it, and while her path was originally to become a large animal veterinarian, an internship with a calf raiser prompted a change of heart and change of direction that led her to Alexandria, Minnesota, to a position where she can’t wait to get out of bed every day … the perfect combination of being hands-on with calves and cows, working with people and being part of a culture that supports her in being successful as a young manager at United Dairies. Find out how she is forging her path in a field that some people actually discouraged her from pursuing and why she loves giving baby calves and cows a chance to thrive, with Madison Busse. The Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast is the special podcast series for producers and professionals in the first 5 years of their dairy careers. Find it on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, as well as its own platform, Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. Join the Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/792440762650346/

February 27 • 28m 53s

89 | Record-Low Heifer Inventories, Record-High Credit Card Debt and New Crop Projections: HighGround Dairy February Monthly Market Update

Today’s big question: With heifer inventories at historic lows and global milk production trending lower in 2024, we seem to be poised for better milk prices compared to 2023, so what's your action plan to capitalize on this opportunity? If this question has you thinking, you’ve come to the right place, because Curtis Bosma is joining us for the HighGround Dairy Monthly Market Update. In this episode, hear more about: The supply update for heifer inventory & global milk production The demand update for milk spot basis, credit card debt & milk fat New crop balance sheets for corn and soybeans This episode is brought to you by HighGround Dairy HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain. Curtis Bosma is vice president of producer services for HighGround Dairy. You can download your own producer market update here: ⁠https://www.highgrounddairy.com/comprehensive-gdt-auction-analysis-20-february-2024/

February 22 • 19m 20s

88 | 3 Steps to Set Up Middle Managers for Success + the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association Annual Meeting with Clint Al-Ag

On this episode, Peggy sits down with Clint Al-Ag, president of the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association (DCHA) Board of Directors, and manager with Blue Sky Farms. Clint gives a sneak-peak of what to expect at the upcoming DCHA Conference, as well as how the organization has helped him develop leadership skills as he has transitioned from heifer yard manager to now overseeing 150 employees across three sites in the Texas panhandle. Clint covers three key steps he has taken to set up middle managers for success, including: How he assesses not just core competencies but alignment with core values and desire to be a leader Reinforcing the chain of command Ongoing support for new managers Join Clint and other producers and industry professionals who specialize in raising dairy calves, heifers and cross calves at the 2024 DCHA Annual Meeting. 2024 DCHA Annual Meeting April 9-11, 2024 | Westminster Colorado To register, sponsor, or exhibit in the trade show: https://calfandheifer.org/2024-annual-meeting-agenda-2/ Dairy Calf and Heifer Association (DCHA) www.calfandheifer.org

February 20 • 37m 46s

87 | Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders featuring Emily Shaw Schaapman, Dairy Girl Fitness

And our featured Young Leader today is Emily Shaw Schaapmann, also known as the Dairy Girl Fitness, shares the career journey that led her to starting her own business. Describing her initial struggles finding her place in the dairy industry and experiencing career frustration, Emily discusses how she channeled her passions for health, fitness, and dairy promotion into establishing Dairy Girl Fitness. Five years later, this business has helped more than 500 women reach their health goals and includes a team of four coaches. Follow Emily Shaw Schaapman on Social Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/DairyGirlFitness/⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/dairygirlfitness/⁠ Podcast: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/cowgirltalk/⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNADOKh4JsW_Lp7gGVfyyYQ⁠ Website: ⁠https://dairygirlfitness.com/⁠ The Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast is the special podcast series for producers and professionals in the first 5 years of their dairy careers. Find it on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, as well as its own platform, Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. Join the Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/792440762650346/⁠

February 15 • 32m 1s

86 | Join Us for the Premier Dairy Event of the High Plains: 2024 High Plains Dairy Conference

What's been keeping you up at night? Is your mind turning about how to create alternative revenue streams, monetizing more than milk from your dairy or cash in on carbon? Or are you wishing there was a training available for your middle managers, one day where they could sharpen their communication and leadership skills? Well, guess what ... you can find it all and more in one place: The High Plains Dairy Conference. I’ll be emceeing this biennial event, and I’m inviting you to join me in Amarillo, Texas, on March 5 and 6, with a bonus middle manager training on March 7, for one of the most truly producer-driven meetings in the dairy industry. The driving force behind this meeting is Dr. Robert Hagevoort from New Mexico State University Extension. Robert shared some valuable insights on our last episode on optimizing the ROI of your employees, and he’s back on today to tell us what’s new, what to expect and why dairy producers from beyond the High Plains will find value in the High Plains Dairy Conference! ----- High Plains Dairy Conference Embassy Suites Amarillo, Texas Pre-Conference and Conference on March 5-6; Middle Managers Training Workshop on March 7 ------ View agenda and register for the High Plains Dairy Conference: https://hpdc.regfox.com/2024-high-plains-dairy-conference ------ Contact Dr. Robert Hagevoort dairydoc@highplainsdairy.org (806) 786-3421

February 14 • 15m 43s

85 | 3 Keys to Maximize Profit and ROI from Your People

Any dairy producer will tell you, a good employee is worth every dollar. But every two weeks, when pay day comes around, do you ever wonder if you are getting the most out of your investment? What if it didn't have to cost you a penny more to maximize the efforts and outcomes of every hour you are paying that employee to be at your dairy? Our guest today spends a lot of his time improving training, safety and development of the dairy workforce. Dr. Robert Hagevoort, with New Mexico State University Extension, joins us to talk about three things he sees high-performing dairy operations doing to increase employee engagement, retention and performance. Hear about: The reason your trainings in Spanish may be failing How to optimize daily performance What the best dairies are doing to get the right people in the right seats on the bus To view agenda and register for the High Plains Dairy Conference: https://hpdc.regfox.com/2024-high-plains-dairy-conference Contact Dr. Robert Hagevoort: dairydoc@highplainsdairy.org (806) 786-3421

February 13 • 34m 59s

84 | Precision Nutrition and Sustainable Dairy Production: A Conversation with Dr. Mike Van Amburgh

Peggy Coffeen sits down to chat with Dr. Mike Van Amburgh, Cornell University, at the Adisseo VIP Dairy Seminar about the benefits of precision dairy cattle nutrition going beyond methionine and lysine. He introduces the latest version of the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS), their nutrition model that offers the potential to formulate for all 10 essential amino acids. Find out: How the model, made user-friendly for dairy nutritionists, aims to increase productivity without as much protein or nitrogen intake Cost-effectiveness and environmental advantages The bigger picture of sustainability This episode is sponsored by Adisseo, global leader in animal nutrition and premium provider of rumen protected methionine for dairy producers who want to capture the power of components and maintain the health of their high-performing herds.

February 8 • 6m 57s

83 | Understanding Dairy Sustainability: Discussion with Dr. Marissa Hake

A big question we ask ourselves as dairy producers and professionals is, how can we effectively communicate with consumers about the food we produce and our built-in sustainability stories? Who better to tap into this topic than Dr. Marissa Hake. I sat down with Dr. Hake at the Adisseo VIP Dairy Seminar to get her insights. Hear what she has to say about consumer purchasing decisions, dairy versus the alternatives, sustainability and building trust on this UPlevel Dairy Podcast. In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, you will be able to hear Dr. Hake’s insights on: Consumer trends and concerns Reframing environmental impact and the sustainability story Ensuring consumer acceptance of new technologies This episode is sponsored by Adisseo, global leader in animal nutrition and premium provider of rumen protected methionine for dairy producers who want to capture the power of components and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more about Adisseo here: https://www.adisseo.com/en/

February 7 • 10m 49s

82 | The Revolution of Dairy Cattle Nutrition: Amino Acids with Dr. Chuck Schwab

Peggy sits down with Dr. Chuck Schwab, a distinguished Professor Emeritus from New Hampshire University, at the Adisseo VIP Dairy Seminar, where he recapped highlights of his career and research on the important role of amino acids in dairy cattle nutrition. Find out: Why Schwab so fervently pursued amino acid research The impacts on the way dairy cattle rations are formulated today And why he believes his work is not yet done. This episode is sponsored by Adisseo, global leader in animal nutrition and premium provider of rumen protected methionine for dairy producers who want to capture the power of components and maintain the health of their high-performing herds.

February 6 • 37m 20s

81 | How to Turn Your Passion for Dairy Promotions into a Professional Career

If you are passionate about sharing dairy’s story with consumers and want to know how to turn that into a career, keep listening to hear how Allison Ryan has done just that. As the marketing and communications director for MVP Dairy and McCarty Family Farms, she has brought the vision to life for an on-farm dairy learning center in Salina, Ohio, and will soon be cutting the ribbon on a second, interactive learning center near Rexford, Kansas. And she’s joining us today to talk about the opportunities for young professionals who want to make their passion their career, right here on the UPlevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast. The Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast is the special podcast series for producers and professionals in the first 5 years of their dairy careers. Find it on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, as well as its own platform, Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. Join the Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/792440762650346/ Learn more about career opportunities and internships with McCarty Family Farms and MVP Dairy: Contact Allison Ryan: aryan@mvpdairyllc.com Visit: https://www.mccartyfamilyfarms.com/nowhiring Follow McCarty Family Farms https://www.facebook.com/McCartyFamilyFarms/ https://www.instagram.com/mccartyfamilyfarms/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mccartyfamilyfarms Follow MVP Dairy https://www.facebook.com/mvpdairy/ https://www.instagram.com/mvpdairy/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mvpdairy

February 1 • 35m 57s

80 | Dairy Farming with a $15 Breakeven

Is a $15 breakeven possible for a dairy farming business in 2024, given increases in input costs and inflation, and the current milk market conditions? If anyone would tell you “yes,” it would be Pauly Paul with Complete Management Consulting. Pauly has helped hundreds of farms reduce their expenses and increase their income, so that they can be profitable and sustainable businesses. I’ve asked Pauly, if he was running his own dairy farm, how would he do it? Find out on this episode: Which expenses he would cut first, and the ones he wouldn’t touch His time-saving approach to meetings and effective employee managemen Where he often sees dairies losing their focus and losing money And how he would get his break-even point to $15 per cwt. This Episode is Sponsored by Complete Management Consulting Contact Pauly Paul www.CompleteManagementConsulting.com Pauly@completemanagementconsulting.com 920-418-3135

January 30 • 20m 7s

79 | HighGround Dairy January Monthly Market Update

Today’s big question: What if you knew, with 100% certainty, that the milk price would plummet $5 per hundred weight in the next few months … what would you do? If this question has you thinking, you’ve come to the right place, because Curtis Bosma is joining us for the HighGround Dairy Monthly Market Update. Find out: Price Action Update The Big 3 factors are influencing your milk check right now Strategic actions you can take to protect your business Curtis Bosma is vice president of producer services for HighGround Dairy. You can download your own producer market update here: https://marketing.highgrounddairy.com/producer-market-update-january-2024 This episode is brought to you by HighGround Dairy HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain. Please note: Information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes and is not a solicitation to buy or sell commodities. Opinions expressed are current opinions as of Jan. 17, 2024, 12:30 p.m., and only represent the views of the speaker and not those of HighGround Trading, unless otherwise expressly noted.

January 25 • 13m 18s

78 | Meet Our Monthly Dairy Markets Insider: Curtis Bosma, HighGround Dairy

We’ve got an exciting new addition to the Uplevel Dairy Podcast … a monthly market update to empower you to make informed decisions for your dairy farming business, brought to you by HighGround Dairy. On this episode, we sit down to get to know Curtis Bosma, vice president of producer services for HighGround Dairy, to learn more about his mission to take the stress out of understanding markets and provide you with the tools to protect your dairy business’s profitability. Find out: How Curtis got mud on his boots growing up on dairies in California and the Midwest Cutting his teeth in trading at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) His drive, strategy and outlooks, personally and professionally You can look forward to Curtis’s January update on our next episode, including market movements, commodity inventories and the big three factors influencing your next milk check. This episode is brought to you by: HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain. Learn more at ⁠https://highgrounddairy.com/⁠ or email them at info@highgrounddairy.com

January 23 • 23m 33s

77 | Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders featuring Alex Gambonini, HighGround Dairy

And our featured Young Leader today is as dedicated to dairy as they come, Alex Gambonini. Raised on an organic California dairy farm, Alex not only grew up showing cattle and competing in dairy quiz bowl, but she also loved digging into numbers and economics. Today, her passions combined, she is the senior manager of advisory services for HighGround Dairy. Hear how Alex: Dives into the complexities of dairy economics and milk pricing Her very powerful and personal “why” for helping dairy farmers understand milk markets and manage risk And how she uses both in-person and online networking to connect with other professionals Enjoy this conversation with our UD Young Leader, Alex Gambonini. The Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast is the special podcast series for producers and professionals in the first 5 years of their dairy careers. Find it on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, as well as its own platform, Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. Join the Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/792440762650346/

January 18 • 25m 46s

76 | Multi-Site Dairy Management: Purchase, lease or let it pass by? with Curtis Gerrits, Compeer Financial

Before you take on that second dairy site, there are four key areas to consider that can make or break the long-term viability and profitability of this decision. Curtis Gerrits, Senior Dairy Lending Specialist from Compeer Financial, is having these conversations on the regular, and he is going to walk us through these four critical areas and leave you with greater insights for your own decision-making on whether to purchase, lease, or pass up an opportunity to take on a satellite dairy site. This Episode is Sponsored by Compeer Financial Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Our dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs. For more information, contact the Compeer Dairy Industry Experts . Disclosure: Curtis Gerrits and his family hold a partial ownership stake in Breeze Dairy Group. Compeer Financial is an equal opportunity employer and provide, and an equal credit opportunity lender.

January 16 • 31m 16s

75 | Conversando con Líderes Lecheros (Conversations with Dairy Leaders) - Juan Quezada, Milk Source, y Elsie Gonzalez Leach, Motiva Dairy Consulting

La presentadora invitada Elsie González Leach de Motiva Dairy Consulting se sienta con Juan Quezada de Milk Source para hablar sobre su trayectoria profesional, desde sus inicios como ordeñador hasta 25 años después, liderando a 650 personas como director de capacitación y desarrollo de la operación láctea. Descubra cómo comparte sus conocimientos para ayudar a otros a alcanzar su propio éxito y creer en lo que es posible para usted. Suscríbase a Motiva Dairy Consulting en YouTube para ver esta entrevista y más recursos en español sobre capacitación y desarrollo de liderazgo en el sector lechero: https://www.youtube.com/@MotivaDairyConsulting https://www.motivadairy.com/ Guest host Elsie Gonzalez Leach from Motiva Dairy Consulting sits down with Juan Quezada from Milk Source to talk about his career journey, from starting as a milker to 25 years later, leading 650 people as director of training and development for the dairy operation. Find out how he shares his knowledge to help others achieve their own success and believe in what is possible for you. Subscribe to Motiva Dairy Consulting on YouTube for this interview and more Spanish resources on dairy leadership training and development: https://www.youtube.com/@MotivaDairyConsulting https://www.motivadairy.com/

January 11 • 35m 31s

74 | 5 Principles of Leadership with Juan Quezada, Director of Training and Development, Milk Source LLC

We have some exciting things coming your way on the next episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast … an episode in Spanish is coming soon! But first, on today’s episode, Peggy sits down with Juan Quezada, director of training and development at Milk Source, to uncover his 5 principles of leadership. Then, on our next episode, you will get to hear the in-depth interview in Spanish, with Juan and Elsie Gonzalez Leach, from Motiva Dairy Consulting. You will want to hit “subscribe” on Elsie’s new Motiva Dairy Consulting channel on YouTube, where you will find free resources in Spanish for dairy training and leadership development and more high-impact “Conversations with Dairy Leaders” to come! Subscribe to Motiva Dairy Consulting on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MotivaDairyConsulting This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more here: https://www.adisseo.com/en/

January 9 • 34m 25s

73 | The Power of One Word featuring Katie DiGangi, Zoetis/Darlington Ridge Farms

Welcome back, friends, for more in this special series we are dropping each day this week on Uplevel Dairy - catching up with our guests from last year who shared their "one word" for 2023 12 months ago. In this last episode in this series, you get to hear from Katie DiGangi about her word “presence” and what that meant for her family and relationships, and I share about my word “truth” and the unexpected shifts it provoked. And find out what Katie and have chosen for our “one word” for 2024! Interested in what other dairy professionals chose as their 2024 word? Check out the rest of this mini-series below! https://open.spotify.com/episode/407zMXKFIMlYkmPV7YAh2V?si=gAOAGoPvRQykXxjN-rUNPw Eliza Ruzic with Zinpro: https://open.spotify.com/episode/58yvjNXptKTm5yjgZYQza9?si=R4eQ0JLcRrqV2-M0FUMo1w Jared Yousey with Sunnyside Farms: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Byhq1p6h2yrTJ0nMsVKI0?si=tS0b9s3uRLu3REbBLzeIqg Travis Speirs with Shiloh Dairy: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4cENTqPtPJaEIyKKwWGWYa?si=17iL4quBRQSmxoyOJBS0Kw Jessica Pralle Trimner from Miltrim Farms: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5wus0sznNiGNTqH3f3Ffkz?si=gleU5iQ_RNyQg_wlYuqbrg

January 8 • 47m

72 | The Power of One Word featuring Tera Baker, Nedap

Welcome back, friends, for more in this special series we are dropping each day this week on Uplevel Dairy - catching up with our guests from last year who shared their "one word" for 2023 12 months ago, and finding out who stuck to their word, who has been transformed by it and who can’t wait to dig into their new word for 2024! And if you recall our conversation with Tera Baker from Nedap one year ago, you may recall that she was in the mode to “build” in 2023. As a young farmer along side her husband, they were investing in building their own farming enterprise, building their family with the addition of their first child and building out solutions for dairy farmers through Nedap. How did it go? Let’s find out!

January 5 • 15m 23s

71 | The Power of One Word featuring Jared Yousey, Sunnyside Farms

We are kicking off 2024 with a series each day this week, revisiting our guests from last year who shared their "one word" for 2023. We are finding out who stuck to their word, who has been transformed by it and who can’t wait to dig into their new word for 2024. I'm joined today by Jared Yousey from Sunnyside Farms in Scipio Center, New York. Let’s hear what Jared has picked for his word for 2024, and take some time to reflect on the two powerful words he combined last year, gratitude and opportunity or “grati-tunity,” and how he truly lived by and led by those words as a dairy manager, a softball coach and with the most important people in his life.

January 4 • 28m 53s

70 | The Power of One Word featuring Jessica Pralle Trimner, Miltrim Farms

Here on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we are continuing to kick off 2024 with a series each day this week, revisiting our guests from last year who shared their "one word" for 2023. And we are joined today by Jessica Pralle Trimner in Athens, Wis. What strides has Miltrim Farms taken to move “forward” in the past year? Find out the high-impact actions that have lead to some successes worth celebrating.

January 3 • 31m 9s

The Power of One Word featuring Eliza Ruzic, Zinpro

Here on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we are kicking off 2024 with a series each day this week, revisiting our guests from last year who shared their "one word" for 2023. Get ready to get into the minds and the hearts of these dairy leaders whom I also call friends, to hear how their one word transformed 2023, and the word they have chosen to live by in 2024! And our guest today pushed her mindset to new levels - with big changes in her worklife, personal life and community service. How did Eliza Ruzic from Zinpro persevere through 2023? Let’s find out!

January 2 • 27m 48s

68 | The Power of One Word Featuring Travis Speirs, Shiloh Dairy

Here on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we are kicking off 2024 with a series each day this week, revisiting our guests from last year who shared their "one word" for 2023. Get ready to get into the minds and the hearts of these dairy leaders whom I also call friends, to hear how their one word transformed 2023, and the word they have chosen to live by in 2024! And speaking of top performers, I'm joined today by Travis Speirs from Shiloh Dairy in Brillion, Wis. Hear his reflection from the past year and what's in store for this dairy producer in 2024. Hear more from Travis on Creating a Winning Culture on Ep. 44: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/upleveldairy/episodes/44---4-High-Impact-Actions-to-Create-a-Winning-Farm-Culture---Travis-Speirs-e29q3oo/a-aadclqr

January 1 • 25m 43s

67 | 6 Dairy Leaders Share their Word of the Year from 2023

One year ago, I sat down with six dairy leaders who all chose one word to live by for 2023. Some were dairy owners, others managers, and a couple of friends who work on the industry side too. What did they say one year ago, about their word and how they wanted to bring it to life in 2023? Who stuck with it? Who was transformed by it? Well, I’ve been catching up with these friends to find out, and you’ll get to all about it in our upcoming episodes next week, but first, I’m bringing back their original Uplevel Dairy Podcast episode where these 6 dairy leaders each shared their word and their vision for how they wanted it to shape 2023. Featured dairy leaders: Jared Yousey, Sunnyside Farms, New York Jessica Pralle-Trimner, Miltrim Farms, Wis. Travis Speirs, Shiloh Dairy, Wis. Katie DiGangi, Zoetis/Darlington Ridge Dairy Tera Baker, Nedap Eliza Ruzic, Zinpro So did these six dairy friends live up to their word and their intentions for 2023? Come back next week to find out on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast!

December 31 • 53m 57s

66 | Starting a Dairy Farm with $20,000 with Paul Windemuller, Dream Winds Dairy, Coopersville, Michigan

Some say it's impossible to start a dairy farm from scratch these days, but 9 years ago, Michigan dairyman Paul Windemuller did it ... with just $20,000 in cash. Get ready to tap into the business mindset of this entrepreneurial dairy farmer today. You're going to hear about the business practices Paul brought back to the U.S. from New Zealand to start his dairy with 30 leased cows in an old turkey coop and a homemade milking parlor, and how he got to where he is 9 years later: with a 250-cow herd in a robot barn. It doesn't matter how many cows you milk or acres you run. You are going to find some powerful takeaways in Paul's story, and hear about his next venture of traveling around the world and sharing stories through his new AgCulture Podcast. Links Connect with Paul Windemuller on LinkedIn and find AgCulture Podcast on Apple, Spotify and YouTube, and follow on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram Podcast Website: www.agculturepodcast.com Follow Dream Winds Dairy on Instagram: #dreamwindsdairy

December 26 • 46m 35s

65 | Uplevel Dairy Young Leader: Michael Neves

Our featured Uplevel Dairy Young Leader today is Michael Neves. He joins us from California, though he has a network in the dairy community that reaches around the world. The first few years of Michael’s career included working with startups in technology and animal health, before finding a great fit for his skillset as business development manager for Progressive Dairy Solutions. Hear about: How his entrepreneurial spirit almost led him to owning a McDonald's franchise at age 19 His passion for helping dairy farmers get paid for their sustainability practices And the skills that he uses to have a seat at tables that are often filled with people twice his age. Young producers and professionals will relate to the challenges and opportunities Michael sees, and those of us who are more seasoned can also take notes on what an ambitious young dairy leader desires in the workplace. The Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast is THE podcast series for producers and professionals in the first 5 years of their dairy careers. Find it on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, as well as its own platform, Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. Join the Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/792440762650346/

December 21 • 21m 38s

64 | Uplevel Dairy’s Top 5 Business and Leadership Resources

Looking for a quick list of great business and leadership books, videos and podcasts? Uplevel Dairy Podcast owner and host Peggy Coffeen shares her “Top 5” business and leadership resources that she has been tapping into for the past 12 months. From millionaire entrepreneurs to church pastors, Peggy tells you how these resources apply to your dairy business, why they are worth your time and provides the links for quick access to reaching your own next level in business and leadership. Looking for the resources mentioned in today's show? Head over to the show notes here to get all the details!

December 19 • 19m 44s

63 | The One Question the Most Progressive Dairy Managers are Asking with Elsie Gonzalez-Leach

What if there was just one question you could ask in the interview process to identify your next best, long-term employee? What if asking that one question not only helped you to fill an open spot today, but opened the door for that right person to stay with you for a decade, and who is bought into your vision and motivated to help achieve your goals and benchmarks for your business? Elsie Gonzalez Leach, founder of Motiva Consulting works with some of the best dairies in the country to improve operational efficiencies and build strong teams, and she about to share with us the one thing that she says the most progressive dairy owners and managers are doing that completely transforms their hiring process and sets up a new employee for long term success that empowers and motivates the individual and they way the contribute to your team. This episode is sponsored by Adisseo, global leader in animal nutrition and premium provider of rumen protected methionine for dairy producers who want to capture the power of components and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. More from Elsie Gonzalez-Leach: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/upleveldairy/episodes/62--How-to-Shave-Hours-off-of-Milking-Shifts-with-Elsie-Gonzalez-Leach-e2d4bk3 Contact: Elsie González-Leach Motiva Consulting Cell: 262.388.9096 Email: elsie.gonzalez@motiva.consulting Visit Motiva Consulting on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/Motiva-Consulting-716448728490404/

December 14 • 10m 52s

62 | How to Shave Hours off of Milking Shifts with Elsie Gonzalez-Leach

If you are pulling your hair out because your milking parlor is constantly running behind schedule ... the 7-hour shift is stretching out to 9 hours, and the flow of feeding, cleaning stalls and everything else in the back of the barn is thrown off because you just can't seem to get all the groups milked on time? If that's you, you are not alone - this is one of the biggest frustrations on a lot of dairies, and it's costing you time and money. And did you know there may be another - even bigger money stealer - a less obvious but very costly scenario - and it's not in the parlor? We're not just scratching the surface on these problems, we're going in deep on this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast with a guest today who is in such high demand on dairy farms, that she's booking out to 2025. Elsie Gonzalez Leach, founder of Motiva Consulting, is here to tell you how she helps clients shave hours off of milking shifts and she's going to tip you off to the sneaky, hidden issue that is siphoning time and money on so many dairies. Elsie has spent nearly 15 years helping dairy businesses optimize efficiency, production and quality by building stronger dairy teams through consulting, coaching and leadership development. This episode is sponsored by Adisseo, global leader in animal nutrition and premium provider of rumen protected methionine for dairy producers who want to capture the power of components and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Contact: Elsie González-Leach Motiva Consulting Cell: 262.388.9096 Email: elsie.gonzalez@motiva.consulting Visit Motiva Consulting on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/Motiva-Consulting-716448728490404/

December 12 • 34m 30s

61 | Empowering Mid-level Managers, Cell Phone Policies and Team-Building Activities with Bridget Schilling, Schilling Farms

Empowering middle managers to be leaders, employee cell phone protocols and bringing team building to the dairies. That's what we are hitting up today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast. Bridget Schilling from Schilling Farms in Darlington and Montfort, Wisconsin, is back on with us today. On Ep 53, she talked about getting a new team on board while taking on a second dairy, and today, we are tapping into the tips and tools she brings to the table from her professional management role in nursing, to now handling human resources and employee relations for the operation that includes 2,100 cows and 30 employees. Whether you manage a single site or multiple locations, I think you will find some great takeaways for developing leaders, building teams and some creative ways to get it all done. Hear more from Bridget on Ep. 53: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5yzov7aTLHNfdzqR9nP8qF?si=jMY0RNxzTee4T4B-_8aXIw

December 7 • 14m 15s

60 | Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders featuring Taylor Zeltwanger, NutraDrip

Our featured Uplevel Dairy Young Leader is Taylor Zeltwanger. He joins us from Morris, Minnesota, where he resides with his wife. This 2020 South Dakota State University graduate started working for his uncle’s company, NutraDrip, while in college, and 5 years later, has channeled his massive energy and passion into a career helping farmers capture the value of precision ag and sustainable farming practices. You will hear how Taylor is: Finding big opportunities by working for a young company, Learning how to work with different personality types And living on purpose every day to bring sustainability, service and stewardship to farmers The Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast is the special podcast series for producers and professionals in the first 5 years of their dairy careers. Find it on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, as well as its own platform, Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. Join the Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/792440762650346/ Listen to our first featured Young Leader: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/peggy-coffeen/episodes/01--Introducing-the-new-Uplevel-Dairy-Young-Leaders-Podcast--featuring-Kiley-Pagel--Pagel-Family-Businesses-e2c6o1k

December 5 • 39m 4s

59 | Protecting His Price and Minimizing Risk with Nathan Moroney, Del Rio Dairy

Texas dairyman Nathan Moroney talked about using technology to make managing 8,000 cows at Del Rio Dairy easier and more efficient on Ep. 58, and today you are going to hear more from Nathan. His background story may surprise you. Find out how this city boy from Pheonix found his way to the Texas Panhandle, where he dove in head first to learn the ropes of dairy management, and how he puts to work his business and finance background and eye for operational efficiencies every single day to manage the operation that has grown to now include more than 13,000 head of cattle and more than 70 employees. So how is this business manager and dairy manager planning to protect his price point and minimize risk in 2024? That’s what you will hear on this podcast, part of the High-Performance Mindset Series, powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farms by revolutionizing cow-side care through technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering and identification. Additional resources: Listen to Episode 58 for Part 1 of Nathan's Story: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/mtPoWeIe8Eb The High-Performance Mindset Series is powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farms by revolutionizing cow-side care through technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering and identification. Listen for more episodes in this series throughout 2023.

November 30 • 11m 14s

58 | Dairy Tech in Texas: Managing 8,000 Cows with Activity Monitors featuring Nathan Moroney, Del Rio Dairy

One of the big challenges that comes up for dairy farm owners and managers as they grow and scale is this: Should you invest more heavily in highly-skilled, really good cow people, or invest in technology to do the things a good cow person could do? What if there was a way to streamline your cow flow and work flow, that allowed those really good cow people to focus their time and attention only on the cows that really need it, and what if that could cut the number of cows in your hospital pen by 30%? Well, that's what's been possible for Del Rio Dairy in Frionia, Texas, and manager Nathan Moroney talks about: How the data is helping Del Rio Dairy save 30% of cows from ending up in the hospital pen Why every pre-fresh heifer gets a collar in close-up pen The high value of dry period data How to get employees to buy in on new technology As Del Rio Dairy has grown from around 3,000 cows to now the upwards of 8,000 and expanded to include 3 parlors on site, including the most recently built 90-stall rotary, they moved from capturing basic data from milk meters to now a full suite of real-time rumination and activity data from GEA CowScout activity monitoring collars. The High-Performance Mindset Series is powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farms by revolutionizing cow-side care through technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering and identification. Listen for more episodes in this series throughout 2023.

November 28 • 25m 1s

Gratitude: The Secret Performance Hack

What do gratitude and thanksgiving have to do with you and your drive to reach your next level of performance as a dairy producer or professional? Perhaps more than you think. Today I’m sharing how gratitude has become not just a habit for me, but a true performance hack. If you want to be more clear, calm and focused both at work and at home, you are going to learn 3 easy steps to get started. And Uplevel Dairy leaders - I’m so very grateful for you for coming along with me on the journey to uplevel your skillset and your mindset. If the Uplevel Dairy Podcast is something you are grateful for, please take just one minute to give it a 5-star rating and review in your favorite listening platform. Thank you, and God bless! - Peggy Additional resources: Listen to more on gratitude as part of your game plan on Ep. 43: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/upleveldairy/episodes/43---3-Strategic-Plays-to-Win-in-the-Fourth-Quarter---Jay-Joy-e29ceav/a-aac21as

November 23 • 8m 2s

56 | Introducing the new Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast, featuring Kiley Pagel, Pagel Family Businesses

The Uplevel Dairy Podcast is expanding to include a second bi-weekly podcast, the Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast! This is for producers and professionals in the first 5 years of their dairy careers. You can find new episodes dropping every other Thursday on Uplevel Dairy, or follow the Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast on your favorite platform. We're kicking off this very first episode with Young Leader Kiley Pagel. Kiley is just wrapping up her degree in business management with an economics minor at the University of Green Bay while working full time in Pagel Family Businesses and Pagels' Ponderosa Dairy in Casco, Wisconsin. You are going to hear about: The big decision she made in the homestretch of her college career that changed her course but got her on a path to true fulfillment How she learning to organize and prioritize to do all the things she loves Who has inspired her to make dairy her career path

November 21 • 24m 24s

55 | Finding Balance with a Big Vision - Part 2: Health, Relationships and Accountability with Tommy Oesch, Swiss Lane Farms

Breaking the stronghold of alcohol, finding time for friends and getting honest with yourself… we’re going there today in the second part of this conversation with Tommy Oesch from Swiss Lane Farms. We’ve been talking with Tommy about his 5 “buckets” of priorities, and you heard about 3 of them in Ep. 54: Family - his role as a father and husband Faith - why his weekly men’s discipleship group is a non-negotiable Farming Business - how he and his partners have committed to the vision of 7,000 cows in 7 years Today, we’re dipping into his two other buckets: Health - physical and mental health, how 75 Hard changed his life, including his relationship with alcohol Friendships - why it doesn’t get easier as life gets busier, but how he commits to investing in his circle. Finding balance and accountability with these 5 buckets. You’ll hear about that too. Get ready to get real with Tommy. This episode is sponsored by Afimilk is a global dairy technology company that designs herd management software and products that allow thousands of cows to be managed on an individual level. Afimilk can tell you what’s happening with your cows and your milk, alerts you if there’s a problem, and pinpoints the problem so it can be managed quicker and easier. Check out: Ep. 54 | Finding Balance with a Big Vision - Part 1: Faith, Family and Dairy Farm with Tommy Oesch, Swiss Lane Farms Our #1 episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast: Ep. 35 | The 7,000 Cows in & Years Vision with Tommy Oesch, Swiss Lane Farms

November 16 • 26m 38s

54 | Finding Balance with a Big Vision - Part 1: Faith, Family and Dairy Farming with Tommy Oesch, Swiss Lane Farms

If you’ve got big goals and a big vision for your dairy and your business, you know that it takes incredible focus and hard work, but what you may also know is that if you get too focused on one thing – “one bucket” - all of that success can come at a cost … and the price you pay can be your family, your relationships … even your health. So if finding a balance for your big goals and these “buckets” of family, faith, the farm, your health and your friendships, is something you want in your life, this one’s for you. Tommy Oesch from Swiss Lane Farms in Michigan talked about the big vision he and his partners share for “7,000 Cows in 7 Years” on the #1 most downloaded episode of season 1 of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast. And Tommy jumped back on with for this very real conversation that goes deep into his 5 “buckets” of priorities behind that vision: Family Faith The dairy Health Friendships In fact, there is so much good stuff here, I’m breaking it out into two parts for you. On this episode, we are going to hear about 3 of his 5 buckets: Being a husband, a dad, a dairyman and a disciple. How his roles and priorities are different than his own Dad’s generation And Tommy gets real about the insecurities that come with stepping up to be a leader This episode is sponsored by Afimilk is a global dairy technology company that designs herd management software and products that allow thousands of cows to be managed on an individual level. Afimilk can tell you what’s happening with your cows and your milk, alerts you if there’s a problem, and pinpoints the problem so it can be managed quicker and easier. Learn more about Afimilk at https://www.afimilk.com/ Stick around for a conversation with Jennifer Weber, customer success and operations director for Afi Milk North America, to learn how cow monitoring is saving dairy producers time and money and leading to healthier, more productive cows. Listen to Episode #35: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/upleveldairy/episodes/35---The-7-000-Cows-in-Seven-Years-Vision---Tom-Oesch-e27b121/a-aa5nbbl

November 15 • 45m 20s

53 | Multi-Site Dairy Management: Getting a New Team On Board with Bridget Schilling, Schilling Farms

If buying or leasing a turn-key dairy at another location is part of your business strategy, this episode is for you. The real question is this: How do you walk into an existing dairy and its culture, and recreate it to be what YOU need it to be, so that the new site and the new team are engaged and motivated to hit your benchmarks and goals? Schilling Farms was a high-performing herd, milking 600 cows in Darlington, Wis., when the opportunity came up two years ago to buy a 1,500-cow site, 40 miles away from the home farm. With it, came a new team and an old culture. Bridget Schilling joins us to share the key tactics from her professional management experience in nursing that have made all the difference with getting the new crew transitioned, so that Schilling Farms can operate at the level of excellence they are known for. Find out how she: Built trust in a new role, with a new team The key questions she asks employees What she does every four months that makes all the difference This episode is sponsored by Adisseo, global leader in animal nutrition and premium provider of rumen protected methionine for dairy producers who want to capture the power of components and maintain the health of their high-performing herds.

November 7 • 21m

52 | Leading to Win with Jim Ostrom, President/CEO and Founding Partner of Milk Source

I’ve got a special gift for you, Uplevel Dairy leaders! It is 10 minutes of straight talk on leadership and culture, directly from one of the greatest minds in the dairy business, Jim Ostrom, CEO, President and founding partner of Milk Source. What has been his mindset over the past nearly 30 years, from starting with 3 partners and a few cows, to now running multiple high-performing dairies, business ventures and a highly professionalized team? Grab a pen and paper, because these are the power quotes from Episode #34, one of our top episodes from Season 1 of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast. Get inside this CEO’s mind on: Leading ourselves and others Developing a team of executive thinkers Creating winning culture This episode is sponsored by Adisseo, global leader in animal nutrition and premium provider of rumen protected methionine for dairy producers who want to capture the power of components and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Want to listen to the full episode? 34 | Entrepreneurship, Visionary Leadership and Dairy Cares of Wisconsin with Jim Ostrom, Milk Source https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/upleveldairy/episodes/34---Entrepreneurship--Visionary-Leadership-and-Dairy-Cares-of-Wisconsin---Jim-Ostrom-e272km3/a-aa4tc5u

November 2 • 11m 27s

51 | Creating a MOO'V-ment with his own Milk Featuring TJ Tuls, Founder of DARI LLC

If you are a dairy producer who has been thinking about taking your milk all the way to the dairy case yourself, this episode is for you. Vertical integration is on the minds of many forward-thinking dairy farmers. And that's why today you are going to hear from a dairyman who is doing it on the Uplevel Dairy podcast. I recently sat down with TJ Tuls, a fourth-generation dairyman and founder of DARI LLC, the company that has created the milk beverage MOO’V. Find out how becoming a dad is what inspired him to want to transform the milk-drinking experience for his son and his wife. It gave him the vision for creating lifelong milk consumers by bringing to the marketplace a new milk beverage to a dairy case near you. Through a new model of providing exceptional service, consultation, products, and supplies. Stick around to the end of this episode to hear straight from Dr. David Gnad, CEO of Heritage Vet Partners. What you’ll learn: The story of MOO’V The hurdles that TJ overcame including finding a milk processor Product formulation and development How to get shelf space in the dairy case Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MOOVREALMILK Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moovrealmilk/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@moovrealmilk Learn more about MOO’V & DARI here: https://realdari.com/ or connect with them on your favorite social media platform Thanks to our Sponsor: Heritage Vet Partners Heritage Vet Partners is the nation’s leading veterinary partnership specializing in mixed/large animal practices. They believe there is great value in the legacy, customer relationships, brand, culture, and team that you have built. Their goal is to provide services and support around the foundation you have developed. Most importantly, they believe that it takes a community to best meet the changing needs of the customers and industries that we serve. Learn more about Heritage Vet Partners Here: https://heritagevetpartners.com

November 2 • 34m

50 | 9 Years Without a No-Call, No-Show Employee with Brett Barlass

You may already be doing annual employee reviews … but are you actually using them to drive employee engagement? And maybe you hold monthly employee meetings … but are they actually helping you to get buy-in and build team camaraderie to move toward your goals? Or are you just checking the boxes with more meetings that take up your time and space on your calendar? We’re revisiting highlights from Ep. 20 - one of the top episodes from season 1 of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, where dairy manager Brett Barlass from California Dairy Farms, breaks down how he went a stretch of 9 years without a no-call, no-show employee while managing Yosemite Jerseys. You are about to find out how he’s doing it, and how you too can use reviews and meetings to actually get employees excited to come to work and want to continue to be a long-term high performing team member, so listen in to learn: Brett’s key questions for annual employee reviews How he structured monthly meetings that no employee wanted to miss The every-day actions that managers can take to build a high-performing team This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components and maintain the health of their high-performing herds.

October 26 • 20m 44s

49 | The Eight Questions that Will Move Your Dairy Farm Forward, A Panel Featuring Three NMPF Young Cooperator Members

If you want to be successful and confident in the decisions you are making in the dairy business, there is one tool I want to share with you today that will help you move forward. It’s helped me in my business to gain more focus and clarity, it’s helped make decisions easier, it’s saved me time and money, and it can do that for you too. Join host, Peggy Coffeen, as she leads a panel discussion at the World Dairy Expo with Three NMPF Young Cooperator Members. What you’ll learn: How core values play a strong role in the culture of your business How these 8 questions will provide the basics of a strategic plan for your business How these three young producers define their core values and core focus What these three producers plan to do to strategically move their dairy farms forward A Panel Discussion from the World Dairy Expo hosted by NMPF YC.

October 24 • 40m 40s

48 | The Mindset of a High-Performing Manager with Scott Blevins

Welcome to another "Best of Uplevel Dairy" feature! This week I sat down with Scott Blevins to dive into what it takes to have the mindset of a high-performing dairy manager. Dairy manager Scott Blevins shares the habits, routines, and principles that build his resilience and endurance to stay on top of his game while managing 6,500 cows, 6,600 youngstock, and a team of people at Wiese Bros. Farms in Greenleaf, Wisconsin. What you’ll learn: Staying physically, mentally and spiritually strong Finding balance in a non-stop business What Scott wishes he would have known 17 years ago when he started a career as a dairy manager Scott’s core principles that create the culture at Wiese Bros. Farms Sponsored by Armor Animal Health, your trusted vet, sales, and laboratory partner supplying you with core livestock products and solutions that will help you reach your farm goals.

October 19 • 37m 58s

#47 | How to Create a Zero Employee Turnover Culture at Rosendale Dairy with Jared Dueppengiesser

Welcome to the Best of Uplevel Dairy Season 1! In this episode, I am chatting with Jared Dueppengiesser, herd manager of Milk Source's Rosendale Dairy, about his experience in building a top-notch employee culture that resulted in zero turnover! Jared Dueppengiesser has worked his way up through the Milk Source organization, from a herdsman to now manager of Rosendale Dairy. He leads a team of 52 employees on one of Wisconsin’s largest dairies. In this podcast, Jared shares how he took on the challenge of upleveling the culture of this dairy to be a place where people want to work and want to stay … with nearly zero employee turnover for the past half year. And he’s done all this at just 26 years old. What you’ll learn: - Jared’s vision for the culture he wanted to create at Rosendale Dairy - What he does every day to create that culture - Who is the most important employee? - The tools that empowered him to take action - The results of culture on employee turnover - Jared’s best advice to others managing both cows and people This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components, and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more at https://www.adisseo.com/en/https://www.adisseo.com/en/

October 17 • 26m 34s

Saving a 1,500-Cow Dairy Farm from Foreclosure with Pauly Paul, Complete Management Consulting

Today, we are talking about a 1,500-cow dairy that was on the verge of selling out - but not on their own terms. The farm had not made money in 3 years. Their banker told them their loan was not going to be up for renewal, and suggested the auction block was their action plan. And a good dairy farmer who was having a hard time hanging onto hope that things would ever get better - for his farm and for his life. 5 years ago, the future was not looking good for this dairy or dairyman. But fast-forward to now: That same dairy farm is still in business - in fact, they are still with that same lender - and they have been making money … even when $13 milk hit last summer, they were confident in their viability. So what took them from the brink of bankruptcy to being profitable, to being able to not just pay their bills - but prepay some bills? A call with Pauly from Complete Management Consulting. Listen to the full episode for all of the details! This Episode is Sponsored by Complete Management Consulting. Contact Pauly Paul www.CompleteManagementConsulting.com Pauly@completemanagementconsulting.com 920-418-3135 Head to http://www.UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox. To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review! Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com Follow Uplevel Dairy on: - Facebook - Instagram - LinkedIn

October 10 • 16m 39s

#45: Your Milk Check and the Global Markets with Mary Keough Ledman

What's happening halfway around the world in the global marketplace that can impact your milk check in this final quarter of 2023? On today's episode, you are going to get the cliff notes on the trends in the export market along with domestic supply and consumption. So you can be informed and empowered to make the best decisions for your dairy. And here to share that with us is Mary Keough Ledman, Global Dairy Strategist with Rabobank, which has recently released its Global Dairy Quarterly Report. Mary has been studying market trends and dairy economics for her entire career, and she has the ability to look at the global picture and break it down into the snapshots that matter to you most. What you'll learn: The top two countries Mary can't take her eyes off of in Q4 The cow-loving country that could be the export market wildcard What Mary believes gives US dairy farmers a long-term competitive advantage The strategic move that could make your milk more marketable This episode is brought to you by Adisseo. Tune in below or on your favorite listening platform for all of the details on this episode! Head to http://www.UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox. To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review! Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com Follow Uplevel Dairy on: - Facebook - Instagram - LinkedIn

October 3 • 22m 57s

#44 - 4 High-Impact Actions to Create a Winning Farm Culture - Travis Speirs

Culture. It’s how your employees feel in the pit of their stomach on Sunday night about coming in to work for you on Monday morning. On a recent visit to Shiloh Dairy in Brillion, Wisconsin, the winning culture was clear: There was a party in the parlor. Milkers were smiling and striking a pose for pictures. The employees were happy to be there, and having fun. So I just had to sit down with the owner and manager of this dairy, our friend Travis Speirs, to find out how he was making this happen, all while growing from 2,400 to 2,900 cows, and transitioning in his own role from being with the cows every day, to spending more time in the business and operations management chair, as his father Gordon steps back from the day-to-day operations and decisions. Now Travis will be the first to say, culture at Shiloh Dairy is constantly evolving, and not every day is a party in the parlor, but there are a few high-impact actions that are leading to results like low turnover and a waiting list to work at Shiloh Dairy. This episode is part of The High-Performance Mindset Series is powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farms by revolutionizing cow-side care through technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering and identification. Listen for more episodes in this series throughout 2023. What you’ll learn: Transitioning ownership, management and leadership Finding the right people Cultivating respect Methods for clear communication How to let leaders lead BONUS CONTENT! Nedap Power Play: How to Up the Accuracy of Dairy Farm Identification and Data, with Nedap Technical Support Manager Ron Dehli http://www.UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox. To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review! Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com Follow Uplevel Dairy on: - Facebook - Instagram - LinkedIn

September 26 • 36m 22s

#43 - 3 Strategic Plays to Win in the Fourth Quarter - Jay Joy

As we close in on the last three months of the year, how are you positioning yourself and your dairy business to finish strong? What do you need to do today to be happy with where you are at by the end of 2023? It may be go time in the fields, but it’s game time for your business. Jay Joy from Bridgeforth LLP walks us through how to win in the fourth quarter with 3 strategic plays to win in the last 90 days of 2023. What you’ll learn: Finish strong Take inventory Be grateful Contact Jay Joy: www.Bridgeforthllp.com jay@bridgeforthllp.com http://www.UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox. To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review! Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com Follow Uplevel Dairy on: - Facebook - Instagram - LinkedIn

September 19 • 14m 3s

#42 - The Million-Cow Multiplier: Unselfish Leadership and Exponential Impact - Matt Budine

From co-founding a company that feeds more than 1.1 million cows all over the world with Progressive Dairy Solutions, to feeding people and providing a value-added marketing opportunity for dairy farm families through Valley Milk, and now leading efforts to help dairy farmers be beneficiaries of the methane market, Matt Budine has had a hand in seeing the vision for what it will take to be successful, profitable and sustainable in the dairy business. He’s driven by that same purpose in giving back, as a co-founder of the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge, which has impacted more than 4,000 students in its 20+ year history. So how has Matt multiplied his impact to reach more than one million cows and thousands of young dairy leaders? Hear his story of unselfish leadership and the steps he takes to scale success in the dairy business. What you’ll learn: Scaling a business that feeds 1.1 million cows Valley Milk: “Nutrition consulting gone awry” Co-founding the Dairy Challenge Unselfish leadership and the future of work CONNECT with MATT BUDINE: President & CEO, Progressive Dairy Solutions; Dairy Nutritionist mbudine@pdscows.com http://www.progressivedairysolutions.com/ https://valleymilkca.com/ https://www.dairychallenge.org/ http://www.UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox. To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review! Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com Follow Uplevel Dairy on: - Facebook - Instagram - LinkedIn

September 12 • 28m 30s

#41 - The 7 Secrets to Setting Goals and Achieving Them - Katy Schultz and Elizabeth DeVries

Maybe it’s to get healthier. Maybe it’s to start a business. But you are stuck. You have not taken action on it because you “don’t have time” or you “don’t know where to start.” Well consider this the nudge you needed to start turning that little spark into a 5-alarm fire today. Dairy farmer Katy Schultz, Tri-Fecta Farms, Fox Lake, Wisconsin, tells the story of being the girl who faked “sick” on mile day in gym class, to pushing herself to run 100 miles in July. Elizabeth DeVries, owner, 4D Ag World/4D Ag Fashion, talks about immigrating from the Netherlands to the U.S. to start a business, living in a fifth wheel for a year and now living the real-life American dream. What you’ll learn: How to set goals and achieve them Determine the goal or idea that ignites you Get clear on your burn Burn the ships Fuel your fire: adversity, achievements Fan your flame: surround yourself with the right people - in your tribe and on your team Control the burn: focus discipline, habits and systems Stoke the fire: Celebrate and practice gratitude **GIVEAWAY!** Join the Uplevel Dairy Community during September 2023 for a chance to win a pair of FREE 4D Ag Fashion waterproof bib overalls! To join: https://www.upleveldairy.com/subscribe This episode is sponsored by our friends at 4D Ag World and 4D Ag Fashion - JP and Elizabeth de Vries - A first-generation American company that provides the highest quality dairy barn technology, from barn rubber to headlocks and fans to fashion. Find it all at 4DAgWorld.com and 4DAgFashion.com, and visit at World Dairy Expo! CONNECT with ELIZABETH: Elizabeth at (806) 557-8406 elizabeth@4dagfashion.com Shop 4D: https://www.4dagworld.com/ https://www.4dagfashion.com/ Follow 4D on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/4dagworld https://www.facebook.com/4dagfashion Instagram 4d_ag_fashion http://www.UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox. To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review! Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com Follow Uplevel Dairy on: - Facebook - Instagram - LinkedIn

September 5 • 22m 49s

#40 - Growing and Scaling the Leadership Team - GPS Dairy Consultant Robb Bender and Steve Abel from Abel Dairy

What does it take to not only grow a dairy farm from 1,800 cows to 4,200 cows, and not just scale the operation, but scale the leadership team? To help current team members rise to new roles, and to retain all of those leaders in the process? That’s what you will be hearing about today from Steve Abel, of Abel Dairy Farms in Wisconsin, and along with one of his closest advisors who has walked along side his through this transition, GPS Dairy Consultant, Robb Bender. This is a special episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, because it is also the debut of the brand new GPS Dairy Cast - which you can find and follow on Apple, Spotify and Youtube. Walk away with the steps this dairy producer has taken to grow and scale his leadership team. What you’ll learn: Growing from 1,800 cows to 4,200 cows Getting the team on board Developing team members into team leaders Want to hear more from the GPS Dairy Team? Follow the GPS DAIRYcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. Head to http://www.UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox. To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review! Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com Follow Uplevel Dairy on: - Facebook - Instagram - LinkedIn

August 29 • 28m 31s

#39 - How a California Dairy Producer is Milking More Cows with Less Skilled Labor - Brandon Mendosa

How can a dairy rely less on skilled labor? Is it possible to even eliminate some positions? And to do so while actually improving cow care and milk quality, and not to mention your stress level as an owner or manager? We are going to one of the most notoriously challenging labor markets in the country to find out how one California dairyman is doing just that. Our guest today is Brandon Mendonsa, from Tipton, California, talking about FM Jerseys, the site he owns and manages that milks 3,200 cows. When this dairy was built 5 years ago, one of Brandon’s priorities was to set up a system that would allow him to milk more cows with less skilled labor. What you’ll learn: The tasks that technology now takes care of that, in the past, required a person Trusting computers to call the shots on cow care How his role as a manager has changed for the better Episode Sponsor: Afimilk is a global dairy technology company that designs herd management software and products that allow thousands of cows to be managed on an individual level. Afimilk can tell you what’s happening with your cows and your milk, alerts you if there’s a problem, and pinpoints the problem so it can be managed quicker and easier. BONUS CONTENT! Listen to the end for a few words from Afimilk herd management specialist Amit Golan about working with Brandon and other dairies to save on labor and empower cow management. Learn more about Afimilk: https://www.afimilk.com/ http://www.UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox. To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review! Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com Follow Uplevel Dairy on: - Facebook - Instagram - LinkedIn

August 22 • 23m 27s

#38 - How to have Hard Conversations with Underperforming Team Members - Kristy Pagel

Have you been avoiding a conversation you know you need to have with an underperforming team member? Is their attitude impacting the rest of the team, yet you keep putting it off, hoping it will get better on its own? Kristy Pagel from Leading Edge Consulting LLC provides you with a take-home tool to tackle a tough conversation with confidence and a clear path to move forward. UplevelDairy.com What you’ll learn: Why you owe it to your employees to have that talk The matrix that gives managers measure objectives The 3 mindset shifts managers need for courage, confidence and a clear path forward CONNECT with KRISTY PAGEL: Owner, coach, consultant with Leading Edge Consulting LLC kristy@leadingedgeccd.com LinkedIn: Kristy Pagel CONNECT with PEGGY: peggy@upleveldairy.com Follow Uplevel Dairy on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠ This episode is sponsored by Adisseo.

August 15 • 22m 9s

#37 - Turning a Dairy Farm Failure into a Powerful Purpose - Jay Joy

Jay Joy from Bridgeforth LLP opens up about being part of a dairy partnership that failed. But more importantly, how that became the defining moment that positioned him to serve others in his role as a family business advisor and financial consultant. He shares five takeaways for how he cultivated mental toughness in the most trying of times and how you can do it too. What you’ll learn: Embracing the “suck” Eating the cookies Process over results The 4 C’s: commitment, courage, capability and confidence Taking action Contact Jay Joy: www.Bridgeforthllp.com jay@bridgeforthllp.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UplevelDairy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review! Connect with Peggy: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠peggy@upleveldairy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Uplevel Dairy on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠

August 8 • 29m 12s

#36 - Full-Potential Dairy Farming: Reaching the next level of performance for cows and people with technology - Megan Schrupp

“How good can we get?” If you are a high-performer who asks yourself that same question every single day, you will want to hear what Megan Schrupp, DVM, at NexGen Dairy in Eden Valley, Minnesota, has to say about pushing the potential for cows, culture and herself, and how technology is getting them all there faster. This episode is part of The High-Performance Mindset Series is powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farms by revolutionizing cow-side care through technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering and identification. Listen for more episodes in this series throughout 2023. What you’ll learn: Celebrating the 7-year benchmark of coming back to the dairy Using data to Increase the average age of cows in the herd Creating a culture of excellence Informed decision-making and simple routines Digging into the data to enhance transition, nutrition and repro The High-Performance Mindset Series is powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farms by revolutionizing cow-side care through technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering and identification. Listen for more episodes in this series throughout 2023. Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UplevelDairy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review! Connect with Peggy: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠peggy@upleveldairy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Uplevel Dairy on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠

August 1 • 43m 20s

#35 - The 7,000 Cows in Seven Years Vision - Tom Oesch

Four years ago, dairy farmer Tom Oesch and his partners at Swiss Lane Farms in Michigan defined their vision: To grow to 7,000 cows in seven years. Find out how they are putting that vision into action, transitioning the business from one generation to the next and growing leaders within their team. And walk away with a renewed motivation from Tom to live life to its fullest NOW. What you’ll learn: The decision to double down on dairying and expand to multiple sites Determining core values and using them to make decisions Transitioning the business from third to fourth generation Living his golden years now Growing leaders from within This episode is sponsored in partnership by global dairy technology company AfiMilk and Michigan Dairy Tech and Western Dairy Tech, an Afimilk dealer. Michigan Dairy Tech and Western Dairy Tech helps dairy producers manage thousands of cows on an individual level with Afimilk technology, while also serving the needs of integrated automation, systems networking, dairy management camera systems and artificial intelligence. BONUS CONTENT! Hear straight from Michigan Dairy Tech/Western Dairy Tech owner and founder Kyle O’Brien, along with Hilary Triick from their AI startup, Agricair, on solving labor problems with technology and automation. Learn more about Afimilk: https://www.afimilk.com/ Learn more about Michigan Dairy Tech/Western Dairy Tech: www.michigandairytech.com www.westerndairytech.com Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UplevelDairy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review! Connect with Peggy: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠peggy@upleveldairy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Uplevel Dairy on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠

July 25 • 1h 5m 39s

#34 - Entrepreneurship, Visionary Leadership and Dairy Cares of Wisconsin - Jim Ostrom

Peggy Coffeen joins Jim Ostrom from Milk Source in his gardens for an exclusive interview with one of the most incredible visionary leaders in dairy farming, talking about business, leadership, culture and the cause so near to his heart, Dairy Cares of Wisconsin. What you’ll learn: The trip to Tulare that inspired it all Defining winning, leadership and executive thinking Company culture and the “Milk Source Way” Dairy Cares of Wisconsin - an opportunity for dairy to give back today by supporting Children’s Wisconsin To give to Dairy Cares as a sponsor or donor: https://support.childrenswi.org/event/dairy-cares-of-wisconsin-garden-party/e480152 To place a bid in the Dairy Cares Virtual Auction: https://live.classy.org/auction/dairy-cares-of-wisconsin-garden-party/fe8756a3-e73f-4e09-b880-c9478f8cab79 Learn more about Dairy Cares of Wisconsin and Children’s Wisconsin, visit https://dairycaresofwisconsin.org/ Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UplevelDairy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review! Connect with Peggy: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠peggy@upleveldairy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Uplevel Dairy on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠

July 18 • 35m 2s

#33 - How to Survive a Milk Market Downturn - Jay Joy

When milk prices are painful, the best strategy for dairy farmers is to stay in position. Jay Joy from Bridgeforth LLP sits down with host Peggy Coffeen to talk about how to stop the bleeding and minimize the pain in a milk price valley. What you’ll learn: The numbers to watch right now The bright spots: beef price, land values, manure digester money What it will take for milk prices to get back to breakeven What profitable dairies are doing right now Contact Jay Joy: www.Bridgeforthllp.com jay@bridgeforthllp.com Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UplevelDairy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review! Connect with Peggy: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠peggy@upleveldairy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Uplevel Dairy on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠

July 11 • 19m 9s