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UpLevel Dairy Podcast

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383 | Help Them Believe in Themselves:Peter Coyne on Coaching and Mentoring Dairy's Next Generation

Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy interviews longtime dairy industry leader Peter Coyne about the relationships that shaped his life and his responsibility to “pay it back to the next in line.” Coyne describes his path from growing up in western New York around Holsteins and influential cow people, to working with Pinehurst, attending UW–River Falls, managing and expanding dairy herds, enduring a difficult partnership exit, gaining key leadership experience at John Dee Farm, and later joining VitaPlus, where he contributes cow and people management skills. Ahead of World Dairy Expo, he shares his family’s involvement and his 41 years coaching dairy judging, emphasizing connection, culture, perseverance, learning through mistakes, and helping young people believe in themselves, often through simple acts like remembering names, giving time, and encouragement to keep moving. This Episode is brought to you by Adisseo 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/ 07:20 From New York to Dairy Career 13:21 Hard Lessons and Big Leaps 16:06 Joining Vita Plus 19:40 Culture and Perseverance 25:44 Risk Taking Mindset 31:13 Giving Back Through Coaching 39:00 What Makes a Great Coach 47:55 Showing Cows Builds Grit 49:51 Learning Beside Great People 51:07 Mistakes Create Experience 54:54 Coach Versus Mentor 56:32 Mentoring Across Generations 01:01:05 Life Advice for Students 01:10:48 Parting Words and Payback 01:15:25 Expo Stories and Wins

Videos

383 | Help Them Believe in Themselves:Peter Coyne on Coaching and Mentoring Dairy's Next Generation

382 | Transforming Dairy Risk Management with Jim Matthews and Duane Banderob

Today, on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen talks with Duane Banderob and Jim Matthews about Ever.Ag separating into two standalone organizations. EA Risk, formerly Ever.Ag Risk Management, is now an independent company focused solely on managing commodity markets across the agricultural supply chain. They share that it’s the same people, producer relationships, and farmer-first focus that the market has come to know over the past two decades. They explain that services remain unchanged, including protecting revenue and input risk through livestock and crop insurance, futures and options, energy and feed procurement strategies, advisory/consulting, and market publications, supported by their proprietary Vault platform and EA Risk Insights research. The team sees the split as a chance to sharpen focus, improve technology and customer experience, and evolve offerings as dairy operations face increasing complexity, including beef-on-dairy exposure, digesters, new financing realities, and higher capital costs, while maintaining on-farm relationship standards and continuity for clients. EA Risk, formerly Ever.Ag Risk Management, partners with dairy producers to build customized risk management plans that help protect margins in any market environment. With dedicated advisors, industry-leading technology, and proven tools like Dairy Revenue Protection, we help farms reduce uncertainty and secure long‑term financial strength. Learn more at https://ea-risk.carrd.co/ 00:00 Dairy Risk Shifts 02:02 Ever.Ag Shift Explained 03:47 Services That Stay 07:33 What Changes Next 09:19 Vault Platform Insights 10:10 Industry Risks Ahead 13:06 Core Philosophy: Relationships 16:09 Legacy Of Dairy Markets 18:24 Buggy Lesson 22:04 One Year Outlook 28:07 World Dairy Expo Plans

381 | Beyond the Protocol: Why People Are the Key to Better Animal Care

Today, Peggy Coffeen is onsite as she welcomes Dr. Tera Barnhardt to the Uplevel Dairy Podcast to discuss leadership, communication, and navigating hard seasons in production agriculture. Dr. Barnhardt, a Kansas-based veterinarian, mom, business owner, and agriculture advocate, describes serving dairies, calf ranches, and feed yards across southwest Kansas and the High Plains while managing heavy animal movement logistics and regulatory paperwork. She explains that effective problem solving depends less on perfect protocols and more on understanding each farm’s systems and people, especially as many employees lack agricultural backgrounds. Barnhardt emphasizes culturally aware training and tailoring communication to owners, managers, and frontline workers using different formats and technologies. She reflects on formative animal welfare leadership experiences in a large feeding operation, lessons from the H5N1 outbreak and consumer trust, and advice to view hard days as growth opportunities while integrating, not balancing, work and family. Heritage Vet Partners is the nation’s leading veterinary partnership, specializing in mixed and large animal practices. Heritage Vet Partners provides a unique partnership model that preserves local practice legacies, serving dairy and other livestock producers and companion animal owners through shared services, data, and strategic growth. Learn more at HeritageVetPartners.com 01:04 Meet Dr. Tera Barnhardt 02:22 Many Hats and Advocacy 04:30 Why Rural Kansas 06:24 A Day on the Road 09:09 Problem Solving Systems 11:40 Training for Welfare 14:34 Leadership Lessons Feedyard 20:32 Adapting to Change 22:27 Communication Across Cultures 27:26 Social Media and Audiences 29:53 H5N1 Frontline Story 38:26 Advice for Young Vets 41:51 Integrating Work and Family

380 | From Vegetarian to Dairy Advocate: How Jill Houin Found Her Place in Dairy

Peggy Coffeen interviews Jill Houin at Homestead Dairy in Plymouth, Indiana, where the family milks 5,000 cows across three sites, including a 2,200-cow robotic dairy with 36 robots and a semi-automatic feed system. Jill, a former New Jersey teacher and vegetarian who married into the dairy, describes learning farm life, becoming the farm’s tour guide and key messenger, and using truthful, practical explanations to convert skeptics. She shares how community tours brought 1,000 visitors in three hours, and highlights sustainability stories like generating electricity from manure and Notre Dame food waste to power about 1,000 homes an hour. Jill also discusses taking on farm bookkeeping, mediating family perspectives, working with Spanish-speaking staff and interns from Mexico, and launching The Break Room Meat Market restaurant featuring the farm’s beef and other local products. This episode is brought to you by Zoetis. As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is dedicated to helping producers achieve healthy animals, healthy dairies and healthy food through their world-class portfolio. For more information, visit ⁠DairyWellness.com.⁠ 00:00 Meet Jill Houin 01:47 Robotic Dairy Updates 02:35 From Jersey to Dairy 05:40 Vegetarian to Advocate 07:21 Tours and Key Messages 11:59 Handling Tough Questions 15:41 Books and Office Role 19:31 Delegation and Hiring 21:50 Culture and Worker Respect 23:09 Restaurant Origin Story 23:45 Local Meat Market Vision 24:29 Farm Story Branding 25:00 COVID Hug To Deal 26:46 Buying And Expanding 27:24 Naming The Break Room 27:46 Crystal Mess Challenge 28:33 Menu And Accommodations 29:29 Ownership And Creativity 30:19 Dreams And Travel 31:34 Meaning And Mission

379 | Join us for Showbox Stories Live at World Dairy Expo 2026!

Peggy Coffeen is joined today by Tim Abbott of Showbox Sires and Jared Krull of CowManager on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast to announce that the popular Showbox Stories series will be recorded live at World Dairy Expo on Thursday, October 1, from about 8:00–10:30 a.m. on the Tanbark stage, with CowManager as premier sponsor. They recap the project’s purpose of preserving dairy history and authentic voices while highlighting lessons from mentors and industry icons. Tim and Jared discuss learning through conversations on show boxes and around the bulk tank, and preview guests including Dave Thorbahn, Dr. Sheila McGuirk, and many more. Listeners are invited to attend, subscribe to hear episodes later, and submit show box photos and stories for possible on-stage sharing. Submit your stories here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc1l6qGl0D1JMEWtG48Y1QHvEAdwHzSpHEHIPaDPAEbUszEdA/viewform This series is brought to you by CowManager. CowManager delivers 24/7 real-time data to help producers enhance herd health, fertility and nutrition. To learn more, contact your CowManager Specialist at Select Sires or visit CowManager.com. Website: https://www.cowmanager.com/ Contact: https://www.cowmanager.com/contact/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CowManager Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cowmanagers/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cowmanager-bv/posts/?feedView=all YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/cowmanager 00:00 Showbox Stories Return 01:12 Why We Started Recording 02:35 Icons and Lessons Learned 04:47 Live Tanbark Announcement 05:28 Meet Jared 06:53 Why CowManager Cares 08:53 Guest Lineup Sneak Peek 11:40 Submit Your Showbox Photo 12:49 Jared and Tim Share Stories 16:46 Peggy Trophy Trade Tale 21:36 Join Us at Expo

378 | Gear up for World Dairy Expo 2026 with Showbox Stories Ft. Jeff Butler, Butlerview Farm

As we gear up for World Dairy Expo 2026, we’re bringing back a favorite from the Showbox Stories series recorded at World Dairy Expo. In this episode, Peggy Coffeen and Tim Abbott sit down with Jeff Butler of Butler View Farms to hear about his journey in the dairy industry—from his early days in 4-H to his success with show cattle and his continued commitment to the future of dairy. Jeff shares memorable experiences, the mentors who helped shape his career, and how technology like CowManager is influencing modern dairy practices. It’s a conversation about heritage, vision, innovation, and the importance of investing in the next generation of dairy farmers. If you’re heading to World Dairy Expo 2026, this is a great episode to revisit as we get ready for another week of celebrating the people, cattle, and stories that make the dairy industry so special. 00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene 00:39 The Humble Beginnings of Showbox Stories 02:19 Showbox Stories Series and Cow Manager Partnership 03:37 Guest Introduction: Jeff Butler from Butlerview Farms 05:15 Jeff Butler's Early Days and Mentors 09:49 First Experiences at World Dairy Expo 13:11 Building a Successful Show String 19:44 The Role of Technology in Modern Dairy Farming 22:51 International Intrigue Sale and Industry Impact 28:13 Final Thoughts and Reflections This series is brought to you by CowManager. CowManager delivers 24/7 real-time data to help producers enhance herd health, fertility and nutrition. To learn more, contact your CowManager Specialist at Select Sires or visit CowManager.com. Website: https://www.cowmanager.com/ Contact: https://www.cowmanager.com/contact/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CowManager Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cowmanagers/# LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cowmanager-bv/posts/?feedView=all YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/cowmanager

377 | The Future of Holstein Genetics & Efficient Dairy Management

What does the dairy cow of the future need to do better and what tools will help get her there? Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen visits Seagull Bay Dairy in Idaho with brothers Greg and John Andersen to discuss how decades of genetics work shaped their multi-site operations and global influence through Seagull Bay and WinStar Genetics. The Andersens share the story behind Seagull Bay Dairy, the foundation cows and influential genetics that shaped their program. They also discuss how genomics has accelerated genetic progress and helped improve traits such as production, fertility, longevity, and calving ability. Looking ahead, Greg and John discuss the future of dairy genetics, including their focus on polled genetics through Winstar Genetics and the traits they believe will become increasingly important: hoof health, calf health, mastitis resistance, longevity, and feed efficiency. The conversation also dives into using cloud-based technology and real-time data to manage multiple dairy locations, improve feeding and reproduction decisions, and give their teams the information they need to operate with greater precision. For them, building a successful dairy isn't just about producing more, it's about continually improving, developing great people, and creating a family business built to last. Milc Group is a dairy software company that brings real-time, actionable data to dairy farms across the world. They are dedicated to revolutionizing the dairy industry with their user-friendly cloud-based software. ONE™ by Milc Group is our all-in-one app that brings together all the important aspects of your dairy together in one place. With products such as feed and animal management software, people training, dairy facility monitoring, and scale management, Milc Group is committed to providing producers with tools they need to succeed. 02:09 Seagull Bay Day Origins 03:25 Growing Multi-Site Dairies 05:40 Holstein Versus Crossbreeding 13:27 Genomics Lessons Learned 15:49 Winstar Genetics Launch 17:22 Polled Breakthrough Mendel 22:53 Next Traits To Select 27:42 Cloud Feeding With ONEfeed 32:00 ONEanimal and Lely Integration 34:18 Robot Data Integration 35:56 Repro Reporting Upgrades 37:10 Tracking Repro Performance 37:49 New Repro KPI Goals 39:08 Breeding Strategy Mix 40:45 Staying Sustainable 43:38 People Over Technology 45:13 Culture And Expectations 46:44 Defining Success Metrics 50:18 Vision Mission Legacy 54:08 Passing On Values

376 | Stewardship in Action: Building a Dairy for the Next Generation

What does it really take to build a dairy that can thrive for generations? In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen sits down with Mitch Perkins of Perkins Twin Creek Farm in Indiana, a third-generation family dairy milking 450 cows and farming 2,700 acres. Mitch shares what it means to step into a family legacy and make decisions that honor what previous generations built while preparing the farm for what comes next. From investing in robotic milking technology to embracing high-oleic soybeans and creating new opportunities within their cropping operation, Mitch talks about approaching innovation through the lens of stewardship, profitability, and long-term sustainability. He also shares why knowing when to walk away from an opportunity can be just as important as knowing when to say yes. At the heart of the conversation is a simple philosophy: do the little things right, and those things become the big things. This episode is a thoughtful look at making intentional decisions, staying personally involved, and building a dairy that gives the next generation an opportunity to carry the legacy forward. This Episode is brought to you by Adisseo 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/ 00:00 Legacy and Responsibility 02:03 Meet Perkins Twin Creek 03:24 Robots Plus Parlor 04:35 Lessons From Grandpa 07:05 Sustainability Equals Profit 09:19 High Oleic Breakthrough 11:52 Selling Beans to Dairies 14:08 Robots Decision Process 15:41 Saying No to Premium 17:55 Dairy Marketing and Health 23:16 Attracting Next Generation 25:09 Traditions and Diligence

375 | When the Farm Is Your 401(k): Can the Next Generation Afford Your Retirement?

On the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Pauly Paul of Complete Management Consulting discusses why many dairy transition plans fail financially even after legal ownership is transferred. As retiring owners depend on the farm as their “401(k)” through monthly, annual, or lump-sum buyouts, the same dairy must also support the next generation’s management, added labor layers, and new debt, often amid tight cash flow from low milk prices and weak cropping margins. Pauly describes cases where payroll spikes from added middle management, outside partners gain cattle equity and can destabilize herd size, and families refinance and roll growing lines of credit into the farm, eroding equity and jeopardizing retiree payments. Key recommendations include knowing the financials, keeping retirees engaged through regular reviews, using objective third-party oversight, and holding quarterly multi-generation meetings to determine whether the business is building or consuming equity. This Episode is brought to you by Complete Management Consulting Learn more about Complete Management Consulting at: www.CompleteManagementConsulting.com⁠⁠ ⁠completemanagementconsulting@gmail.com⁠⁠ 920-418-3135 00:00 Can the Farm Afford It 01:00 When Transitions Fail 02:23 Farm as Retirement Plan 03:33 Payroll and Debt Spiral 06:40 Why Calls Are Rising 09:22 Outside Equity Risks 12:51 Third Party Oversight 17:17 Know Your Numbers Now 19:25 Plan Ahead at 55

374 | 2026 Industry Person of the Year: Corey Geiger

In this special collaboration episode of World Dairy Expo’s The Dairy Show podcast and Uplevel Dairy, Peggy Coffeen interviews Cory Geiger, who was named World Dairy Expo’s 2026 Industry Person of the Year, about the experiences and mentors that shaped his career as a Hoard’s Dairyman editor, CoBank dairy economist, author, and youth mentor. Geiger recalls receiving the award call, his pivotal 1990 World Dairy Expo judging-team trip that solidified his passion, and early influences including his father’s lessons on money and genetics. He describes his CoBank role spanning research, speaking, and client work, including efforts to quantify genetics’ economic value, shift milk metrics toward components, and model herd replacement amid beef-on-dairy. Geiger also recounts co-editing the 50th anniversary book We Need a Show, writing recognition scripts, and publishing award-winning books chronicling farm history, emphasizing mentorship, sparking youth interest, and being remembered for making people think and feel valued. This episode has been brought to you in collaboration with World Dairy Expo and the Dairy Show Podcast. Save the dates for the 2026 World Dairy Expo taking place September 29 - October 2, 2026. Learn more at⁠ https://worlddairyexpo.com/⁠. 01:13 Servant Leadership Roots 03:19 The Award Phone Call 04:44 World Dairy Expo Spark 07:54 From Farm Kid to Economist 10:37 Mentors and Giving Back 13:50 CoBank Role and Research 18:46 We Need a Show Book 26:17 Writing Recognition Scripts 27:25 Becoming a Published Author 30:41 Legacy and Mentorship

373 | 2026 International Person of the Year: Robert Chicoine

Today, Peggy Coffeen interviews Robert Chicoine, World Dairy Expo’s 2026 International Person of the Year, in a collaboration with The Dairy Show. Chicoine recounts how a childhood fascination sparked by Holstein Canada’s journal led him from a dairy farm background to university, a summer at Quebec’s AI center, and a career developing a young sire proving program starting in 1966. He describes advancing data-driven sire selection through herd-mate comparisons, selecting influential Holstein bulls including Hanoverhill Starbuck and Craiglen Sevens Senator, and helping form the Semex Alliance in 1997 to strengthen Canada’s global genetics reach. Chicoine reflects on major industry innovations—frozen semen, sexed semen, genomics, IVF, and embryo freezing—notes rapid genomic-era progress and concerns about inbreeding, and shares leadership lessons on foresight and building strong teams. This episode has been brought to you in collaboration with World Dairy Expo and the Dairy Show Podcast. Save the dates for the 2026 World Dairy Expo taking place September 29 - October 2, 2026. Learn more at⁠ https://worlddairyexpo.com/⁠. 01:10 Robert Reacts to Honor 02:02 Holstein Journal Origins 03:59 AI Center Breakthrough 06:36 Building Young Sire Program 08:49 Semex Alliance Vision 12:08 Finding Legendary Bulls 18:38 Tech That Changed Breeding 23:12 Leadership and Teamwork 26:35 Retirement and Future Concerns

371 | Breeding for the Bottom Line: Genetics That Work in the Real World

Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy sits down with Luke Getty of Ideal Dairy and Cookiecutter Holsteins in Eastern New York to discuss the role of genetics, technology, and long-term decision-making in building a successful dairy operation. Getty shares the evolution of the family-owned business, which has grown through strategic expansion while also developing a global genetics program. He reflects on the transition to Ideal Dairy, his early skepticism around genomics, and how seeing genomic outliers become top-performing animals changed his perspective. He also discusses how IVF, genomic testing, and intentional breeding decisions have helped accelerate genetic progress and support the dairy's growth. Getty shares how the operation approaches breeding for cows that are moderate in size, productive, healthy, fertile, and built for longevity, with a focus on traits such as strong feet and udders, high components, and mastitis resistance. He also highlights measurable improvements in herd health, including somatic cell count, and explains how genetics can support both current performance and long-term sustainability. United Sires is a partnership of well-known Holstein breeders from the United States bringing genetic solutions to dairy producers worldwide. Our mission, “Breed the Best, Better,” reflects the work we have been doing on our farms for generations. As multi-generational dairy farmers, we adhere to a simple yet powerful principle: We Milk What We Make. We understand the importance of breeding cattle that are profitable throughout their lifetimes, functional across all dairy enterprises, and aesthetically pleasing. Learn more at UnitedSires.com and follow on Facebook.com @UnitedSires and @unitedsiresofficial on Instagram. 00:00 Genetics Build Businesses 00:54 Luke’s Genomics Turning Point 03:06 Scaling Ideal Dairy Fast 05:19 Breeding the 10 Year Cow 06:33 United Sires Explained 08:18 Genetics for Every Market 10:36 EU Demand and No Holes Bulls 14:31 Health Traits and Happy Teams 16:10 Mastitis Gains You Can Measure 18:11 Risk Taking and Corrective Mating 19:10 Legacy and Next Generation 21:20 10 Year Vision and Advice

372 | From Days to Hours: The Future of Dairy Diagnostics

Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen interviews Dr. Kyle Becker, a Heritage Vet Partners veterinarian and former Indiana dairy farm kid who learned to AI cows at 12 and began practicing immediately after graduation. Becker describes his atypical, influencer-style DiSC profile and how it supports team-building, client collaboration, and bridging ownership–employee gaps on modern dairies. He shares using Krishi’s SHERPA Vision technology to rapidly analyze nasal swabs for antibiotic resistance, enabling treatment plans within hours and earlier intervention on the ascending side of a disease “bell curve,” with examples including a stressed calf raiser and a Salmonella Dublin outbreak with no deaths. Becker discusses adapting to changing disease, production, and technology, balancing farmer and veterinarian perspectives, raising five children involved in chores, and prioritizing community service, learning, and farm culture. Heritage Vet Partners is the nation’s leading veterinary partnership, specializing in mixed and large animal practices. Heritage Vet Partners provides a unique partnership model that preserves local practice legacies, serving dairy and other livestock producers and companion animal owners through shared services, data, and strategic growth. Learn more at HeritageVetPartners.com 04:34 Growing Up Dairy 05:41 AI School at 12 10:47 Choosing Vet Medicine 12:56 Thrown Into Practice 14:20 Going Solo Consulting 15:54 Connector Problem Solver 18:28 Rapid Resistance Testing 22:32 Managing the Bell Curve 26:43 Salmonella Rapid Response 28:06 Speed Beats Analysis 28:54 Finding The PI Calf 30:55 Four Days Saved 32:05 Future Of Animal Health 35:19 Vet And Farmer Perspective 38:24 Family And Farm Chores 40:46 Community First Values

370 | What the Top 20% of Farm Businesses Do Differently with Dr. David Kohl & Lynn Paulson

What will separate the most successful farm businesses from the rest over the next decade? Dr. David Kohl and Lynn Paulson of Bell Bank join Peggy Coffeen to discuss the economic and global trends producers should be watching—from consumer demand for protein and AI-driven agriculture to global competition, regenerative agriculture, the coming land transition, and relationship-based lending. They also break down what separates the top 20% of farm businesses: knowing the numbers, having a plan, managing risk, building strong relationships, and consistently doing the small things right. 00:00 – Economic & Global Trends 01:05 – Protein & Precision Agriculture 02:15 – Following the Consumer 03:01 – Global Competition 04:37 – The Changing Global Landscape 07:18 – Regenerative Agriculture 08:58 – Agriculture’s Story to Consumers 10:59 – The 2032 Land Opportunity 12:42 – Land Ownership vs. Control 14:04 – Advice for Young Producers 17:09 – Planning & Financial Management 20:23 – Family Business Accountability 22:01 – Relationship Lending 26:33 – What Makes a Good Lender? 29:01 – What the Top 20% Do Differently 30:32 – Excellence at the Margin

369 | Beyond the Technology: The People Who Make Dairy Innovation Work

Technology may be changing the way dairies operate, but it still takes people to make it work. Today, we visit with Bailey Beck of Automated Dairy in Jerome, Idaho, to find out how she stepped into the dairy industry at just 22 years old, tasked with helping producers get more from the software, data and technology they were investing in. In this episode, Bailey shares how she overcame imposter syndrome, earned the trust of dairy producers and built her expertise by staying curious, coachable and willing to learn everything from cow management to electrical systems. She also opens up about balancing a demanding career with raising three young boys, the mentors who helped shape her along the way, and why, even as AI and automation advance, the human side of dairy innovation may be more important than ever. Milc Group is a dairy software company that brings real-time, actionable data to dairy farms across the world. They are dedicated to revolutionizing the dairy industry with their user-friendly cloud-based software. ONE™ by Milc Group is our all-in-one app that brings together all the important aspects of your dairy together in one place. With products such as feed and animal management software, people training, dairy facility monitoring, and scale management, Milc Group is committed to providing producers with tools they need to succeed. 00:00 Meet Bailey Beck 02:27 Her Role at Automated Dairy 03:21 Starting Young in Dairy Tech 04:13 From 4H to Software Support 05:44 Making Tech Actually Work 07:15 Early Win and Confidence 09:05 Be Coachable and Keep Learning 12:57 Mentors Who Made the Difference 14:15 Career and Motherhood Balance 17:38 Self Care and Staying Organized 18:15 Milc Group Tools in the Barn 20:41 Advice to Her Younger Self 21:50 Future of Dairy Technology 25:11 Most Rewarding Moments 26:08 Rapid Fire on Ag Advocacy 28:34 Networking for Young Pros

368 | Sitting Down With The Next Generation of Golden E Dairy

Part two of The Uplevel Dairy Podcast features Chris and Tracey Elbe’s children—Ryan, Kim, Matt, and Kyle—discussing their roles at Golden E Dairy and how their dad intentionally “molded” each of them toward different strengths. Ryan oversees broad operations and improvements, coordinating with contractors and advisers; Kim focuses on calves, heifers, and some fieldwork while embracing change and learning ideas from social media; Matt handles shop work, spraying, and equipment problem-solving with a direct, impatient style; Kyle feeds heifers, does hay and fieldwork, and serves as the people-focused communicator with employees and others. Together, they describe choosing to stay on the farm as the dairy expanded and reflect on the challenges of farm transition planning, especially “what if” scenarios and finances, emphasizing the value of starting the conversation early and appreciating their parents addressing transition at a younger age. This episode is sponsored by Compeer Financial. Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Their dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs. Visit https://www.compeer.com/specialists/dairy 00:00 Meet the Elbe Kids 01:54 Roles on the Farm 03:38 Dad’s Quiet Molding 06:19 Why They Came Back 10:31 Each Sibling’s Strength 16:39 Succession Talk Realities 19:11 Advice to Start Now 19:54 Transition Timeline

367 | Golden E Dairy: Building Dreams From the Ground Up

On the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen visits with the family behind Golden E Dairy in Kewaskum, Wisconsin, where first-generation farmers Chris and Tracey Elbe describe building their dairy from a 64-stall stanchion barn and 250 acres into a self-sufficient enterprise milking 2,900 cows, raising calves, heifers, and steers on site, and operating grain handling and soybean roasting. Chris recounts starting at age nine with calves as pay, learning through hardship, and taking calculated risks to expand from tie-stalls to a parlor and freestalls, then a modern facility with a double-32. Tracey, a former X-ray tech, shares adapting from city life, raising four children who all stayed in the business, and the challenge of letting go during transition. They emphasize hard work, listening to experienced people, strong employees, communication through weekly meetings, and concerns about land costs driven by non-farm uses. This episode is sponsored by Compeer Financial. Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Their dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs. Visit https://www.compeer.com/specialists/dairy 00:00 From Nothing to Golden E 01:42 Chris Starts With Calves 03:07 Hard Lessons and Bankruptcy 03:54 Buying the First Farm 06:11 Tie Stall Grind to Parlor 07:23 Scaling to 2900 Cows 09:06 Tracey Finds Her Place 10:04 Raising Kids on the Farm 12:39 Family Roles and Mentors 16:54 Taking Smart Risks 20:39 Tech And Growth Strategy 22:20 Kids Roles On Farm 23:45 Weekly Meetings Transition 26:20 Big Dream Legacy 27:15 People Behind Success 29:56 Letting Go Of Control 33:57 Emotional Handoff Stories 37:05 Threats And Opportunities 39:06 Advice For New Farmers

366 | Service Before Self: A Dairy Veterinarian's Calling

Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen talks with Dr. Jared Risser of Dairy Veterinary and Management Services in Goshen, Indiana, about dairy veterinary work as a service-driven career built on trust and relationships. Raised on a Lancaster County, Pennsylvania dairy farm, Risser moved to Indiana in 2017, now serves a 50-mile radius with dairies ranging from 10 cows to 4,000, and describes being a “jack of all trades” for many smaller farms. He shares the variety of his days—herd checks, calvings, surgeries, advisory meetings—and a memorable rabies-suspect euthanasia case requiring lab testing after human exposure. Risser discusses how farm technology, especially activity monitoring systems and AI-assisted data analysis, is improving health detection and management decisions, and reflects on gains in components and productivity, humility in practice, and modeling service for his four-year-old son who sometimes joins farm calls. Heritage Vet Partners is the nation’s leading veterinary partnership, specializing in mixed and large animal practices. Heritage Vet Partners provides a unique partnership model that preserves local practice legacies, serving dairy and other livestock producers and companion animal owners through shared services, data, and strategic growth. Learn more at HeritageVetPartners.com 01:44 Jared’s Dairy Roots 03:41 Indiana Practice Bubble 05:21 Trust on Farm 06:15 Crazy Days on Call 10:02 Service Meets Tech 11:16 Data and AI Wins 13:09 Health Monitoring Shift 15:44 Future Production Limits 19:14 AI for Vets 20:52 Bringing Kids Along 25:04 Legacy of Service 26:45 Rapid Fire Wisdom 30:03 Relationships Beyond Cows

365 | When Cash Gets Tight—Leading Through a Cash Flow Crunch

Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy interviews Pauly Paul of Complete Management Consulting about dairy farms facing tight cash flow, growing accounts payable, and overwhelm. Pauly says recent pressure often comes from loan restructures leading to higher interest rates and larger payments, missed income opportunities such as capturing value from black calves, and the lack of a clear cash-flow plan. He describes farms that can make bank payments via milk-check autopay but fall behind with vendors, sometimes handing over the checkbook so he can prioritize payments and negotiate plans. Pauly emphasizes open communication, sharing complete financial information, and being willing to change rather than “buying” a solution with more equipment debt. His first steps are to increase income, cut expenses, and use on-hand inventory; tactics include improving breeding/conception, increasing milk output, streamlining labor, and negotiating vendor costs. He shares a turnaround story where a farm moved from possible liquidation to repairs and potential expansion. This Episode is Brought to you by Complete Management Consulting About Complete Management Consulting www.CompleteManagementConsulting.com⁠⁠ completemanagementconsulting@gmail.com⁠ 920-418-3135 01:21 Why Farms Are Struggling 02:46 Real World Cash Flow Calls 05:27 Working With Vendors 07:12 Temporary Or Long Term 08:28 Common Money Mistakes 09:43 Three Step Stabilization Plan 11:44 Income Opportunities Fast 13:40 Communication And Pride 15:08 Turnaround Success Story 16:52 What Separates Winners

364 | What Every Dairy Producer Needs to Know About New World Screwworm

This episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast features entomologist Dr. Mike Catangui, Ph.D., with MWI Animal Health, who discusses the return of the New World screwworm and why dairy producers far from the southern border must be on alert. He explains how the pest was originally eradicated from the U.S. in the 1960s but has now been detected in Texas and New Mexico. Dr. Catangui also notes that adult flies are harmless, but larvae hatch quickly after eggs are laid on wounds (especially calf navels) and feed on live flesh, potentially killing calves within days; bites from ticks and stable or horn flies can also attract egg-laying to any species, of any age. Dr. Catangui reviews prior eradication using the USDA’s sterile insect technique, emphasizes vigilance, wound inspection, and fly control, and outlines available preventatives/curatives plus insecticide sprays/foggers and pet treatments from MWI. Suspected cases should be photographed and reported to a veterinarian due to mandatory reporting and existing infestation zones. This episode is sponsored by MWI Animal Health At MWI Animal Health, we are your partner in animal health. Our people drive us to think forward every day. We are committed to working with you to identify cutting-edge solutions to your common challenges. We unite with innovators and manufacturers to provide access to products and solutions designed to help you find success in each aspect of your animal health business. ⁠Visit www.MWIAH.com⁠ 00:59 What Screwworm Is 01:44 How Calves Get Hit 03:09 Eradication History 03:47 Dairy Risk Factors 05:38 Spread Via Movement 07:32 Climate And Vigilance 10:09 Fly Control Tools 11:35 Products For All Animals 12:26 USDA Response Plan 14:51 Suspected Case Steps 16:53 Key Takeaways 18:31 Fairs And Shows Advice

363 | Go All In: Lessons from an Idaho Dairy Nutrition Consultant

Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen interviews Josh Peters of Standard Dairy Consultants about earning dairy producers’ trust without a dairy-farm background and why showing up and commitment matter. Peters shares his path from raising beef cattle, serving in the military, and working at Simplot to entering dairy nutrition, completing his bachelor’s and master’s degrees while feeding cows full time, and building long-term client relationships. He discusses early success achieving seven pounds of components, emphasizing that results come from aligning genetics, feeds, infrastructure, and management rather than simple fixes. Since moving to Idaho’s Magic Valley, he’s seen rapid facility upgrades like cross-vent barns that reduce environmental variability but expose management and labor challenges, making consistency the key competitive advantage. Peters explains using Milc Group feeding software to improve speed, accuracy, and data-driven problem identification, focusing his consulting on bottlenecks and overall profitability, and argues AI won’t replace on-farm people willing to walk cows and do the daily work. This Episode is Brought to you by the Milc Group Milc Group is a dairy software company that brings real-time, actionable data to dairy farms across the world. They are dedicated to revolutionizing the dairy industry with their user-friendly cloud-based software. ONE™ by Milc Group is our all-in-one app that brings together all the important aspects of your dairy together in one place. With products such as feed and animal management software, people training, dairy facility monitoring, and scale management, Milc Group is committed to providing producers with tools they need to succeed. 01:18 Show Up And Commit 02:29 Beef Roots To Dairy 03:56 Military Mindset 04:48 All In On Education 06:53 First Herd Breakthrough 10:22 Magic Valley Shift 15:38 Consistency Over Rations 17:49 Tech And Data Tools 19:28 Milk Group In Action 22:41 Profitability Metrics 25:52 Labor And Hidden Leaks 33:08 Peeling The Onion 36:28 AI Cant Replace People 38:34 Future Of Dairy

362 | Tax and Legal Strategies for Farm Transition with Menn Law

On the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen concludes a three-part Farm Forward listener Q&A series with Will McKinley of Menn Law and Pat Sturz, a retired CPA and longtime agriculture tax advisor, discussing why legal and tax planning must be integrated in farm succession. They explain how farm growth and asset write-offs can create future tax problems, why “sell the farm on a land contract” can trigger unexpected upfront taxes due to different asset classes, and how early planning, entity choice, and large early gifting can improve outcomes. They highlight tools like profits interests to share future growth or reward key employees without immediate income tax, strategies like “shadow” partnership entities to move assets out of C corps over time, and the role of stepped-up basis at death. They close with key mistakes, priorities, and the need for readiness and clarity about who will be involved and retirement cash needs. Contact Will McKinley or Pat Sturz at Menn Law William-McKinley@mennlaw.com (920) 731-6631 pat_sturz@mennlaw.com 715-586-0050 Learn more at https://mennlaw.com/ Do you have a question on succession and farm transition you would like to hear Will answer on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast? Send your questions to peggy@upleveldairy.com 01:13 Meet Will and Pat 04:30 Long Term Tax Mindset 06:13 Gifting and Entity Choices 09:43 Avoid Land Contract Traps 12:00 Profits Interest Explained 15:20 Shadow Farm Strategy 18:32 Biggest Misunderstandings 23:19 One Year Retirement Priorities 24:42 Common Mistakes and Wrap Up

361 | The Biggest Mistake Families Make with Land with Will McKinley

Today's conversation tackles one of the most emotional and misunderstood topics in farm succession planning: how do you provide for non-farming children without putting the future of the farm at risk? Will McKinley explains why "fair" doesn't always mean "equal" and shares practical strategies that allow farm families to care for every child while protecting the operation they've spent a lifetime building. From trusts and LLCs to long-term leases, purchase options, and structured buyout agreements, you'll learn how thoughtful planning today can prevent conflict tomorrow. Will also shares real-life success stories and heartbreaking cautionary tales that demonstrate exactly what happens when estate plans leave room for ambiguity. Whether you're actively planning your estate or simply beginning family conversations, this episode offers valuable insight into preserving both your farm and your family relationships. Contact Will McKinley at Menn Law William-McKinley@mennlaw.com (920) 731-6631 Learn more at https://mennlaw.com/ 00:00 Why "Fair Isn't Always Equal" in Farm Succession 01:28 Understanding the Real Value—and Responsibility—of Inheriting a Farm 03:05 Using Trusts and LLCs to Protect Farm Assets 05:02 The Biggest Mistake Families Make with Farmland 06:15 Purchase Options, Long-Term Leases & Buyout Strategies 08:10 Why You Should Never Leave Rent Negotiations to Future Generations 09:48 Real Success Story: A Farm Family That Planned Ahead 12:58 When Poor Planning Forced a Farm to Shut Down 15:05 Good Intentions, Bad Estate Planning 17:16 Eliminating Ambiguity Before It Leads to Litigation 18:00 Three Questions Every Farm Parent Should Answer Before They're Gone

360 | Why Farm Transitions Fail with Will McKinley

Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen interviews attorney Will McKinley of Menn Law in a three-part follow-up to the Farm Forward conference, focusing on why farm transitions fail and how to prevent it. McKinley cites two primary failure causes: economic infeasibility and psychology/communication breakdowns, including control issues and lack of confidence in successors; he shares examples where debt forced likely land sales and where strict post-death “guardrails” led a son to leave and the dairy to shut down. He emphasizes earlier planning, strong financial advisors, and tools like trusts with independent trustees. Discussing non-family key employees, he warns ownership success is about 50/50, urges transparency, cautions against rushed promises and mingling assets like cattle or equipment, and suggests alternatives such as higher compensation or limited real-estate partnerships. Make sure to tune in tomorrow and Thursday for parts two and three. Contact Will McKinley at Menn Law: William-McKinley@mennlaw.com (920) 731-6631 https://mennlaw.com/ Do you have a question on succession and farm transition you would like to hear Will answer on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast? Send your questions to peggy@upleveldairy.com 00:00 Why Transitions Fail 02:16 Two Failure Causes 02:40 Debt And Taxes Trap 03:52 Psychology And Control 08:08 Preventing Financial Failure 13:14 Trusts And Guardrails 16:18 Non-Family Partners 25:50 Avoiding Messy Entanglements

358 | Making a $4 Million Impact: Dairy Cares of Wisconsin

Today, Peggy Coffeen sits down with Jim Ostrom, president and CEO of Milk Source and co-founder of Dairy Cares of Wisconsin, to discuss how a backyard gathering in Wisconsin grew over 17 years into an event drawing 450–550 people and raising more than $4 million for Children’s Wisconsin, a world-class hospital network with 18 branches. Ostrom explains Dairy Cares’ purpose and highlights gratitude, welcoming new participants, and inspiring a next generation through youth donations and fundraising efforts. He credits the impact to teamwork, hard work, and shared passion, and shares leadership approaches like envisioning “what could be” and relying on strong partners and teams. Ostrom reflects on tough commodity cycles in dairy, opportunities in beef and efficiency-driven export competitiveness, his personal advice to “compare yourself to yourself yesterday,” his interest in AI, and ways to get involved with a goal to raise $500,000 this year. To get involved in Dairy Cares of Wisconsin's continual impact, Make a donation at dairycaresofwisconsin.org Join us for the annual Dairy Cares Garden Party, July 25, De Pere, Wis. Support through the virtual auction: https://pro.gofundme.com/live/register/2026-dairy-cares-of-wisconsin-garden-party/4c24640e-e3ed-4dc9-aa29-d175b99cfe27 00:00 Backyard Idea Begins 01:41 Garden Party Origins 02:27 Mission And Beneficiary 04:19 From Dinner To Millions 06:20 Next Gen Giving 08:20 Welcoming New Leaders 09:55 Leadership Behind Impact 11:41 Business Vision Teamwork 13:51 Industry Opportunities Cycles 16:46 Rapid Fire Advice 19:10 How To Get Involved

357 | Inside the Minds of Dairy's Next Generation | Junior Advisory Committee Roundtable

What’s inside the minds of the next generation of dairy leaders? We found out last week at the National Holstein Convention, where we sat down with 3 young leaders in the National Junior Holstein Association who are helping shape the future of the organization while representing thousands of junior members nationwide. Through leadership, service, and a whole lot of dedication, they're proving that the next generation is already making an impact. Mykel Mull from California, Cayden Bursiek from Ohio, and Ainsley Sellers from Pennsylvania talk about what inspired each of them to get involved with the National Holstein Junior Advisory Committee, what they've learned through serving in national leadership, how the Junior Advisory Committee gives young people a voice within the Association, and why programs like these matter so much for developing tomorrow's dairy leaders. Whether you're raising the next generation on your farm, involved in youth programs yourself, or simply want a glimpse of where our industry is headed, this conversation will leave you optimistic and inspired too. 01:36 Meet the JAC Team 02:09 Ainsley’s Dairy Story 02:51 Cayden’s Show Ring Roots 03:25 Mykel’s Unique Path 04:57 What the JAC Does 07:11 Programs and Skills Built 08:34 Lessons From Nationwide Networking 11:22 Leaders Who Inspired Them 16:01 Most Impactful Junior Programs 19:45 Future Plans in Dairy and Beyond

356 | Rebuilding After Tragedy: Four Cubs Farm's Story of Resilience

When a devastating barn fire destroyed the heart of Four Cubs Farms in November 2017, the Peterson family faced a decision that would shape the future of their business for generations to come. In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen continues her conversation with Gary and Cris Peterson, Ben Peterson, and Dairy Manager Nathan Brandt as they reflect on one of the most difficult days in the farm's history—and how it became the catalyst for transformation. From the overwhelming support of neighbors and fellow dairy producers to rebuilding with robotic milking technology, the team shares how resilience, innovation, and a willingness to embrace change helped them emerge stronger than before. The conversation explores how data-driven decision making, animal welfare, technology adoption, and strategic growth are helping Four Cubs Farms remain competitive while preparing for its 150th anniversary and the next generation of leadership. This episode is sponsored by Compeer Financial. Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Their dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs. 02:00 – The day the barn fire changed everything 04:00 – Moving cows and saving the herd during the crisis 06:00 – Community support and the dairy industry's response 07:00 – Rebuilding after the fire and making a major decision 08:00 – Choosing robotic milking technology 10:00 – Bringing cows home and transitioning to robots 12:00 – How the robotic dairy is organized today 14:00 – Collecting and using data to improve performance 16:00 – Measuring return on investment through data 18:00 – Data, profitability, and continuous improvement 20:00 – Solving challenges through real-time insights 22:00 – Staying competitive in a changing dairy industry 23:00 – Cow behavior, stocking density, and robot efficiency 25:00 – Labor, technology, and future dairy strategies 27:00 – Growth plans and expansion opportunities 28:00 – Building the next generation of the herd 30:00 – Celebrating 150 years of family farming 32:00 – Looking ahead to the future of Four Cubs Farms 33:00 – Lessons in resilience, leadership, and perseverance

355 | Leadership Across Generations: Creating a Dairy Business Built to Last

For nearly 150 years, Four Cubs Farms in Grantsburg, Wisconsin, has been built on a simple principle: people matter. In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen sits down with Gary and Cris Peterson, their son Ben Peterson, and Dairy Manager Nathan Brandt to explore the leadership, culture, communication, and innovation that transformed a small family dairy into a thriving 1,000-cow operation. From succession planning and employee engagement to genomic testing, feed efficiency, and building trust across generations, this conversation offers valuable lessons for dairy producers looking to create resilient businesses that can thrive well into the future. Whether you're navigating farm transition, building a team, or looking for ways to strengthen your operation's culture, this episode delivers practical insights from a farm that has successfully blended family values with modern dairy management. This episode is sponsored by Compeer Financial. Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Their dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs. 02:00 – Growing from 60 cows to 1,000 cows 03:00 – Roles and responsibilities within the farm team 05:30 – Cris Peterson's journey from city girl to dairy advocate 09:00 – Leadership transition and bringing in outside talent 10:00 – Nathan Brandt's path into dairy and Four Cubs Farms 13:00 – Building a team with complementary strengths 14:00 – Innovation through feed systems and grain storage 16:00 – Genetics, genomic testing, and future herd growth 20:00 – Nutrition strategies for today's high-performing dairy cows 24:00 – The role of culture in farm success 27:00 – Trust, communication, and employee retention 30:00 – Creating clarity, consistency, and rhythm across the operation 32:00 – Succession planning, growth, and preparing for the future

354 | Lessons from a Father-Daughter Vet Duo: The Next Generation of Dairy Care

Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen visits with father-daughter veterinarians Dr. Paul Meagher and Dr. Amanda Onan of United Veterinary Services in Northeast Wisconsin about how dairy practice evolved from reactive emergency work to proactive, team-based consulting. Dr. Paul shares his path from a North Dakota dairy farm to nearly 40 years in mixed and large-animal practice, mentors who emphasized prevention, and lessons learned from top producers: the right mindset and decision-making with a consultant team, high-quality forages, and consistency. Dr. Amanda reflects on riding on after-hours calls as a child, emphasizes aligning larger dairy crews around shared goals, and predicts AI-driven tools such as calving-detection cameras and expanded monitoring. They discuss communication, humility, and “living in the light” through positivity and learning from negatives. This episode is brought to you by Heritage Vet Partners. Heritage Vet Partners is the nation’s leading veterinary partnership, specializing in mixed and large animal practices. Heritage Vet Partners provides a unique partnership model that preserves local practice legacies, serving dairy and other livestock producers and companion animal owners through shared services, data, and strategic growth. Learn more at HeritageVetPartners.com 02:10 Paul's Path to Practice 03:16 Mentors and Preventive Shift 04:59 Amanda's First Farm Call 06:45 Supporting Her Vet Dream 08:55 Learning From Top Producers 10:44 Three Keys to Success 16:54 From Firefighting to Consulting 19:20 Data and Record Analysis 24:15 Future Tech and AI 27:32 Family Support and Grandpa Life 30:04 Lessons Living in the Light

353 | The Young Dairy Manager Changing Herd Health One Insight at a Time

Shelby Jacquier Washburn, is a fourth-generation dairy farmer and managing partner at Laurel Brook Farm in East Canaan, Connecticut, describes returning from an equine business program during COVID to help manage a 1,500-cow herd and 1,800 acres each of corn and hay/haylage while raising all young stock. In today's conversation, she explains how accepting a 200-tag Nedap trial led to whole-herd collars (Nedap Now) that detect health issues 12–24 hours earlier via rumination, eating time, and milk deviations, informing earlier treatment and culling decisions, identifying lameness, and paying back about half the system cost in a year through reduced hospital time. Data prompted diet changes for fresh cows, improved heats and overall cow brightness, new transition protocols (moving pre-fresh cows two days before due date) that boosted colostrum supply, and heat-stress monitoring that revealed the parlor as a hotspot, leading to added evaporative cooling, fans, and water. This episode is part of the High-Performance Mindset Series powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farming with smart technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering, sort gates, and AI-powered camera systems. Nedap is improving life on the farm by putting the right cow in the right place at the right time, every time. 00:47 Meet Shelby Jacquier Washburn 01:14 From Horses to Dairy 03:41 Collars Across the Herd 05:03 The 200 Tag Leap 07:11 Fresh Cow Insights 09:08 Diet Tweaks Big Wins 11:18 Transition Monitoring Shift 12:20 Colostrum Turnaround 14:32 Heat Stress Hotspots 16:48 What's Next in Tech

352 | Redefining What Leadership Looks Like on the Dairy with Annie Vannurden

How do you lead multiple dairy operations, oversee teams across several states, and still make it home for supper with three young children waiting for you? In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen sits down with Annie Vannurden, Managing Partner and COO of Silver Streak Dairies, part of the Pace Ag Group. Annie shares what it takes to create consistency across multiple dairy sites while building a culture centered around accountability, communication, employee development, and cow care. From managing site leaders and implementing systems that support growth to navigating the realities of motherhood while pursuing ambitious business goals, Annie offers practical insights for dairy producers, managers, and anyone leading teams in agriculture. Whether you're growing a dairy business, building leadership skills, or trying to balance family and career, this conversation is packed with actionable lessons and honest reflections from someone living it every day. This episode is brought to you by Zoetis. As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is dedicated to helping producers achieve healthy animals, healthy dairies and healthy food through their world-class portfolio. For more information, visit ⁠DairyWellness.com.⁠ 01:42 Meet Annie Van Irden 01:59 Inside Pace Ag Merge 03:43 COO Day To Day 06:52 Consistency Across Sites 10:18 Clarity And Communication 12:55 Maturity And Priorities 13:52 People Wins And Expansion 17:49 Work Hat Home Hat 22:06 Boundaries And Presence 26:32 Mentors And Influence 31:44 Support System At Home 35:13 Planning Routines Calendar

351 | Robots, Faith and Resilience: Transforming Tradition at Silver Spirit Farm

Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy sits down with Sam Fessenden, a Cornell dairy science graduate with a PhD focused on the CNCPS model who worked with nutritionists globally before partnering with his wife Brenda and her parents, Craig and Cathy, to rebuild dairying at their Southeast Minnesota site. In this conversation, Sam shares early mentorship near Cornell, how consulting and barn tours informed their tech-forward design, and how they converted a former 70-stall stanchion operation into a 120-cow, sand-bedded, two-robot, largely automated free-flow barn launched in 2020 while welcoming their first child. He discusses feeding non-pelleted homegrown corn through robots, lessons from managing cows daily (manure observation and feed inventory realities), choosing open-minded advisors, patience in growth decisions, guidance for generational transition, resilience through cost control, extra acres, and value-added black calf raising, and how faith and family motivate raising three kids on the farm. This Episode is brought to you by Adisseo 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/⁠ 01:44 Sam’s Dairy Roots 05:31 Cornell Mentors and Models 08:42 From Consulting to Minnesota 09:24 Rebuilding the Dairy Site 11:49 Designing a Robot Barn 13:45 Automation and Feeding Hacks 16:32 Consulting Lessons Applied 19:02 Choosing the Right Advisors 21:25 Patience and Farm Values 23:17 Succession and Growth Plans 26:14 Resilience and Black Calves 30:46 Family First and Faith

350 | Ice Cream, Show Cows and Family Values: The Vandoske Dairy Farms Story

Today, Peggy Coffeen visits Bob and Tara Vandoske at Vandoske Dairy Farms in Cleveland, Wisconsin, to discuss how their 700-cow family dairy farm has grown into diverse business segments, including County Line Creamery, an on-farm ice cream store with viewing windows and open barn access, and a cattle boarding/show-cow facility. They share the farm’s multi-generational history, their three children’s roles (including show involvement and work responsibilities), and how these ventures create next-generation opportunities and consumer connection. Bob explains the creamery grew from COVID-era interest in local food, progressed through careful planning, and started by bringing in products rather than processing milk. They describe the boarding business’ unexpected growth, recent dairy facility upgrades including a new double-12 parallel parlor, and the importance of faith, teamwork, and relationships. NutriQuest nutritionist Jeff Rortvedt, highlights the farm’s multiple enterprises and Bob’s investments in cow care and the future. This episode is brought to you be NutriQuest. The NutriQuest Dairy Nutrition Team is a group of experienced nutritionists committed to serving dairy producers by partnering with them to develop an un-biased, customized nutrition program that delivers maximum profitability, achieved through a holistic approach, engaging in all aspects that influence nutrition program success. The NutriQuest Dairy Team is committed to serving the dairy industry and delivering their customers’ consistent results with a high return. Learn more at nutriquest.com/dairy-nutrition-solutions 01:49 Vandoske Farm Story 03:06 Kids and Farm Roles 04:51 Why Not 10000 Cows 05:33 County Line Creamery Idea 08:33 Planning the Build Out 11:05 Why Ice Cream Wins 12:27 Cattle Boarding Begins 15:37 Designing the Show Barn 18:11 Busy Saturdays and Events 21:02 Three Years of Rapid Growth 21:30 Heavy Decisions and Faith 21:51 Hardest Choices and New Roles 24:17 Dairy Upgrades and New Parlor 27:43 Raising the Next Generation 29:44 Future Plans and Tractor Time 35:25 A Nutritionist's Perspective

349 | Earning Trust, One Tough Calving at a Time

Today on The Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen talks with Dr. Kady Bennett of United Vet Services (part of Heritage Vet Partners) about her unexpected path from an Illinois corn-and-soybean upbringing and an early photography major to large animal dairy practice in Wisconsin’s Northwoods. Dr. Bennett explains how starting as a kennel tech, then experiencing large animal work (including castrating bull calves) led her to switch to animal science and pursue vet school, with dairy research helping solidify her focus. She describes her passion for solving problems ... from casting a calf's broken jaw to uncovering protocol issues with lung ultrasound. Dr. Bennett is on a mission to be the best vet she can be, with the help of great mentors, fellow vets and supportive dairy farm clients. Heritage Vet Partners is the nation’s leading veterinary partnership, specializing in mixed and large animal practices. Heritage Vet Partners provides a unique partnership model that preserves local practice legacies, serving dairy and other livestock producers and companion animal owners through shared services, data, and strategic growth. Learn more at HeritageVetPartners.com 01:34 From Photography To Cows 04:31 Earning Trust On Farms 08:45 Mentors And Backup 10:15 Problem Solver Mindset 11:22 Broken Jaw Calf Win 13:21 Calf Lung Ultrasound Data 17:16 Motivation And Relationships 18:46 Stepping Up Consulting 21:23 Advice For Future Vets 23:30 Creativity And Baking

348 | The Future of Dairy Management: AI, Automation and Data-Driven Action

Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Manny Salcedo, founder of the Dairy Performance Network (DPN), discusses how modern dairy management has shifted from simply managing cows and people to managing overwhelming volumes of data from multiple on-farm systems. Drawing on his background working on dairies and later founding DPN, he explains their consulting work and its tools, including Ida, an AI-driven application that lets farmers ask questions about KPIs, health events, reproduction, and predictive culling. And find out what Manny believes it will take for today's dairy managers to turn information into action through the power of AI and automation. This episode is brought to you by the Dairy Performance Network (DPN). DPN - Connecting people, cows, and technology. Learn more at Dpnconnect.com & dairystash.com 00:00 Data Driven Dairy 01:48 What DPN Builds 03:20 Too Much Data 04:52 Ida AI Assistant 06:02 From Dashboards to Actions 07:18 Why Manny Built This 11:38 Pilot Farms, Real Questions 13:20 Voice Commands Automation 17:42 Future Integration Wave 20:19 Next Gen Manager Skills

347 | Courage, Honor, and Dairy with Veterans Kelsey DeBoer and Matthew Taber

Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy talks with veterans, Matt Taber, a retired Marine and co-owner of Donley Farms in Shoshone, Idaho, and Kelsey DeBoer, a former U.S. Army Reserve construction engineer and now senior marketing manager at Zoetis, about how military service shapes leadership and perspective. Kelsey explains Zoetis’ Patriots Pledge partnership with Folds of Honor, donating a percentage of sales from select products from Memorial Day through Veterans Day to fund scholarships for families of fallen or disabled service members, and also law enforcement and first responders. They both discuss teamwork, accountability and sacrifice as lessons applied to their respective dairy work today, as they also reflect with gratitude on their time in service and the powerful perspective that lives on through the way they lead. Zoetis’ Patriots’ Pledge program supports Folds of Honor. Folds of Honor is a non-profit organization that provides education scholarships for spouses and children of America’s fallen or injured service members and first responders. The Patriots’ Pledge program from Zoetis designates a portion of sales from select products between Memorial Day and Veterans Day each year. More here: https://www.zoetisus.com/services-and-programs/patriots-pledge/ This episode is brought to you by Zoetis. As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is dedicated to helping producers achieve healthy animals, healthy dairies and healthy food through their world-class portfolio. For more information, visit ⁠DairyWellness.com.⁠ 03:02 Meet Matt & Kelsey 04:13 Matt Journey in the Marines 05:48 Deployments and Iwo Jima 07:26 Kelsey's Path in the Army Reserve 10:23 Dairy After Service 15:20 Military Lessons in Dairy 18:40 Accountability at Zoetis 21:05 Deployment Perspective Shift 23:30 First World vs Third World 25:39 Advice to Younger Self 28:26 What Service Really Means 30:02 Brotherhood and Sacrifice 36:37 Lessons to Live By

346 | From the Battlefield to the Barn: Leadership, Teams and Tough Decisions with Greg Shoemaker

Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen interviews Greg Shoemaker, Cargill’s Commercial Director for North America Dairy Nutrition, about leading teams that support dairy producers through nutrition strategy, technology, and on-farm partnership across the US and Canada. Shoemaker shares how his path from rural Pennsylvania roots to a career as a US Army Ranger shaped his leadership approach today ensuring dairy farmers' success. Greg details the power of building trust, clarity and acting as a multiplier by removing barriers. He discusses learning from mistakes, investing in culture during normal times to withstand hard times, maintaining composure under stress, and adopting an “infinite game” mindset focused on long-term success in dairy. This episode is brought to you by Cargill Dairy Nutrition. No two dairies are alike, Cargill Dairy doesn’t expect them to be. When your dairy faces challenges, you need a partner with an original approach. Cargill has their own world-class research labs, developed their own proprietary nutrition software, and fostered an original team approach… all to deliver profitability on YOUR terms. Partner with a nutrition company as original as you are: ⁠cargillanimalnutrition.com/original⁠ 02:31 Greg's Role at Cargill 03:40 What Army Rangers Do 05:08 From Military to Cargill 07:16 Life in Dairy Consulting 08:59 Mission and Values Leadership 12:38 Building Culture and Trust 15:49 Leading Under Pressure 19:18 No Decision Is a Decision 21:35 Infinite Game Mindset 25:10 Better Questions Better Leadership 26:20 Execute Iterate Lesson 27:51 Vision for the Team 29:11 Rallying Through Tough Times 33:49 Morning Routine and Journals 35:43 Nonnegotiables and Balance 37:11 Hardest Leadership Lesson 39:16 Purpose in Dairy Industry 40:50 Rapid Fire Leadership Round 47:18 Problem Solving and OODA Loop

345 | From Farm Kid to Risk Advisor | Brandon Weigel on What Dairy Producers Are Missing

At Central Plains Dairy Expo, Peggy Coffeen caught up with Ever.Ag risk advisor, Brandon Weigel, a Wisconsin farm-raised entrepreneur who started raising show pigs at 12 and later entered risk management through a 4-H club connection. Weigel explains his role managing grain sell-side risk, dairy feed buying risk, and beef-on-dairy price risk, contrasting grain cashflow-driven sales with year-round dairy feed purchasing. He discusses major industry shifts he has observed in his career thus far, including rapid growth in beef-on-dairy breeding and increased market volatility. Ever.Ag partners with dairy producers to build customized risk management plans that help protect margins in any market environment. With dedicated advisors, industry leading technology, and proven tools like Dairy Revenue Protection, we help farms reduce uncertainty and secure long‑term financial strength. Learn more at https://ever.ag/. 01:40 Farm Roots and Show Pigs 03:44 Entrepreneurship at 12 04:08 4-H Connection to Ever.Ag 04:53 Job Shadow to Career 07:10 Day to Day Risk Advisor 08:39 Lessons and Mentors 10:51 Grain vs. Feed Strategy 11:41 Market Shifts and Volatility 14:07 Emotion vs. Fundamentals 15:50 2026 Outlook Beef and Feed 18:20 Rapid Fire and Wrap Up

344 | The Profit Gap: What Top Dairy Farms Do Differently

On this episode of the UpLevel Dairy Podcast, Pauly Paul with Complete Management Consulting is back today to explain what separates thriving dairies from those in crisis. He says the biggest gap comes down to management, especially leaders who delegate but also work alongside employees rather than staying behind a desk. Pauly identifies three core differentiators: understanding financials and avoiding over-borrowing by reviewing budgets and financials monthly or quarterly; leading by example with consistent schedules, walkthroughs, and daily employee interaction; and getting “in the trenches” to understand tasks and improve efficiency, which can quickly turn farms from red to black when his team takes over management. He adds that profitable farms face hard truths and capitalize on opportunities like improving reproduction, semen handling, shot compliance, and breeding for higher-value “black calves,” which he estimates can add significant annual income. This Episode is Brought to you by Complete Management Consulting About Complete Management Consulting www.CompleteManagementConsulting.com⁠⁠ completemanagementconsulting@gmail.com⁠ 920-418-3135 00:00 Why Some Dairies Win 00:49 Two Types of Calls 02:29 Management Makes the Gap 03:01 Hands On Leadership 04:26 Three Profit Drivers 06:06 Know Your Financials 09:05 Lead by Example Daily 10:45 Work in the Barn 12:18 Turning Farms Around Fast 14:15 Black Calf Profit Lever 17:46 Staying Ahead Long Term

343 | The First 10 Years Back on the Family Farm: Growth, Grit and Gratitude with Zoey Brooks Nelson

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen is on-site at Brooks Farms with Zoey Brooks, nearly 10 years after Zoey returned to the family dairy, to discuss growing from 200 to about 700 cows and from four employees to a 15-person team. Zoey shares hard-won lessons about stepping into management, overcoming challenges, building a strong team culture and leading from within, while balancing roles as a young mother raising her children on the farm. She shares how her guiding motto - “Do it scared" - drives her to dig deep and dive in to make her dreams reality. She also highlights a business segment and creative outlet with Black & White Aged Cheddar, the premium aged cheese brand she and her sister Syndney launched during COVID by partnering with Union Star Creamery, made exclusively from Brooks Farms' milk. This Episode is brought to you by Adisseo 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/⁠ 01:38 Back Home at Brooks Farms 03:30 Scaling Up Fast 04:09 Failure Is Normal 05:06 Milk Drop Mystery 07:24 Hunting Stray Voltage 09:36 Managing Through Chaos 11:53 Building Team Culture 13:47 From Cow Work to People 15:21 Three Hats on Farm 16:08 Dairy Mom Office Life 17:36 Raising Kids on Farm 18:56 Leading by Example 19:27 Balancing Farm and Family 19:52 Tech That Makes It Work 22:04 Remote Sorting in Winter 22:47 Launching a Farm Cheese Brand 27:52 Black and White Story 28:34 Cheddar Focus and First Taste 30:05 Advice for New Brands 32:37 Growing Distribution Beyond Wisconsin 34:45 Next Decade on the Farm 36:18 Do It Scared

342 | Announcing the 2026 National Dairy Shrine Award Recipients with Mike Opperman

Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy is joined by Mike Opperman from the National Dairy Shrine headquarters in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, to announce the official 2026 National Dairy Shrine award announcements and explain the committee-based nomination process. Make sure to tune in to hear who the winners in each category are! The winners will be recognized at the National Dairy Shrine Awards Banquet at World Dairy Expo, with tickets starting July 1, and honored in the Hall of Fame; Opperman also notes upcoming scholarship announcements, a May 13 webinar on internships, and the Sept. 28 banquet date. Learn more and register for events at https://dairyshrine.org/. 00:49 Dairy Shrine Origins 02:14 How Awards Are Chosen 04:16 Emerging Leader Award 10:47 Pioneer Award Honorees 15:52 Distinguished Breeder Winner 18:31 Guest of Honor Spotlight 21:37 Banquet and Hall of Fame 24:43 Scholarships and Webinar News

341 | Katie Burgess: The Dairy Risk Advisor Who Simplifies the Chaos

Today's conversation on the Uplevel Dairy podcast was captured at the Central Plains Dairy Expo in Sioux Falls, where Peggy Coffeen interviews dairy risk management advisor and economist, Katie Burgess of Ever.Ag, about making dairy risk management simpler and more accessible. Burgess shares her Wisconsin dairy farm upbringing, ag business education, and path from UW Extension into Ever.Ag, emphasizing that effective risk management doesn’t require predicting markets or mastering jargon. She explains the main dairy insurance tools, Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP) and LGM Dairy, highlighting DRP’s daily availability, quarterly coverage, and fit for Class III and IV and high-component milk, versus LGM’s Thursday-only availability, Class III focus, and single- or two-month coverage, with a coming USDA change expected to allow using both in the same quarter. They discuss today’s volatility, export dependence, strong global supply, opportunities in milk and cattle values, and the farm lesson “make hay when the sun shines.” This episode is brought to you by Ever.Ag Ever.Ag partners with dairy producers to build customized risk management plans that help protect margins in any market environment. With dedicated advisors, industry leading technology, and proven tools like Dairy Revenue Protection, we help farms reduce uncertainty and secure long‑term financial strength. Learn more at https://ever.ag/. 00:00 Risk Made Simple 02:09 Farm Roots in Wisconsin 03:10 Learning Risk Tools 04:21 Path to Ever Ag 06:36 Keep It Simple Strategy 07:42 DRP vs LGM Explained 10:25 Market Outlook and Action 11:27 Make Hay While the Sun Shines 12:35 Seeing the Whole Chain 14:41 Future of Dairy

340 | “Take Care of the Cow”: The Simple Philosophy for Driving Dairy Success

On this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen sits down with Dr. Cole Anderson of United Vet Services (Heritage Vet Partners) in Northeast Wisconsin to talk about his unconventional path into dairy veterinary medicine and the mentors who shaped it along the way. From early hands-on experiences to building long-term client relationships, Dr. Anderson shares his philosophy that great service and strong relationships matter more than being the lowest-cost provider. He also opens up about balancing family life with a demanding career, learning through challenges, and his next goal: helping dairy clients improve performance through deeper use of DairyComp and data-driven insights. Heritage Vet Partners is the nation’s leading veterinary partnership, specializing in mixed and large animal practices. Heritage Vet Partners provides a unique partnership model that preserves local practice legacies, serving dairy and other livestock producers and companion animal owners through shared services, data, and strategic growth. Learn more at HeritageVetPartners.com 01:50 An Unlikely Vet Path 03:16 Mentors Open Doors 04:39 Ron Herb Relationship 08:43 Learning in the Truck 13:09 Service First Mindset 16:42 Teaching Students to Grow 18:55 Hard Lessons and Balance 22:10 More Mentors and Core Values 23:07 Driven Dairy Clients 24:52 Future Vet Service 25:27 Fundamentals Over Fixes 27:44 Cow First Principle 31:04 Family And Mentors 35:43 Practice Lessons Learned 38:06 Next Generation Growth

339 | From the Barn to the Board Room: Nathan Moroney on Technology, Trials & Dairy Farming in Texas

On the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen visits Del Rio Dairy in Friona, Texas, and interviews owner Nathan Moroney about how technology and expansion are reshaping modern dairying. Moroney describes a major expansion from a 3,500-cow double-45 parallel parlor to a 90-stall rotary with automated prep and post robots, sort gates, and collars, delivering significant labor savings and higher milking throughput. He recounts being one of the first herds to experience what became known as "bird flu" before the issue was identified through coordinated efforts with extension. He explains the Saudi-style barn system, manure handling that evolved into a digester started in 2021, water constraints driving efficiency and potential forage shifts, and the potential opportunities for integrating more AI in milking and feed management. Moroney also discusses regional processing growth, his new DFA corporate board role, and the need for workable labor policy reform. This Episode is Brought to you by the Milc Group Milc Group is a dairy software company that brings real-time, actionable data to dairy farms across the world. They are dedicated to revolutionizing the dairy industry with their user-friendly cloud-based software. ONE™ by Milc Group is our all-in-one app that brings together all the important aspects of your dairy together in one place. With products such as feed and animal management software, people training, dairy facility monitoring, and scale management, Milc Group is committed to providing producers with tools they need to succeed. 02:13 Rotary Expansion Automation 04:52 Bird Flu Ground Zero 11:34 Saudi Barn Workflow 14:09 Digester Renewables Economics 15:23 Next Efficiency AI Upgrades 19:58 One Feed Program Spotlight 20:28 Mobile App Workflow 21:04 Water Risk Planning 22:01 Reusing Water Efficiently 23:01 Alternative Forages Ahead 23:41 Texas Dairy Processing Boom 24:37 Milk Hauling Distance 24:46 Joining the DFA Board 26:15 National Dairy Outlook 28:55 Marketing and Data Shifts 29:57 From City to Dairyman 32:19 Traits Built by Dairy 35:52 Labor Reform Needs

338 | Dairy Farm Finances in 2026: What Smart Producers Are Planning for Q2

How are your finances looking for Q2? In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen interviews Steve Schweoer of Compeer Financial on what financially strong dairy farms are doing in 2026 amid tight first-half cash flow, lower milk prices, and higher costs of capital. Steve notes many producers prepaid 2026 expenses in 2025, easing near-term pressure, and expects improved markets in the second half while emphasizing preparing during good times by building working capital and paying down lines of credit. He advises maintaining a three-to-five-year capital replacement plan using “needs vs. wants,” evaluating land purchases case by case, and not letting taxes drive decisions. Key profitability levers include beef-on-dairy and managing net herd replacement cost, feed efficiency and ration cost, strong components and herd health, disciplined capital spending, and low employee turnover. He urges producers to know their cost of production, keep a consistent operating model, and bring lenders and advisors a long-term plan including risk management and family goals. This episode is sponsored by Compeer Financial. Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Their dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs. Visit ⁠https://www.compeer.com/specialists/dairy⁠ 01:17 Cash Flow Cycles Ahead 03:02 Needs vs Wants Capital 05:11 Land Buying Decisions 06:36 Cost of Capital Squeeze 08:17 Beef on Dairy Boost 11:07 Feed Efficiency Levers 12:48 What Profitable Looks Like 15:04 Tech Investments Timing 17:36 Lender Talks and Planning 19:34 Disciplines for Stability 21:50 Know Your Cost Production 23:16 Stick to Your Model

337 | Leading the Legacy from 100 Miles Away: A Modern Dairy Story

On the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen visits Cooper Legacy Dairy near Clovis, New Mexico, a 2,000-cow operation run by fifth-generation dairyman Jered Cooper that also raises replacements and farms about 2,500 acres. Cooper shares how his family’s dairy roots span Michigan, Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico, and why he now lives about 80–100 miles away in the Lubbock, Texas area while still managing the dairy through internet-connected tools and support from his son on site. He explains adopting Nedap smart tags and sort gates, which proved pivotal during a bird flu outbreak by enabling early health alerts, treatment monitoring, and improved herd outcomes, and now streamline daily workflows for health and reproduction via reports, mobile entry, and cloud syncing. Cooper also discusses passing the business to the sixth generation and writing a book inspired by his father about family, football, faith, and farming. This episode is part of the High-Performance Mindset Series powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farming with smart technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering, sort gates, and AI-powered camera systems. Nedap is improving life on the farm by putting the right cow in the right place at the right time, every time. 01:24 Meet Jered and the Dairy 02:06 Five Generation Roots 02:42 How Clovis Happened 05:29 Living 100 Miles Away 08:03 Tech That Makes It Work 08:40 Smart Tags and Bird Flu 12:32 New Workflow and Sort Gates 15:27 Health Score and Cow Insights 16:54 Next Gen and AI Future 18:25 Redefining the Modern Dairyman 20:24 Why It's Called Legacy 21:20 Milkman Love Note 22:35 Michigan Dairy Traditions 23:19 Depression Era Detour 23:59 One Cow to 2000 24:30 Family Farms and Pride 26:20 Next Gen Takes Over 30:42 Raising Kids on Dairy 32:19 Writing the Dairy Book 39:43 Legacy and Advice

336 | April Proofs, Real Cows: Why ‘Milk What You Make’ Is Redefining Genetic Progress

Jeff King & Tom Mercuro on genetics, longevity, and why ‘milk what you make’ is the future On this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we are joined by Jeff King of Kings Ransom Farm in New York and Tom Mercuro from Mercuro Farms in Maryland—two dairymen who are redefining what real genetic progress looks like. We find out what they are doing to create the kind of cows they want in their barns and why they believe other dairy producers want them too. This isn’t about chasing the top of a list… it’s about milking what they make - breeding cows that last, perform, and put milk in the tank. Plus, Jeff and Tom provide their hot takes on the April Holstein Sire Summary and recent changes to the TPI formula. United Sires is a partnership of well-known Holstein breeders from the United States bringing genetic solutions to dairy producers worldwide. Our mission, “Breed the Best, Better,” reflects the work we have been doing on our farms for generations. As multi-generational dairy farmers, we adhere to a simple yet powerful principle: We Milk What We Make. We understand the importance of breeding cattle that are profitable throughout their lifetimes, functional across all dairy enterprises, and aesthetically pleasing. Learn more at Unitedsires.com and follow on Facebook at United Sires and Instagram @unitedsiresofficial. 06:12 What Is United Sires 08:21 Early Bulls and Origins 12:30 April Proof Highlights 14:10 Milk What You Make 16:57 TPI Formula Changes 20:12 Processor Perspective 23:57 Index Priorities and Selection 28:01 Breeding The Total Package 28:49 Longevity Versus Genomics 32:10 April Proof Headlines 36:27 Balance And Practical Cows 37:31 Bulls To Watch Now 38:12 Genetic Diversity Long Game 40:09 Spotlight On Whoops Sons 43:12 United Cires Future Impact

335 | What It Really Takes to Transition a Family Farm | Full Expert Panel

This Uplevel Dairy Podcast episode shares the full Farm Forward Conference panel with attorney Will McKinley, dairyman Tommy Oesch, consultant Kristy Pagel, advisor Steve Bodart, and family farm coach Elaine Froese on building multi-generational farm transitions as an ongoing legal, financial, and relational process. They discuss testing next-generation commitment through projects, off-farm work, mentors, peer networks, and family bylaws; clarifying roles for siblings/cousins using tools like StrengthsFinder and DISC; and keeping farms aligned through regular meetings, celebrations, and quarterly financial check-ins. The panel contrasts successful transitions (everything on the table, commitment, compromise) with failures (stubbornness, toxicity, staying stuck), addresses estate tools like TOD deeds, revocable and irrevocable trusts, LLCs/corporations, and managing conflicts, cash flow targets, and the option to exit via sale. Final action steps emphasize alignment between spouses, writing letters, gratitude, grace, listening, and accepting continuous change. 02:35 Testing Next Gen Commitment 07:13 Best vs Worst Transitions 10:21 Preventing Estate Disputes 14:06 Future of Midwest Farms 17:22 Siblings and Cousins Leadership 22:25 Making Transition Ongoing 26:23 Meeting Rhythms That Work 28:29 The $2.50 Cash Flow Rule 29:39 Cash Flow Under Pressure 31:27 Trusts Explained Simply 33:08 Irrevocable Trust Tradeoffs 34:58 Estate Planning Resources 36:13 Getting Honest Family Input 40:25 Helping Seniors Let Go 44:45 When No Successor Exists 46:59 Why Ag Transitions Differ 52:00 Family Stories About Land