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
