Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy is joined by Alltech’s Jorge Delgado and Compeer’s Brad Herkenhoff to chat about the challenges and strategies related to improving dairy farm culture. 

The discussion dives into the importance of identifying and fostering a strong culture on dairy farms, emphasizing the significance of communication and understanding employee motivations. Jorge Delgado shares actionable steps and success stories, highlighting the need for mission statements and continuous engagement to create a cohesive and dedicated workforce. This episode is packed with practical insights tailored for dairy farm owners and managers aiming to enhance their team's performance and engagement.

About 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

• 00:00 Introduction: Overcoming Stalled Progress in Dairy Farms
• 00:23 Meet the our sponsor: Brad Herkenhoff, Compeer Financial 
• 02:13 The Importance of Culture in Dairy Farms
• 03:26 Insights from Jorge Delgado: Building a Strong Dairy Culture
• 05:17 Defining and Identifying Culture
• 08:25 Creating a Mission Statement: A Case Study
• 17:39 Effective Communication: The Key to Culture
• 18:55 Challenges and Solutions in Dairy Farm Management
• 26:24 Final Thoughts: Leadership and Adaptability
• 27:39 Conclusion: Keep Growing and Upleveling Your Dairy

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen sits down with Tommy Oesch from Swiss Lane Farms at the Central Plains Dairy Expo in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. 

Tommy discusses his transition into the role of visionary at Swiss Lane Farms, key wins and challenges in the first quarter of 2025, and the importance of labor solutions and team culture. They also cover the personal aspects of balancing family life, including the recent wrestling season and the impact of losing a valued team member. 

Tommy shares insights into the evolving vision statement of Swiss Lane Farms and the importance of team alignment and leadership development. The episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast's founding partner, Adisseo.

00:00 Welcome to the Uplevel Dairy Podcast

00:52 Catching Up with Tommy Oesch

01:26 Q1 Recap and Labor Challenges

06:20 Vision and Leadership at Swiss Lane Farms

15:47 Family and Personal Insights

18:33 Wrestling and Team Dynamics

22:38 Leadership and Employee Development

24:57 Concluding Thoughts and Future Questions

26:48 Sponsor Message

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen sits down with Doug Hubby, general manager of Shamrock Farms. Doug manages 12,000 cows and over a hundred employees, emphasizing his role as a professional problem solver.

The conversation with Doug highlights three key technological advancements implemented to save water, time, and money while improving cow health and performance: a micro machine for precise nutrient delivery, a custom teat dip mixing system, and advanced cooling techniques.

Doug also shares his management philosophy, which is focused on valuing team members and fostering a culture of respect and family. The episode delves into Doug's background, the challenges faced in dairy farming, and his vision for future innovations in the industry.

This episode is sponsored by Micro Technologies

Micro Technologies innovates advanced, comprehensive & integrated technologies to help dairies produce a safe, wholesome product more efficiently and profitably.

For more information, visit: Microtechnologies.com

This episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, hosted by Peggy Coffeen, delves into the story of the McCarty family and the establishment of the Judy McCarty Learning Center.

The episode features insights from Ken, Clay, Mike, and Tom McCarty as they honor Judy McCarty’s impact on their family and the dairy industry. It includes a special recording of Judy McCarty from 2020 and highlights the family’s commitment to sustainable dairy farming, education, and community engagement.

The episode also discusses the McCarty family’s move from Pennsylvania to Kansas and their focus on transparency and innovation in dairy farming, underscored by world-leading milking technology provided by sponsor De LaVal.

• 00:00 Introduction to the Uplevel Dairy Podcast
• 00:19 The McCarty Family Legacy
• 00:30 Judy McCarty Learning Center: A Tribute
• 00:39 Voices from the McCarty Family
• 02:03 The Move to Kansas
• 03:06 Sustainability and Innovation
• 03:49 Roles within the McCarty Family
• 04:57 Judy McCarty's Influence on Education
• 06:22 The Purpose of the Learning Center
• 07:31 Emotional Reflections
• 08:58 Community Impact and Future Vision
• 15:55 Modern Dairy Farming Practices
• 19:20 The Mural: A Family Story
• 20:58 Conclusion and Farewell

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, host Peggy Coffeen wraps up Women's History Month by engaging in a heartfelt conversation with Lindsey Worden, the newly appointed CEO of Holstein Association USA. Lindsey, the 10th CEO in the association's 140-year history, shares her inspirational journey from her beginnings in New York and New Mexico to becoming a key leader in the dairy industry. She discusses her vision for the future of the Holstein Association, focusing on partnerships, individual animal identification, and innovation in programs and services. Lindsey also reflects on her personal experiences, including fond memories of dairy camp, her professional development, and her active role in breeding genetics on her family's farm. The discussion highlights the importance of youth and leadership programs offered by the Holstein Foundation, emphasizing the value of inspiring and educating the next generation of dairy industry advocates. Lindsey concludes by sharing her commitment to lead with intention, authenticity, and gratitude, aiming to maintain the association's rich legacy while steering it towards a promising future.

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.⁠

International Women in Dairy Series: Ysabel Jacobs, Ferme Jacobs, Quebec, Canada

We’ve been celebrating women around the world this month with the International Women in Dairy Series here on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, and today I’m joined by a Canadian dairy woman who knows a thing or two about what it takes to win. 

Ysabel Jacobs has stood center of the ring at the world’s most competitive cows shows and with her family at Ferme Jacobs in Quebec, developed iconic cows with household names like Shakira. But when I sat down with this mother of 3, what I discovered was that while raising the next World Dairy Expo champions in the barn certainly excites her, what drives her passion more than anything these days is raising the next generation of her family with the mindset it takes to be champions far beyond the show ring.

Join us at Central Plains Dairy Expo for Happy Hour!

If you are heading to Sioux Falls, stop by the Sheraton Hotel Atrium (party deck) on Wednesday, March 26 from 4-7 p.m.  Enjoy a complimentary cocktail with some of the familiar faces and voices from Uplevel Dairy Podcast and chat with the sponsors that make this podcast possible including:

• Adisseo
• Compeer
• Complete Management Consulting
• HighGround Dairy
• Milc Group
• Nedap

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy is joined for the Monthly Market Update by Curtis Bosma from High Ground Dairy to chat about current trends and forecasts in the global dairy market for March.

They discuss the decline in dairy farm profitability and the impact of varying regional conditions on milk production. The episode also covers key products affecting milk pricing such as cheese, butter, and milk powders, highlighting concerns over domestic and export demand, especially with potential tariffs. The conversation is rounded off with winter crop forecasts affecting the market outlook for 2025 and risk management strategies for producers.

Catch the March Market Update Here: https://marketing.highgrounddairy.com/producer-market-update-march-2025

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.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 17 at 3 p.m. CST and only represent the views of the speaker and not those of HighGround Trading, unless otherwise expressly noted.

International Women in Dairy Series: Jan Winke

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, host Peggy Coffeen sits down with Jan Winke, a dairy farmer and professional with Nedap, who moved from Iowa to New Zealand 17 years ago. She discusses her family’s transition from struggling on a small farm in Iowa to today being proud owners of their own dairy farm in New Zealand. 

Jan shares her compelling journey of relocating with her husband Chad and young family halfway around the world to take advantage of better opportunities in the dairy industry. 

Jan also touches upon the challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated industry, the differences in dairy farming practices between the US and New Zealand, and the importance of establishing work-life boundaries. 

Tune in to this inspiring conversation about resilience, adaptation, and the pursuit of dreams in unfamiliar territory.

Episode Sponsor: Quali-T | Branding Solutions

Learn more about how Quali-T | Branding Solutions provides branding solutions, work wear, reflective gear and other customized merchandise for farms and agribusinesses: https://qualitinc.espwebsite.com/

• 00:00 Introduction to the International Women in Dairy Series
• 01:07 Meet Jan Winke: From Iowa to New Zealand
• 02:23 The Big Move: Challenges and Opportunities
• 06:28 Navigating the New Zealand Dairy Industry
• 12:26 Differences Between US and New Zealand Dairy Farming
• 20:46 Overcoming Gender Barriers in the Dairy Industry
• 28:06 Presenting Our Business: A Team Effort
• 29:03 Milestones in Our Farming Journey
• 30:19 Learning to Code for Work
• 31:29 Reflecting on Our Progress
• 32:44 Implementing Effective Farming Processes
• 35:05 Balancing Work, Family, and Personal Growth
• 49:31 Encouraging Youth in Dairy Farming
• 53:23 Final Thoughts and Reflections

International Women in Dairy: Erica Rijneveld, Livestock Show Equipment, Netherlands

We are celebrating International Women's Day and Women's History Month by sharing stories from women around the world who are making a difference in the dairy business, and today’s guest is a one-woman powerhouse who has paved her own path with hard work, perseverance and a commitment to excellence as a European-based livestock show supplies business, not to mention clipping and fitting with some of the best show strings in the world.

Erica Rijenveld reflects on ordering her first case of Orvus in her 20s and growing Livestock Show Equipment over the past two decades to what is now a successful online store with more than 450 different products for both farmers and fitters.

And she’s also made it her mission to teach and encourage the next generation of dairy enthusiasts through the acclaimed Young Breeders School - a Belgium-based experience for young people from around the world who want to learn and grow their network, their skills and their love for competition through dairy cattle fitting and showing.

• 00:00 Introduction and Background
• 00:28 Starting the Business
• 02:30 Current Business Operations
• 03:50 Team and Business Scale
• 06:34 Youth Involvement and Mentorship
• 18:39 Challenges and Adaptations
• 24:19 Reflections and Future Goals
• 37:58 Advice for Young Women in Dairy
• 44:26 Closing Thoughts and Final Question

Livestock Show Equipment:

https://www.showequip.com/

Follow the Young Breeders School here:

https://www.facebook.com/YoungBreedersSchool

International Women in Dairy: Fernanda Lopes, Global Ruminant Strategy Manager, Adisseo

We are celebrating International Women's Day and Women's History Month by bringing on global dairy industry leader Fernanda Lopes. Originally from Brazil, she first found her passion for dairy at 12 years old, spending Saturday mornings with a local embryo transfer veterinarian..

Her pursuit of personal challenge brought her to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she earned her master's and doctorate and also met one of her greatest mentors, Dr. David Combs. 

Today, as Global Ruminant Strategy Manager with Adisseo, Fernanda discusses her professional challenges and achievements, and the cultural adaptability required in her global role. She emphasizes the importance of believing in oneself, continuous learning, and advice for younger women in their dairy careers.

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/