Uplevel Dairy Podcast

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
[email protected]⁠
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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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