Shows
Uplevel Dairy Podcast225 Part 2 | Dairy Moms Making a Difference with Nicole Barlass, Katie Grinstead, and Katy KatzmanIn this heartfelt second part of the Special Mother's Day edition of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, host Peggy sits down with three inspiring dairy farm moms—Nicole Barlass, Katie Grinstead, and Katy Katzman. They dive deep into the health impacts of their dual roles in managing family and farm, addressing topics such as farm mom guilt, emotional boundaries, and the importance of self-care. These women share personal anecdotes highlighting their struggles and triumphs, emphasizing the necessity of support and balance. This episode also celebrates the mental and physical resilience required in their profession, underlining the significant roles they play in...2025-05-0931 minUplevel Dairy Podcast225 Part 1 | Dairy Moms Making a Difference with Nicole Barlass, Katie Grinstead, and Katy KatzmanIn this special Mother's Day edition of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, hosted in partnership with Animal Health Visions (AHV), we honor the influential women who balance motherhood, farming, and agricultural advocacy. Peggy interviews three inspiring dairy farm moms—Nicole Barlas, Katie Grinstead, and Katy Katzman—who share their journeys, challenges, and the passion that drives them. Each mom reflects on their path back to the family farm, their involvement in volunteering and community projects, and the balancing act of managing both family and farm responsibilities. They discuss the importance of support systems, communication, and the powerful lessons they impart to t...2025-05-0839 minUplevel Dairy Podcast224 | Dairy Moms Making a Difference with Danielle VollesIn this special Mother’s Day episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy sits down with Danielle Volles, a dairy farm mom who transitioned from a banking career to running a dairy farm in Marietta, NY. Danielle discusses her journey of trading high heels for work boots, managing 4,000 livestock, and raising five children, including two adopted nieces. She shares insightful perspectives on parenting, balancing family life with farm responsibilities, and recognizing the invaluable contributions of farm moms. Danielle also highlights the importance of holistic health for cows and how AHV's natural treatments have transformed their animal health management. This ep...2025-05-0654 minUplevel Dairy PodcastEmpowering Growth: Transformational Leadership in Dairy Management with Steven LandwehrIn this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy sits down with Steven Landwehr, CEO of United Dairies in Minnesota, part of the PACE Group. Steven shares his journey from growing up on a dairy farm to leading a multi-partner, multi-site enterprise. He discusses the key role of transformational leadership, accountability, and decision-making in the success of their operations. Steven talks about the importance of growing and empowering his team members, instilling confidence, and professionalizing processes. The episode also highlights the technological advancements brought by Milc Group’s software, which has streamlined feed...2025-04-2431 minUplevel Dairy Podcast220 | Young Leaders: Kiley Pagel and Megan AbeytaIn this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast's Young Leaders series, Peggy and Kiley Pagel from Pagel’s Family Businesses welcome Dr. Megan Abeyta, an independent dairy nutritionist with GPS Dairy Consulting. Dr. Abeyta shares her unique journey from growing up in a non-agricultural background in Fort Collins, Colorado, her unforgettable experiences with sheep during lambing season, and landing in her role today, helping dairy cows and farmers be their best. Listeners will hear about her work at Pagel Family Businesses and her role as a nutritionist servicing farms across Wisconsin. Megan offers insights into the challenges and rewards of...2025-04-2219 minUplevel Dairy Podcast219 | Tariffs, Trade Tensions, and Dairy Futures: April Monthly Market UpdateIn this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen and Curtis Bosma from HighGround Dairy are catching up on the monthly market updates for April. In this conversation, you can hear about the impact of tariffs on dairy exports such as whey protein and non-fat dry milk, and how planting projections for corn and soybeans in 2025 might affect the dairy industry. The episode also delves into the volatility of the markets influenced by recent announcements from the Trump administration. Curtis shares insights into the broader implications for the dairy market, focusing on export reliance and the po...2025-04-1720 minUplevel Dairy Podcast218 | Farming with Family: How to Handle “Cousin Eddie”In the latest episode, hosted at the 2025 Professional Dairy Producers (PDP) Annual Conference in Madison, Wisconsin, Peggy converses with Will McKinley from Menn Law, a legal advisor and General Counsel for the PDP, about the intricate challenges of managing family-run multimillion-dollar dairy farms. The discussion focuses on common issues such as the 'Cousin Eddie' scenario, where less competent family members may pose risks to farm management and decision-making. Will emphasizes the importance of strategic planning and legal tools, like setting up trusts and involving non-family management to address these complexities while ensuring the farm's longevity and the f...2025-04-1527 minUplevel Dairy Podcast217 | How to Maximize Dairy Farm Profitability and Efficiency in 2025 with Curtis Bosma and Pauly PaulIn this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen sits down with Curtis Bosma from HighGround Dairy and Pauly Paul from Complete Management Consulting at the Central Plains Dairy Expo. They discuss strategies to enhance profitability and efficiency on dairy farms as we progress through 2025. Curtis shares insights on the importance of financial planning and risk management in the dairy markets, while Pauly emphasizes the value of operational efficiency audits. Both experts underscore the significance of proactive business practices and accurate financial assessments to navigate market volatility and achieve sustained success in the dairy in...2025-04-1025 minUplevel Dairy Podcast216 | From the Ground Up: Elevating Dairy Farm CultureToday 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 enhan...2025-04-0828 minUplevel Dairy Podcast215 | Navigating Growth and Challenges on the Farm with Tommy Oesch, Swiss Lane FarmsIn 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 La...2025-04-0327 minUplevel Dairy Podcast214 | Technology & Team Building: Doug Hubby, Shamrock FarmsIn 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...2025-04-0137 minUplevel Dairy Podcast213 | Honoring Legacy: The Judy McCarty Learning CenterThis 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 innova...2025-03-2722 minUplevel Dairy Podcast212 | Meet Holstein USA’s CEO - Lindsey WordenIn 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...2025-03-2552 minUplevel Dairy Podcast210 | Navigating March Dairy Market DynamicsJoin 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:AdisseoCompeerComplete Management ConsultingHighGround DairyMilc GroupNedapIn 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 t...2025-03-1830 minUplevel Dairy Podcast209 | Dairy Farming from Iowa to New Zealand with Jan WinkeInternational Women in Dairy Series: Jan WinkeIn 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. Ja...2025-03-1355 minUplevel Dairy Podcast204 | The “T” Words: Trump, Tariffs and Trade Agreements: February Monthly Market UpdateIn this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, hosted by Peggy Coffeen, Curtis Bosma from High Ground Dairy provides a comprehensive February monthly market update. Key topics include: The current state of tariffs and their potential impact on the dairy industry Insights from the World Ag Expo Trends in milk production across various U.S. states And the global dairy supplyCatch your own February Market Report here: https://marketing.highgrounddairy.com/producer-market-update-february-2025 00:00 Introduction to Tariffs and Market Update 00:38 Insights from the World Ag Expo 01:30 The Impact of Tariffs on Dairy Markets 05:58 US Milk Production Trends 08:09 G...2025-02-2525 minUplevel Dairy Podcast196 | Diary of a Dairy CEO: Greg BethardIn this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, host Peggy Coffeen interviews Greg Bethard, CEO of High Plains Ponderosa Dairy, who shares his unconventional journey into the dairy industry.
Greg discusses the challenges he faced transitioning from a consultant and CFO to managing and owning a dairy farm in Kansas.
Despite initial hardships and the unexpected loss of a key partner and friend, John Pagel, he pushed through to establish a successful business and master the role of CEO.
This conversation also delves into Greg's upbringing, career choices, and the importance of hard wo...2025-01-2843 minUplevel Dairy Podcast193 | Using Trusts in Farm Transition PlanningIn this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy is sitting down with Will McKinley, President of Menn Law Firm, to discuss the importance of trust and estate planning for farm families.
Will explains three different types of trusts, including Medicaid, revocable, and irrevocable trusts, and their relevance in asset protection, probate avoidance, and tax planning for farms.
He shares insights into the legal and practical aspects of transition planning and succession for agribusiness, emphasizing the importance of updating and funding the trust. Real-life stories illustrate successful trust implementations and the challenges of equitable asset d...2025-01-1636 minUplevel Dairy Podcast192 | Lessons from a Lifelong Dairyman with Tom McCarty, McCarty Family FarmsIn this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy is sitting down with Tom McCarty to hear about his journey as the patriarch of McCarty Family Farms. Moving his family from Pennsylvania to Northwest Kansas nearly 25 years ago, Tom discusses the strategic steps they took to grow their dairy business.
He emphasizes the values of hard work, forward-thinking, and resilience that have guided his family's success. Tom also reflects on the future growth opportunities for the farm and offers advice to younger generations entering the dairy industry.
Make sure to tune in to catch this c...2025-01-1425 minUplevel Dairy Podcast190 | Make 2025 Your Best Year Yet: 3 Simple StepsWant to end 2025 better than you started it? Ever struggle with New Year’s resolutions that stick?
Today I’m walking you through three steps that I do at the beginning of each year to gain the clarity and momentum to make each year better than the last, while creating more margin in your day to make room for habits that will get you where you want to be.
00:00 Welcome and Recap of 2024
00:35 Struggles with New Year's Resolutions
01:53 Step 1: Creating a Vision
06:39 Step 2: Subtracting to Add Value
10:11 Step 3: Adding Positive Habits
11:12 Recommended Reading for 2025
13:31 Final Thoughts and...2025-01-0716 minUplevel Dairy Podcast189 | The ‘One Words’ that Transformed Our Lives in 2024Impact Farming Podcast host Tracy Burnet jumps on from Manitoba to join Uplevel Dairy Podcast host Peggy Coffeen as they reflect on the one word they each chose to live by in 2024, and how they are preparing to uplevel and creating an impact in 2025!
Check out the Impact Farming Podcast:
https://www.farmmarketer.com/impact_farming_show/season-one-episodes
Impact Farming Podcast on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@farmmarketer3270
Subscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJA
Want to get n...2025-01-0233 minUplevel Dairy Podcast183 | Markets, Margins & Macro Economics: December Monthly Market UpdateIn this episode of the Uplevel Dairy podcast, Peggy Coffeen is back for a monthly market update with Curtis Bosma from HighGround Dairy.
This month they discuss the current state of dairy markets, including price volatility and the impacts of political headlines such as the bird flu on milk production in states like California versus expansion in others.
Curtis highlights butter and cheese markets' dynamics, touching on trends in butterfat production and export opportunities for cheese due to price adjustments. The conversation also covers economic challenges like consumer credit card debt impacting consumer spending and fo...2024-12-1926 minUplevel Dairy Podcast179 | Navigating Family Farm Transition Planning with Will McKinley, Menn LawWhy do family farm transition plans stall before they are completed?
Today, we uncover two root reasons that hold families back from taking the next step with attorney Will McKinley, president of Menn Law in Appleton, Wisconsin.
Will, who grew up on the farm fields of Illinois, has been spending his time in the field with well-known agriculture attorney George Twohig since the principal office of Twohig Rietbrock Schneider Halbach S.C. affiliated with Menn Law last year.
Today, Will shares stories and expertise on navigating the early stages of transition planning and h...2024-12-0540 minUplevel Dairy Podcast170 | 5 Steps to Turn Your Dairy Farm into a Professional Brand with Susan HeimIn this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen and guest Susan Heim discuss pivotal steps to elevate your dairy farm into a professional business through strategic branding.
Peggy and Susan outline five key steps to create and sustain a brand that resonates with your employees, community, and consumers.
With real-life examples from local farms like the Eberts and Pagel's Ponderosa, they illustrate how effective branding fosters community engagement, employee loyalty, and an impactful market presence. Whether you're a dairy farmer looking to transform your business or maintain employee retention, this episode provides actionable in...2024-11-0731 minUplevel Dairy Podcast165 | Showbox Stories with Tim Abbott, featuring Jim Ostrom, John Vosters and Steve BriggsWe gathered around the Showbox Sires showbox at World Dairy Expo to share with you stories from some of the most notable and influential people in the dairy cattle show business.
In this episode, Peggy Coffeen and Tim Abbott sit down with Jim Ostrom and John Vosters from Milk Source to hear about their show ring memories, as well as their story of building a multi-site dairy, dairy goat and cheese business.
Then, Steve Briggs from Brigeen Farms talks about the best mentors he has had in his lifetime - the next generation of dairy...2024-10-1739 minUplevel Dairy Podcast164 | Showbox Stories with Tim Abbott, featuring Tom Morris and Ernie KueffnerWe gathered around the Showbox Sires showbox at World Dairy Expo to share with you stories from some of the most notable and influential people in the dairy cattle show business.
In this episode, Peggy Coffeen and Tim Abbott sit down with Tom Morris and Ernie Kueffner, as they recount the early days of World Dairy Expo, the cows they will never forget and the stories that have stayed locked away inside their showboxes for years.
And this is only Part 1! Join us on the next episode to hear from three more industry greats!
2024-10-1531 minUplevel Dairy Podcast160 | Multi-Site Dairy Data Management Made Simple with Chris SzydelIn this episode of the Uplevel Dairy podcast, host Peggy Coffeen sits down with Chris Szydel, the Herd Manager at Pagel's Ponderosa Dairy. Chris shares his journey and insights into how advanced technologies are revolutionizing dairy farming. From automated systems to track cow health and performance to integration tools that streamline operations, the episode delves into how these technologies are not only improving cow care but also enhancing efficiency and profitability.
The conversation covers a range of dairy technologies, including DairyComp, Nedap cow collars, and Valley Ag Software, emphasizing how these tools collectively contribute to a more...2024-10-0127 minUplevel Dairy Podcast159 | Going from Good to Great at Woldt Farms LLCWelcome to the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, hosted by Peggy Coffeen. In this insightful episode, Peggy visits Woldt Family Farms in Brillion, Wisconsin, as they prepare for their virtual farm tour at the World Dairy Expo. Joining her is Pauly Paul from Complete Management Consulting, who shares his expertise on how he helped take Woldt Family Farms from good to great.
In this episode, you will hear about the transformative changes implemented at Woldt Family Farms. Pauly discusses how his team managed to run 200 more cows through the milking parlor daily without adding extra labor. Discover the significant...2024-09-2621 minUplevel Dairy Podcast157 | Record dairy markets + how to value corn silage: HighGround Dairy September Monthly Market UpdateIn this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, host Peggy Coffeen dives into the current landscape of dairy markets with Curtis Bosma from HighGround Dairy. The episode starts by giving listeners an overview of recent trends in dairy futures, including notable gains in Class III and Class IV prices and the implications for dairy producers. Curtis shares insights on the influence of managed money in the commodity markets and what this indicates about future market movements.Throughout the episode, Curtis discusses the critical impact of diseases such as the Blue Tongue virus in Europe and the H5N1 avian...2024-09-1914 minUplevel Dairy Podcast156 | Family Farm Transition: Strategies and Stories from the FieldWorld Dairy Expo Sneak Peak! This episode is a preview of the Tanbark Talk, “Securing the Future: A candid conversation about dairy farm transition planning”, coming up Oct. 1, 9-11 a.m.
Sponsored by Compeer Financial, you can join us live in the Tanbark, or join us through the virtual live stream, to hear from the Oeschner family, as well as Steve Schweoer from Compeer and Jared Holt from Ascent Financial.
Business consultant Jared Holt joins us today to share stories and strategies from the field, from working with the Oeschners and other farm families to succes...2024-09-1727 minUplevel Dairy Podcast155 | FMMO Reform: What Could It Mean for Your Future Milk Check?If you are wondering how proposed changes to the Federal Milk Marketing Order could impact your milk check, or perhaps you have asked yourself, would we be better off without a federal order system altogether?
Well, today we are taking an in-depth look at making allowances, component changes, and the logistical and financial implications of these recommendations.
Our guest today is Sara Dorland. As managing partner with Ceres Risk Management, she joins us to share her insights on the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) hearings, emphasizing five priority items impacting milk markets and your future mi...2024-09-1228 minUplevel Dairy Podcast154 | Young Leader: Lexie NunesIn this episode of the Uplevel Dairy podcast, host Peggy Coffeen sits down with Lexie Nunes, a dynamic young professional in the dairy industry, for the Young Leaders series. Lexie shares her journey from her beginnings on a family dairy farm in Central California to her role as a Customer Support Specialist at Milc Group. Lexie’s story began as a reluctant participant in dairy judging, pushed by her mother, which eventually led to her becoming an All-American dairy judge at World Dairy Expo. Throughout her career, Lexie has gathered extensive experience from working in hands-on roles at ST Ge...2024-09-1021 min
Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast012 | Younger Leader: Lexie NunesIn this episode of the Uplevel Dairy podcast, host Peggy Coffeen sits down with Lexie Nunes, a dynamic young professional in the dairy industry, for the Young Leaders series. Lexie shares her journey from her beginnings on a family dairy farm in Central California to her role as a Customer Support Specialist at Milc Group. Lexie’s story began as a reluctant participant in dairy judging, pushed by her mother, which eventually led to her becoming an All-American dairy judge at World Dairy Expo. Throughout her career, Lexie has gathered extensive experience from working in hands-on roles at ST Ge...2024-09-1021 minUplevel Dairy Podcast147 | From Grain Forecasts to Dairy Profits: HighGround Dairy August Monthly Market Update
Record-high yields in the fields for grain corn & beans
Soybean meal is soft
And could the best year yet be ahead for dairy farmers?
Let’s find out on the UPlevel Dairy Podcast, with our guest Curtis Bosma from HighGround Dairy.
Get your August Market Report Here: https://www.highgrounddairy.com/august-2024-dairy-producer-market-update/
Grab your copy of the FMMO Whitepaper here: https://marketing.highgrounddairy.com/fmmo-recommended-decision-analysis-white-paper
Curtis from High Ground Dairy joins Peggy for the August market update, focusing on the latest trends and shifts in grain and dairy markets. Key updates include the WASDE re...2024-08-2223 minUplevel Dairy Podcast144 | Trillium Hill Dairy: Reclaiming Sand & Capturing BiogasIn this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, host Peggy Coffeen visits Trillium Hill Dairy, where she sits down with owners Mike and Ben Jones. They delve into their journey of incorporating a manure digester and innovative sand separation system while maintaining their preferred sand bedding.
The Jones brothers explain the problems they encountered, the solutions they developed, and how these advancements have revolutionized their dairy operations.
Mike and Ben recount their expansion from a 400-cow dairy to a 1,900-cow operation, highlighting key projects such as the development of a feed center and feed pad...2024-08-1341 minUplevel Dairy Podcast121 | STtalks & Uplevel Dairy Introduce a Six Part Series to Celebrate June Dairy MonthWe’re celebrating June Dairy Month in a big way as STtalks and the Uplevel Dairy Podcast collaborate to bring you a 6-part series that shines a bright light on a collection of great dairy stories. Hosts Laura Demmer of STtalks and Peggy Coffeen of Uplevel Dairy give you the sneak peek on this collection of conversations with dairy farmers doing great things and others who are championing dairy products in the marketplace.
Connect with STtalks to follow along in this six part series below!
Listen to STtalks here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sttalks/
Le...2024-06-0718 minUplevel Dairy Podcast112 | Celebrating Dairy Farm Moms: Strength, Sacrifice, and Sweetness with Karen BohnertKaren Bohnert, editor of Dairy Herd Management and Milk Business, joins host Peggy Coffeen to celebrate dairy farm moms in this bonus Mother’s Day episode.
Hear the incredible stories of the dairy farm moms who raised them, and the adversities they overcame to be examples of strength, sacrifice and resilience.
And hear about some of the dairy farm moms who have set the bar for Peggy and Karen today.
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/upleveldairy/episodes/111--Intentional-Motherhood--Management-and-What-Matters-Most-with-Sarah-Daugherty-e2je88q2024-05-1030 minUplevel Dairy Podcast94 | 3 Things the Top 10% of Dairy Producers DoIn this episode of the UpLevel Dairy Podcast, host Peggy Coffeen welcomes back guest Leland Kootstra, an accountant well-versed in the dairy farming business sector and founding partner of Frazer, LLP. The dialogue offers a trove of wisdom for generational dairy farmers, focusing on the skills needed to take over the helm and steer their family businesses to new horizons.
Leland emphasizes the importance of meticulousness in business operations, where an in-depth understanding of costs, schedules, and right-sizing is crucial for superior management. He also brings to light the significance of integrating robust risk management strategies to...2024-03-1408 minUplevel Dairy Podcast93 | How to Pass On a Multi-million Dollar Dairy Farming Business: 3 Critical Questions for Succession Success with Leland KootstraIn this episode of the UpLevel Dairy podcast, host Peggy Coffeen interviews Leland Kootstra, an accountant with Frazer, LLP, about the importance of succession planning in multi-generational dairy businesses. Kootstra shares three critical questions he asks both the senior and incoming generations to help them define their goals, timelines, and long-term outlook. He emphasizes the need for open and ongoing communication to ensure a smooth transition and alignment of expectations. This episode provides valuable insights for dairy farm owners and managers looking to pass on their businesses successfully.
Hear more in this episode about:
The...2024-03-1238 minUplevel Dairy Podcast91 | WonderCow: A California Dairy Family’s Faith-filled Journey to Create a Superfood SupplementIn this episode, Peggy sits down with a seventh-generation dairy family, Rob and Erica Diepersloot, from Madera, California, as they share their story of co-founding bovine colostrum company, WonderCow, including:
The heartbreak they experienced as parents of a daughter with chronic ear infections, and how that led them to look in their own backyard to create a dairy-derived solution.
How inconsistency and mislabeling in the market place led Rob and Erica to create their own trusted and transparent brand, from their own cows and other dairies that share their values
Navigating the c...2024-02-2939 minUplevel Dairy Podcast88 | 3 Steps to Set Up Middle Managers for Success + the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association Annual Meeting with Clint Al-AgOn this episode, Peggy sits down with Clint Al-Ag, president of the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association (DCHA) Board of Directors, and manager with Blue Sky Farms.
Clint gives a sneak-peak of what to expect at the upcoming DCHA Conference, as well as how the organization has helped him develop leadership skills as he has transitioned from heifer yard manager to now overseeing 150 employees across three sites in the Texas panhandle.
Clint covers three key steps he has taken to set up middle managers for success, including:
How he assesses not just core...2024-02-2037 minUplevel Dairy Podcast84 | Precision Nutrition and Sustainable Dairy Production: A Conversation with Dr. Mike Van AmburghPeggy Coffeen sits down to chat with Dr. Mike Van Amburgh, Cornell University, at the Adisseo VIP Dairy Seminar about the benefits of precision dairy cattle nutrition going beyond methionine and lysine.
He introduces the latest version of the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS), their nutrition model that offers the potential to formulate for all 10 essential amino acids.
Find out:
How the model, made user-friendly for dairy nutritionists, aims to increase productivity without as much protein or nitrogen intake
Cost-effectiveness and environmental advantages
The bigger picture of su...2024-02-0806 minUplevel Dairy Podcast82 | The Revolution of Dairy Cattle Nutrition: Amino Acids with Dr. Chuck SchwabPeggy sits down with Dr. Chuck Schwab, a distinguished Professor Emeritus from New Hampshire University, at the Adisseo VIP Dairy Seminar, where he recapped highlights of his career and research on the important role of amino acids in dairy cattle nutrition.
Find out:
Why Schwab so fervently pursued amino acid research
The impacts on the way dairy cattle rations are formulated today
And why he believes his work is not yet done.
This episode is sponsored by Adisseo, global leader in animal nutrition and premium provider of rumen protected...2024-02-0637 minUplevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast02 | Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders featuring Taylor Zeltwanger, NutraDripOur featured Uplevel Dairy Young Leader is Taylor Zeltwanger. He joins us from Morris, Minnesota, where he resides with his wife. This 2020 South Dakota State University graduate started working for his uncle’s company, NutraDrip, while in college, and 5 years later, has channeled his massive energy and passion into a career helping farmers capture the value of precision ag and sustainable farming practices. You will hear how Taylor is:
Finding big opportunities by working for a young company,
Learning how to work with different personality types
And living on purpose every day to bring sustainability, service and stew...2024-01-1539 minUplevel Dairy Podcast74 | 5 Principles of Leadership with Juan Quezada, Director of Training and Development, Milk Source LLCWe have some exciting things coming your way on the next episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast … an episode in Spanish is coming soon!
But first, on today’s episode, Peggy sits down with Juan Quezada, director of training and development at Milk Source, to uncover his 5 principles of leadership.
Then, on our next episode, you will get to hear the in-depth interview in Spanish, with Juan and Elsie Gonzalez Leach, from Motiva Dairy Consulting.
You will want to hit “subscribe” on Elsie’s new Motiva...2024-01-0934 min
Barnyard LanguageBattling Burnout and Hemp 101 with Peggy CoffeenThis week we are joined by fellow podcast host, dairy industry professional, and hemp farmer, Peggy Coffeen. Peggy joins us today to talk about all things burnout, dairy, and hemp! Make sure to tune in to catch the full episode! Connect with Peggy Coffeen Below! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pri_cbd/ & https://www.instagram.com/upleveldairy/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UplevelDairyWebsites: https://pricbd.com/ & https://www.upleveldairy.com/Thank you for joining us today on Barnyard Language. If you enjoy the show, we encourage you to...2023-12-211h 41Uplevel Dairy Podcast64 | Uplevel Dairy’s Top 5 Business and Leadership ResourcesLooking for a quick list of great business and leadership books, videos and podcasts? Uplevel Dairy Podcast owner and host Peggy Coffeen shares her “Top 5” business and leadership resources that she has been tapping into for the past 12 months.From millionaire entrepreneurs to church pastors, Peggy tells you how these resources apply to your dairy business, why they are worth your time and provides the links for quick access to reaching your own next level in business and leadership.Looking for the resources mentioned in today's show? Head over to the show notes here to get all the de...2023-12-1919 minUplevel Dairy Podcast60 | Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders featuring Taylor Zeltwanger, NutraDripOur featured Uplevel Dairy Young Leader is Taylor Zeltwanger. He joins us from Morris, Minnesota, where he resides with his wife. This 2020 South Dakota State University graduate started working for his uncle’s company, NutraDrip, while in college, and 5 years later, has channeled his massive energy and passion into a career helping farmers capture the value of precision ag and sustainable farming practices.
You will hear how Taylor is:
Finding big opportunities by working for a young company,
Learning how to work with different personality types
And living on purpose every day...2023-12-0539 minUplevel Dairy PodcastGratitude: The Secret Performance HackWhat do gratitude and thanksgiving have to do with you and your drive to reach your next level of performance as a dairy producer or professional?
Perhaps more than you think. Today I’m sharing how gratitude has become not just a habit for me, but a true performance hack.
If you want to be more clear, calm and focused both at work and at home, you are going to learn 3 easy steps to get started.
And Uplevel Dairy leaders - I’m so very grateful for you for coming along with me on t...2023-11-2308 min
Forward FarmingChange Is A Good Thing: ft Peggy CoffeenHost of Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen, joins us to talk about her huge career shift and how she took control over her health mentally and physically. Join us for a deep conversation with Peggy and make sure to check out her family farm hemp-based wellness products at www.pricbd.com and check out her podcast: Uplevel DairyFollow us on social media:forwardfarmingpodcastSend us an email forwardfarmingpod@gmail.comFollow Amber: @cranberrychatsFollow Becca @beccahilby2023-11-2153 minUplevel Dairy Young Leaders PodcastUplevel Dairy Younger Leaders Podcast TrailerWelcome to the Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast!
This Podcast is for producers and professionals in the first 5 years of their dairy careers. Host Peggy Coffeen connects you with others who are like you - driven to make a difference and determined to do it in the dairy industry.
Whether you are on the farm or in the field, this is the place to plug in to hear how your peers are overcoming challenges and stepping up to lead the way as dairy’s future decision makers and innovators.2023-11-2002 min
Impact Farming"Uplevel Your Farm Business" w/Peggy CoffeenIn this week’s episode, Tracy speaks with Peggy Coffeen from The Uplevel Dairy Podcast. Tracy and Peggy chat about: Peggy shares more about her background, the show, and why she decided to venture into the World of podcasting with her own media company. She shares more about the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, a podcast for dairy owners and managers reaching for their next level of success in business, management and leadership. Peggy shares some of the greatest risks to dairy producers right now. They chat about some of the greatest opportunities for dairy producers to position th...2023-11-081h 14Uplevel Dairy Podcast49 | The Eight Questions that Will Move Your Dairy Farm Forward, A Panel Featuring Three NMPF Young Cooperator MembersIf you want to be successful and confident in the decisions you are making in the dairy business, there is one tool I want to share with you today that will help you move forward.
It’s helped me in my business to gain more focus and clarity, it’s helped make decisions easier, it’s saved me time and money, and it can do that for you too.
Join host, Peggy Coffeen, as she leads a panel discussion at the World Dairy Expo with Three NMPF Young Cooperator Member...2023-10-2440 min
Your Bright Personal BrandPermission to build your dream business with Peggy Coffeen, Episode 109I coached Peggy Coffeen as she sat on her office floor where she was surrounded by boxes of her CBD products meant to give her customers well-being and ease, but she was not feeling that way. In fact, she would leave our coaching calls angry because I wouldn’t “tell her what to do.” In today’s episode, Peggy shares how her frustration was a breaking point to move from distraction to action. Since coaching together, her clear vision has come to life. Peggy grew up milking cows on her family farm in Wisconsin...2023-10-1845 minUplevel Dairy PodcastSaving a 1,500-Cow Dairy Farm from Foreclosure with Pauly Paul, Complete Management ConsultingToday, we are talking about a 1,500-cow dairy that was on the verge of selling out - but not on their own terms.
The farm had not made money in 3 years.
Their banker told them their loan was not going to be up for renewal, and suggested the auction block was their action plan.
And a good dairy farmer who was having a hard time hanging onto hope that things would ever get better - for his farm and for his life.
5 years ago, the...2023-10-1016 minUplevel Dairy Podcast#45: Your Milk Check and the Global Markets with Mary Keough LedmanWhat's happening halfway around the world in the global marketplace that can impact your milk check in this final quarter of 2023?
On today's episode, you are going to get the cliff notes on the trends in the export market along with domestic supply and consumption. So you can be informed and empowered to make the best decisions for your dairy. And here to share that with us is Mary Keough Ledman, Global Dairy Strategist with Rabobank, which has recently released its Global Dairy Quarterly Report. Mary has been studying market trends and dairy economics for her entire care...2023-10-0322 min
Off-Farm IncomeOFI 1849: Making The Break And Working For Yourself | Peggy Coffeen | Uplevel Dairy PodcastPeggy Coffeen is a podcast host, farmer and seller of value added products. She also make a successful transition from a corporate career to self-employment after identifying two niche businesses and moving into them. On today's ag business episode Peggy and I have an in depth conversation about the dynamics of moving to full time, self-employment. We also talk about many of the pitfalls you will face along the way and the fear that will seek to stop you. Peggy has a very unique perspective on identifying your target customer, and an interesting story that goes with th...2023-09-291h 03
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#44 - 4 High-Impact Actions to Create a Winning Farm Culture - Travis SpeirsCulture. It’s how your employees feel in the pit of their stomach on Sunday night about coming in to work for you on Monday morning.
On a recent visit to Shiloh Dairy in Brillion, Wisconsin, the winning culture was clear: There was a party in the parlor. Milkers were smiling and striking a pose for pictures. The employees were happy to be there, and having fun.
So I just had to sit down with the owner and manager of this dairy, our friend Travis Speirs, to find out how he was making this happen, all while growing from 2,400 to...2023-09-2636 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#43 - 3 Strategic Plays to Win in the Fourth Quarter - Jay JoyAs we close in on the last three months of the year, how are you positioning yourself and your dairy business to finish strong? What do you need to do today to be happy with where you are at by the end of 2023?
It may be go time in the fields, but it’s game time for your business. Jay Joy from Bridgeforth LLP walks us through how to win in the fourth quarter with 3 strategic plays to win in the last 90 days of 2023.
What you’ll learn:
Finish strong
Take...2023-09-1914 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#42 - The Million-Cow Multiplier: Unselfish Leadership and Exponential Impact - Matt BudineFrom co-founding a company that feeds more than 1.1 million cows all over the world with Progressive Dairy Solutions, to feeding people and providing a value-added marketing opportunity for dairy farm families through Valley Milk, and now leading efforts to help dairy farmers be beneficiaries of the methane market, Matt Budine has had a hand in seeing the vision for what it will take to be successful, profitable and sustainable in the dairy business. He’s driven by that same purpose in giving back, as a co-founder of the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge, which has impacted more than 4,000 students in...2023-09-1228 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#41 - The 7 Secrets to Setting Goals and Achieving Them - Katy Schultz and Elizabeth DeVriesMaybe it’s to get healthier. Maybe it’s to start a business. But you are stuck. You have not taken action on it because you “don’t have time” or you “don’t know where to start.” Well consider this the nudge you needed to start turning that little spark into a 5-alarm fire today.
Dairy farmer Katy Schultz, Tri-Fecta Farms, Fox Lake, Wisconsin, tells the story of being the girl who faked “sick” on mile day in gym class, to pushing herself to run 100 miles in July.
Elizabeth DeVries, owner, 4D Ag World/4D Ag Fashion, talks...2023-09-0522 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#40 - Growing and Scaling the Leadership Team - GPS Dairy Consultant Robb Bender and Steve Abel from Abel DairyWhat does it take to not only grow a dairy farm from 1,800 cows to 4,200 cows, and not just scale the operation, but scale the leadership team? To help current team members rise to new roles, and to retain all of those leaders in the process?
That’s what you will be hearing about today from Steve Abel, of Abel Dairy Farms in Wisconsin, and along with one of his closest advisors who has walked along side his through this transition, GPS Dairy Consultant, Robb Bender.
This is a special episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, because it is also th...2023-08-2928 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#39 - How a California Dairy Producer is Milking More Cows with Less Skilled Labor - Brandon MendosaHow can a dairy rely less on skilled labor? Is it possible to even eliminate some positions? And to do so while actually improving cow care and milk quality, and not to mention your stress level as an owner or manager?
We are going to one of the most notoriously challenging labor markets in the country to find out how one California dairyman is doing just that.
Our guest today is Brandon Mendonsa, from Tipton, California, talking about FM Jerseys, the site he owns and manages that milks 3,200 cows. When this dairy was built 5 years ago, one of Brandon’s...2023-08-2223 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#38 - How to have Hard Conversations with Underperforming Team Members - Kristy PagelHave you been avoiding a conversation you know you need to have with an underperforming team member? Is their attitude impacting the rest of the team, yet you keep putting it off, hoping it will get better on its own? Kristy Pagel from Leading Edge Consulting LLC provides you with a take-home tool to tackle a tough conversation with confidence and a clear path to move forward.
Download your FREE “How to Have Hard Conversations” take-home tool at UplevelDairy.com
What you’ll learn:
Why you owe it to...2023-08-1522 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#37 - Turning a Dairy Farm Failure into a Powerful Purpose - Jay JoyJay Joy from Bridgeforth LLP opens up about being part of a dairy partnership that failed. But more importantly, how that became the defining moment that positioned him to serve others in his role as a family business advisor and financial consultant. He shares five takeaways for how he cultivated mental toughness in the most trying of times and how you can do it too.
What you’ll learn:
Embracing the “suck”
Eating the cookies
Process over results
The 4 C’s: commitment, courage, capabili...2023-08-0829 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#36 - Full-Potential Dairy Farming: Reaching the next level of performance for cows and people with technology - Megan Schrupp“How good can we get?” If you are a high-performer who asks yourself that same question every single day, you will want to hear what Megan Schrupp, DVM, at NexGen Dairy in Eden Valley, Minnesota, has to say about pushing the potential for cows, culture and herself, and how technology is getting them all there faster.
This episode is part of The High-Performance Mindset Series is powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farms by revolutionizing cow-side care through technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering and identification. Listen for more episodes in this series through...2023-08-0143 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#35 - The 7,000 Cows in Seven Years Vision - Tom OeschFour years ago, dairy farmer Tom Oesch and his partners at Swiss Lane Farms in Michigan defined their vision: To grow to 7,000 cows in seven years. Find out how they are putting that vision into action, transitioning the business from one generation to the next and growing leaders within their team. And walk away with a renewed motivation from Tom to live life to its fullest NOW.
What you’ll learn:
The decision to double down on dairying and expand to multiple sites
Determining core values and using them to make decisions
Transitioning the business fro...2023-07-251h 05
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#34 - Entrepreneurship, Visionary Leadership and Dairy Cares of Wisconsin - Jim OstromPeggy Coffeen joins Jim Ostrom from Milk Source in his gardens for an exclusive interview with one of the most incredible visionary leaders in dairy farming, talking about business, leadership, culture and the cause so near to his heart, Dairy Cares of Wisconsin.
What you’ll learn:
The trip to Tulare that inspired it all
Defining winning, leadership and executive thinking
Company culture and the “Milk Source Way”
Dairy Cares of Wisconsin - an opportunity for dairy to give back today by supporting Children’s Wisconsin
...2023-07-1835 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#33 - How to Survive a Milk Market Downturn - Jay JoyWhen milk prices are painful, the best strategy for dairy farmers is to stay in position. Jay Joy from Bridgeforth LLP sits down with host Peggy Coffeen to talk about how to stop the bleeding and minimize the pain in a milk price valley.
What you’ll learn:
The numbers to watch right now
The bright spots: beef price, land values, manure digester money
What it will take for milk prices to get back to breakeven
What profitable dairies are doing right now
Contact Jay Joy:
www.Bridgeforthllp.com
jay@bridgeforthllp.com
...2023-07-1119 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#32 - 5 Questions for Finding Your Freedom - Amy ThrondsenThis episode is for the dairy farmer or dairy professional who owns a business or is just wired to work as if they owned their business. If you ever find yourself stressed out, overcommitted and lacking the freedom in life they truly desire, this is for you. I’ve invited my personal business coach Amy Throndsen to ask you five high-impact questions to define your own version of freedom.
What you’ll learn:
Clarify your priorities with this one question
Freedom for spending your time and money
Freedom to grow
Create time...2023-07-0424 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#31 - 5 Habits of High-Performing Dairy Farm ManagersFor the past 6 months, you’ve been listening to conversations with incredible dairy farm owners and managers who are finding ways to lower their turnover, empower their people and achieve their goals, and in this episode of the High-Performance Mindset Series powered by Nedap, you are going to walk away with the five habits high-performing dairy farm managers have in common.
What you’ll learn:
Winning with communication
Why appreciation matters
How great managers build trust
Cultivating culture
How they show up each day
Feat...2023-06-2727 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#30 - How to Optimize Your Time and Your Team - Sonya KokeAre you running your dairy farm, or is your dairy farm running you? Dairy farmer and mother of 6, Sonya Koke from Blue Jay Dairy and Blue Bonnet Dairy in Dublin, Texas, talks about doing the work to define their mission and develop great managers in order to find more time, more freedom and more enjoyment in dairy farming.
What you’ll learn:
Defining their mission
Empowering good employees to move into management positions
Coaching and meeting with managers
The best parenting advice you wi...2023-06-2055 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#29 - Making Farming with Family Fun Again - Troy Nelson and Kayla BurrKansas farmers and cattle producers Troy Nelson and Kayla Burr of TDN Farms join us with their family business advisor, Jay Joy from Bridgeforth LLP, to talk about the most critical conversations and continued efforts to get on the same page and stay there, so they can move forward as a family farming business and have fun doing it.
What you’ll learn:
What led them to seek outside help
Aligning individual and business goals
Digging up the past and difficult conversations
Diffusing the...2023-06-1334 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#28 - Dairy Farm Employee Housing Takes Turnover to less than 1% - Sandy LarsonProviding housing options for employees at Larson Acres has taken the turnover rate from an already low 7% all the way down to less than 1 percent. General manager Sandy Larson shares what she has learned about finding and managing housing for nearly half of the dairy’s 75 employees … and how that has led to a line out the front door of the dairy with a waiting list of people who want to work there.
What you’ll learn:
How providing housing has improved culture and employee retention
What the farm provides vs. what employees provide
Find...2023-06-0636 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#27 - Managing more cows, more people and more data - Derrick JosiIf you are thinking about adding technology to your dairy, you know you will get straight talk from TDF Honest Farming’s Derrick Josi, from Wilsonview Dairy in Tillamook, Oregon. This dairy farmer is more than doubling the herd from 500 to 1,100 Jersey cows. Hear about the new facility with a 50-stall rotary parlor, and find out how Derrick and his team are taking the data from their activity monitoring system to get more cows bred and catch sick cows sooner in this episode of the Nedap High-Performance Mindset Series.
What you’ll learn:
The biggest challenge he’s faced
...2023-05-2347 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#26 - How to Increase Dairy Farm Income and Reduce Expenses - Pauly PaulBorrowing money to pay the bills? This dairy farm was in the red before Pauly Paul and his team came into the picture. Six years later, they’ve got money in the bank and the financial stress is gone. Hear how Pauly increased income and milking frequency from 2x to 4x without additional labor costs, and the areas where he reduced expenses without compromising cow health.
What you’ll learn:
From 2x to 4x milking, without additional labor costs
Getting employees to buy-in to changes
Cutting costs in the feed center
Heal...2023-05-1631 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#25 - From Fighting to Thriving: How this Farming Family Got on the Same Page - Jay JoyHaving trouble grabbing a gear and getting ahead in your family business? The problem may not be inefficiency, but rather, misalignment. In this episode, Jay shares a real-life example of a farming family that went from fighting with each other and losing money, to now posting some of the best years in their business, while finding enjoyment in doing it together.
What you’ll learn:
What happens when your family or team is out of alignment
An example of a family farm that went from barely talking and below breakeven, to making mo...2023-05-0924 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#24 - Unexpected Detours and Doing What Makes You Happy - Annaliese Wegner and Liz GriffithYou may know Annaliese Wagner as the Modern Day Farm Chick on Instagram, and perhaps you also know dairy consultant Liz Griffith, the OG ag-vocate who was telling dairy’s story long before social media existed. But what you may not know about this mother and daughter is that they each have a new story to share, and you will hear about it first right here. With Mother’s Day around the corner, what better time for some friendly banter about motherhood, picking yourself up by your bootstraps and discovering your own story to tell.
Wh...2023-05-0249 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#23 - Biogas: From Start to Startup - Brent LilienthalWe are talking about biogas, from start to start up, and hearing the story of a farmers-first bioenergy company and the steps in the process for turning manure into renewable natural gas, straight from the co-founder and CEO himself, Brent Lilienthal from LF Bioenergy.
What you’ll learn:
The detailed process of finding solutions for dairy farms
Making sand bedding work with a digester
Why the long-term vision for your dairy farm and family matters
When the dairy farmer can expect to get paid for their cr...2023-04-2543 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#22 - Coming Back to the Family Business - Reese BurnettTwo-thirds of the 9,000 dairy cows in Wyoming are milked on a 110-stall rotary at Burnett Dairy, located about an hour from Greeley, Colorado. Owned by the Burnett family, this dairy has scaled and added new technologies to gain a competitive edge, and that adds to the excitement for a young dairyman like Reese Burnett. Today, we’ll hear from Reese about what brought him back here and how he views the future of Burnett Dairy.
What you’ll learn:
The challenges and opportunities of dairying in Wyoming
Why he chose to come back to the dairy
What...2023-04-1833 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#21 - Choosing the right RNG partner for your dairy farmIf one of the most critical decisions on your mind right now is whether to sign onto an RNG project or take your carbon credits to the grave for your dairy, tune into this power panel with three experts to walk you through the legal, operational and financial considerations for choosing the best RNG partner for your dairy farm’s management, business and future.
What you’ll learn:
What to ask before signing an RNG contract - Attorney Susan LaCrosse
Avoiding a digester disaster - Dairy Digester Consultant Dr. Bob Nagel...2023-04-1157 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#20 - 9 Years Without a No-Call, No-Show Employee - Brett BarlassAs a dairy manager for 15 years at Yosemite Jerseys in Hilmar, California, Brett Barlass found ways to engage and motivate a team of employees to want to show up - in fact, he went 9 years without a no-call, no-show employee.
And since the acquisition of Yosemite Jerseys by California Dairy Farms, Larry & Jenifer Matos & John Melo, in January, 2022, Brett has been charged with a new task: replicating that same culture and results from Yosemite across 6 dairy sites with 19,000 cows and 200 employees. Find out how he is doing it.
What you’ll learn:
Feedback an...2023-04-0443 min
Wisenetix PodcastPeggy Coffeen: Telling our Stories | Ep. 04I'm very excited to welcome you to a brand new episode of The Wisenetix Podcast. As you probably already know, it's a communication channel where business and marketing leaders from the ag industry share their thoughts and experiences regarding our field and the world. Our stop today is the dairies: I have the pleasure of talking with Peggy Coffeen, who grew up on a small-scale dairy farm in Wisconsin and has built an outstanding career in dairy communications for the past 15 years. She served as the editor for Progressive Dairy Publishing and is currently b...2023-03-3058 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#19 - How to Attract and Retain Good Dairy Farm Employees - Miguel GarciaHow much sleep does parlor supervisor Miguel Garcia lose at night, worrying whether or not employees will show up to milk at Double P Dairy in Marathon City, Wisconsin? None. We talk about culture, reputation and the gesture Miguel says is more powerful than a pizza party for motivating employees and getting 8-minute turns on their new 60-stall rotary parlor on this episode of the Nedap High-Performance Mindset Series.
What you’ll learn:
Attracting good employees in a competitive labor market
Hiring for attitude, not experience
What em...2023-03-2836 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#18 - The Team Meeting Format That Drives Employee Performance - Christine Bender
If you manage a dairy operation, you know how frustrating it can be to manage and motivate a team. But what if there was one powerful action you could take to create a culture that engages employees, so that they not only want to stick around in this tough labor market, but actually want to be a part of achieving your goals? Christine Bender, manager and partner in McFarlandale Dairy in Watertown, Wis., tells us about the meeting format that has upleveled her team’s performance.What you’ll learn:
- The meeting format that works
...2023-03-2136 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#17 - Your action plan for when farm income falls - Jay JoyIt’s the rise before the fall. How will you maintain access to capital and keep credit lines open before commodity prices drop later this year? Jay Joy with Bridgeforth LLP tells us what his forward-thinking dairy clients are doing right now to prepare, including the five key numbers your banker really wants you to know.
What you’ll learn:
- What cash reserves will look like in late 2023
- The five actions financially savvy dairies are taking right now
- What the banker wants from you to keep your credit lines open
...2023-03-1434 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#16 - Success Factors: Switching from sand bedding to dry manure solids and bringing in a non-family business partner - Jeremy NatzkeIf you are looking for ways to better manage dried manure solids for bedding, or what it could look like to bring a non-family partner into your dairy farming business, you are in the right place, because our guest today is successfully doing both. We sit down with Jeremy Natzke, a fifth-generation dairyman and partner in Wayside Dairy near Greenleaf, Wis., to talk about the switch from sand to dried solids and the new business partnership for this dairy that includes 2,100 cows, 1,600 replacements and more than 30 employees.
What you’ll learn:
- The biggest challenges of...2023-03-0741 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#15 - How to Uplevel Your Dairy’s Human Resources Department - Michelle ShambeauHow can a dairy operation uplevel their human resources department to go beyond payroll and compliance? Michelle Shambeau, human resources manager at Ebert Enterprises in Algoma, Wis., talks about culture, onboarding, implementing employee reviews and the foundational steps she took to formalize an HR department that serves 160 employees across the Ebert’s dairy and other diversified meat and food businesses.
What you’ll learn:
- 3 critical steps to formalizing HR functions
- How to get employee buy-in to change
- Onboarding, reviews and training
- What Michelle learned from spending 2 months in Guat...2023-02-2836 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#14 - Bringing Bankrupt Dairies Back in the Black - Pauly PaulNo feed. No money. And most would say, no hope. But Pauly Paul always finds a way to flip a dairy farm from foreclosure to a positive cash flow. In this episode, he shares his boots-on-the-ground approach to farm management and operational efficiency, and Pauly leaves you with three tips for increasing cash flow and reducing expenses on any dairy operation.
What you’ll learn:
- How he flipped a dairy in receivership into a profitable, saleable turn-key operation in 12 months
- The first areas to look to increase cash flow and reduce ex...2023-02-2129 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#13 - Transition Planning: Start with this one question today - Jay JoyTalking about family farm transition planning can be tough. It’s hard to know where to even start. Jay Joy from Bridgeforth LLP breaks it down with the one question you can ask yourself and your family today to start the conversation about the transition of assets as well as management responsibilities for family businesses.
What you’ll learn:
- The difference between ownership transition vs. management succession
- The one question to start the conversation
- Key points to consider for business ownership transition
- Key points to consider for the tran...2023-02-1430 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#12 - Straight Talk on Dairy Sustainability - Tara Vander DussenTara Vander Dussen is one of dairy’s strongest voices for environmental sustainability, but in today’s episode, we go bigger and broader to talk about the financial and social side, as well as it means to her as an entrepreneur, mother to two young girls and partner with her husband Daniel in his family’s dairy farm.
What you’ll learn:
- Why we should be watching what’s happening to dairy farmers in The Netherlands
- Tara’s definition of sustainability
- The one key message every dairy farmer should memorize on dairy sus...2023-02-0749 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#11 - Olympic-level Business, Management & Mindset - Elle Purrier-St. Pierre and Jamie St. PierreIn this first episode of the High-Performance Mindset Series, powered by Nedap, we visit with U.S. Olympic runner Elle Purrier-St. Pierre and her husband Jamie St. Pierre. Here how this young, high-performing couple is working together to live out their dairy farming dreams with a winning mindset for managing cows, 90 employees and maple sugaring on Vermont’s largest dairy, Pleasant Valley Farms.
What you’ll learn:
- Elle’s dairy farm roots
- Pleasant Valley Farms and the St. Pierre Family: cows, maple syrup sugaring and methane
- Managing 90 employees across multiple genera...2023-01-3146 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#10 - How Rolinda Dairy Leverages Robotic Technology to be More Productive, Profitable and Efficient - Pat Reisinger, Sam Schwartz and John GerbitzHow is robotic milking technology serving as a true business accelerator for Rolinda Dairy in Waterville, Iowa? Find out how this 900-cow dairy is capturing productivity, efficiency and profitability with automated milking as part of their business model. Hear from dairy owner Pat Reisinger and dairy manager Sam Schwartz and their DeLaval advisor, John Gerbitz.
What you’ll learn:
- Efficiency: Doubling pounds of milk per employee
- Getting two-year-olds up to speed faster
- Productivity: Sam’s “wins” as a herd manager
- Profitability: How Pat is measuring his ROI
- How te...2023-01-2441 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#09 - Develop Your Vision for 2023 with These 8 Questions - Jay JoyDo you want to move forward into the new year with a clear and compelling vision for your family, your farm, and your business? Get some “free” executive coaching services from Jay Joy with Bridgeforth LLP as he walks us through the eight essential questions for developing and communicating a strong vision for 2023.
What you’ll learn:
- Why developing a vision is hard for farmers
- Establishing core values and core focus
- Setting a 10-year target and marketing strategy
- The 1-year and 3-year picture
- The “big rocks”
- Iden...2023-01-1748 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#08 - Give your employees C.R.A.P: the success formula for building employee loyalty - Jeff Kortes, Jared Dueppengiesser and Jessi SchoofsIf you listened to Episode 1 of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, you may recall our guest, Jared Dueppengiesser, the impressive young manager at Milk Source’s Rosendale Dairy who talked about lowering employee turnover. One of the tools he credited with this was a book called Give Your Employees C.R.A.P.: The Success Formula for Building Employee Loyalty, by author and employee retention expert Jeff Kortes.
On this episode, Jeff joins us to talk about the success formula for building employee loyalty. And you are in for a treat because Jared is jumping on with us ag...2023-01-0355 min
Uplevel Dairy Podcast#07 - The one word that will change your life in 2023What if you could sum up your goals and dreams of who you want to be and what you want to accomplish in 2023 in just one word? Hear from a mix of dairy owners, managers and allied industry as host Peggy Coffeen sits down with six inspiring friends to share their “one word” for the coming year and be inspired to choose your own word to uplevel yourself.
What you’ll learn:
- Each guest’s “one word
- What they envision that word looking like one year from now
- The game plans for...2022-12-2756 min
Uplevel Dairy PodcastIt’s time to unwrap your giftsA faith-filled message from Uplevel Dairy Podcast host and founder Peggy Coffeen on three very special gifts you get to unwrap during this Christmas season.
Discover your own unique spiritual gifts and how to use them here: https://therealyou.org/2022-12-2008 min
Uplevel Dairy PodcastWelcome to the Uplevel Dairy PodcastWhat does it take to be a successful, profitable and competitive dairy farm business? This is the podcast for dairy owners, managers and advisors who are after their next level of success. Join Uplevel Dairy host Peggy Coffeen each week as she sits down with the industry’s leading dairy producers and thought leaders for real conversations about management, culture, leadership, family business, finance and human resources.
Visit us at http://upleveldairy.com2022-10-1302 min
The Green Bay Health Project PodcastEp. 18 | Talking CBD with Peggy CoffeenWhat is going on everyone? Today we are joined by our good friend Peggy Coffeen, owner of P'ri CBD. We have been planning this one for months and it finally happened.
Peggy and her husband live on a dairy farm in De Pere and felt a calling to provide a clean, pure, and meaningful hemp product, leading to the development and growth of P'ri CBD. They take care of it with their own hands, right on their farm. It is a great product that we personally use daily.
In this episode we discuss:
What led Peggy d...2021-06-0256 min
Progressive Dairy PodcastGet to know co-host editors: Walt Cooley and Peggy CoffeenEditors and Progressive Dairy podcast co-hosts Walt Cooley and Peggy Coffeen treat this anniversary episode a bit differently. The Progressive Dairy podcast launched one year ago. In this episode, learn more about Walt and Peggy, the interview hosts you hear most often in our podcast episodes.2020-09-3040 min