Uplevel Dairy Podcast

Episodi

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  364 | What Every Dairy Producer Needs to Know About New World Screwworm 23.07.2026 22min

  This episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast features entomologist Dr. Mike Catangui, Ph.D., with MWI Animal Health, who discusses the return of the New World screwworm and why dairy producers far from the southern border must be on alert. He explains how the pest was originally eradicated from the U.S. in the 1960s but has now been detected in Texas and New Mexico.Dr. Catangui also notes that adult flies are harmless, but larvae hatch quickly after eggs are laid on wounds (especially calf navels) and feed on live flesh, potentially killing calves within days; bites from ticks and stable or horn flies can also attract egg-laying to any species, of any age.Dr. Catangui reviews prior eradication using the USDA’s sterile insect technique, emphasizes vigilance, wound inspection, and fly control, and outlines available preventatives/curatives plus insecticide sprays/foggers and pet treatments from MWI. Suspected cases should be photographed and reported to a veterinarian due to mandatory reporting and existing infestation zones.This episode is sponsored by MWI Animal HealthAt MWI Animal Health, we are your partner in animal health. Our people drive us to think forward every day. We are committed to working with you to identify cutting-edge solutions to your common challenges. We unite with innovators and manufacturers to provide access to products and solutions designed to help you find success in each aspect of your animal health business. Visit www.MWIAH.com00:59 What Screwworm Is01:44 How Calves Get Hit03:09 Eradication History03:47 Dairy Risk Factors05:38 Spread Via Movement07:32 Climate And Vigilance10:09 Fly Control Tools11:35 Products For All Animals12:26 USDA Response Plan14:51 Suspected Case Steps16:53 Key Takeaways18:31 Fairs And Shows Advice
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  363 | Go All In: Lessons from an Idaho Dairy Nutrition Consultant 21.07.2026 42min

  Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen interviews Josh Peters of Standard Dairy Consultants about earning dairy producers’ trust without a dairy-farm background and why showing up and commitment matter. Peters shares his path from raising beef cattle, serving in the military, and working at Simplot to entering dairy nutrition, completing his bachelor’s and master’s degrees while feeding cows full time, and building long-term client relationships.He discusses early success achieving seven pounds of components, emphasizing that results come from aligning genetics, feeds, infrastructure, and management rather than simple fixes. Since moving to Idaho’s Magic Valley, he’s seen rapid facility upgrades like cross-vent barns that reduce environmental variability but expose management and labor challenges, making consistency the key competitive advantage. Peters explains using Milc Group feeding software to improve speed, accuracy, and data-driven problem identification, focusing his consulting on bottlenecks and overall profitability, and argues AI won’t replace on-farm people willing to walk cows and do the daily work.This Episode is Brought to you by the Milc GroupMilc Group is a dairy software company that brings real-time, actionable data to dairy farms across the world. They are dedicated to revolutionizing the dairy industry with their user-friendly cloud-based software. ONE™ by Milc Group is our all-in-one app that brings together all the important aspects of your dairy together in one place. With products such as feed and animal management software, people training, dairy facility monitoring, and scale management, Milc Group is committed to providing producers with tools they need to succeed.01:18 Show Up And Commit02:29 Beef Roots To Dairy03:56 Military Mindset04:48 All In On Education06:53 First Herd Breakthrough10:22 Magic Valley Shift15:38 Consistency Over Rations17:49 Tech And Data Tools19:28 Milk Group In Action22:41 Profitability Metrics25:52 Labor And Hidden Leaks33:08 Peeling The Onion36:28 AI Cant Replace People38:34 Future Of Dairy
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  362 | Tax and Legal Strategies for Farm Transition with Menn Law 16.07.2026 29min

  On the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen concludes a three-part Farm Forward listener Q&A series with Will McKinley of Menn Law and Pat Sturz, a retired CPA and longtime agriculture tax advisor, discussing why legal and tax planning must be integrated in farm succession. They explain how farm growth and asset write-offs can create future tax problems, why “sell the farm on a land contract” can trigger unexpected upfront taxes due to different asset classes, and how early planning, entity choice, and large early gifting can improve outcomes.They highlight tools like profits interests to share future growth or reward key employees without immediate income tax, strategies like “shadow” partnership entities to move assets out of C corps over time, and the role of stepped-up basis at death. They close with key mistakes, priorities, and the need for readiness and clarity about who will be involved and retirement cash needs.Contact Will McKinley or Pat Sturz at Menn LawWilliam-McKinley@mennlaw.com(920) 731-6631pat_sturz@mennlaw.com715-586-0050Learn more at https://mennlaw.com/Do you have a question on succession and farm transition you would like to hear Will answer on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast? Send your questions to peggy@upleveldairy.com01:13 Meet Will and Pat04:30 Long Term Tax Mindset06:13 Gifting and Entity Choices09:43 Avoid Land Contract Traps12:00 Profits Interest Explained15:20 Shadow Farm Strategy18:32 Biggest Misunderstandings23:19 One Year Retirement Priorities24:42 Common Mistakes and Wrap Up
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  361 | The Biggest Mistake Families Make with Land with Will McKinley 15.07.2026 22min

  Today's conversation tackles one of the most emotional and misunderstood topics in farm succession planning: how do you provide for non-farming children without putting the future of the farm at risk?Will McKinley explains why "fair" doesn't always mean "equal" and shares practical strategies that allow farm families to care for every child while protecting the operation they've spent a lifetime building. From trusts and LLCs to long-term leases, purchase options, and structured buyout agreements, you'll learn how thoughtful planning today can prevent conflict tomorrow.Will also shares real-life success stories and heartbreaking cautionary tales that demonstrate exactly what happens when estate plans leave room for ambiguity.Whether you're actively planning your estate or simply beginning family conversations, this episode offers valuable insight into preserving both your farm and your family relationships.Contact Will McKinley at Menn LawWilliam-McKinley@mennlaw.com(920) 731-6631Learn more at https://mennlaw.com/00:00 Why "Fair Isn't Always Equal" in Farm Succession01:28 Understanding the Real Value—and Responsibility—of Inheriting a Farm03:05 Using Trusts and LLCs to Protect Farm Assets05:02 The Biggest Mistake Families Make with Farmland06:15 Purchase Options, Long-Term Leases & Buyout Strategies08:10 Why You Should Never Leave Rent Negotiations to Future Generations09:48 Real Success Story: A Farm Family That Planned Ahead12:58 When Poor Planning Forced a Farm to Shut Down15:05 Good Intentions, Bad Estate Planning17:16 Eliminating Ambiguity Before It Leads to Litigation18:00 Three Questions Every Farm Parent Should Answer Before They're Gone
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  360 | Why Farm Transitions Fail with Will McKinley 14.07.2026 32min

  Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen interviews attorney Will McKinley of Menn Law in a three-part follow-up to the Farm Forward conference, focusing on why farm transitions fail and how to prevent it. McKinley cites two primary failure causes: economic infeasibility and psychology/communication breakdowns, including control issues and lack of confidence in successors; he shares examples where debt forced likely land sales and where strict post-death “guardrails” led a son to leave and the dairy to shut down.He emphasizes earlier planning, strong financial advisors, and tools like trusts with independent trustees. Discussing non-family key employees, he warns ownership success is about 50/50, urges transparency, cautions against rushed promises and mingling assets like cattle or equipment, and suggests alternatives such as higher compensation or limited real-estate partnerships.Make sure to tune in tomorrow and Thursday for parts two and three.Contact Will McKinley at Menn Law:William-McKinley@mennlaw.com(920) 731-6631https://mennlaw.com/Do you have a question on succession and farm transition you would like to hear Will answer on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast? Send your questions to peggy@upleveldairy.com00:00 Why Transitions Fail02:16 Two Failure Causes02:40 Debt And Taxes Trap03:52 Psychology And Control08:08 Preventing Financial Failure13:14 Trusts And Guardrails16:18 Non-Family Partners25:50 Avoiding Messy Entanglements
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  359 | Ask the Expert: Next-Level Dairy Cow Immune Support 09.07.2026 10min

  Today, Peggy sits down for an exclusive, 'Ask the Expert' feature with veterinarian Dr.Jan van Dijk of AHV discusses how common stressors in dairy cows, such as calving, transition, heat stress, pen moves, and high production, can disrupt immune function and lead to issues like metritis, mastitis, temperature spikes, reduced rumination, and lost milk that can affect an entire lactation.Dr. Van Dijk explains the damage caused by both overreacting and underreacting immune responses and introduces AHV’s Aspi, a plant-extracted immunomodulatory complementary feed given orally as a tablet/liquid or bolus, used proactively or reactively, with no milk withhold. In a farm comparison to an injectable nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory in monitored cows, Aspi lowered temperature more gradually but for longer, maintained activity, improved rumination, and greatly reduced repeat temperature spikes over 20 days.This episode is brought to you by AHVYour herd’s health is our priority. You get the best of both worlds: cutting-edge science and practical, hands-on support. With veterinary expertise and applied research behind every solution, you’ll have access to insights that matter. Delivered through our dedicated data service and backed by personal guidance from our on-farm consultants. Whether you’re making decisions in the barn or reviewing data, we’re here to support your goals—every step of the way.Learn more at https://ahvint.com/us/dairy-cows-calves.00:00 Why Cow Stress Matters00:48 Meet The Expert01:22 Signs Of Poor Immunity02:09 Over Vs Under Reaction02:28 Introducing Aspi03:06 How Aspi Is Used04:06 On Farm Trial Results05:17 Reoffending And Recovery06:27 Future Of Immune Modulation07:57 What Aspi Delivers
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  358 | Making a $4 Million Impact: Dairy Cares of Wisconsin 07.07.2026 22min

  Today, Peggy Coffeen sits down with Jim Ostrom, president and CEO of Milk Source and co-founder of Dairy Cares of Wisconsin, to discuss how a backyard gathering in Wisconsin grew over 17 years into an event drawing 450–550 people and raising more than $4 million for Children’s Wisconsin, a world-class hospital network with 18 branches. Ostrom explains Dairy Cares’ purpose and highlights gratitude, welcoming new participants, and inspiring a next generation through youth donations and fundraising efforts.He credits the impact to teamwork, hard work, and shared passion, and shares leadership approaches like envisioning “what could be” and relying on strong partners and teams. Ostrom reflects on tough commodity cycles in dairy, opportunities in beef and efficiency-driven export competitiveness, his personal advice to “compare yourself to yourself yesterday,” his interest in AI, and ways to get involved with a goal to raise $500,000 this year.To get involved in Dairy Cares of Wisconsin's continual impact,Make a donation at dairycaresofwisconsin.orgJoin us for the annual Dairy Cares Garden Party, July 25, De Pere, Wis.Support through the virtual auction: https://pro.gofundme.com/live/register/2026-dairy-cares-of-wisconsin-garden-party/4c24640e-e3ed-4dc9-aa29-d175b99cfe2700:00 Backyard Idea Begins01:41 Garden Party Origins02:27 Mission And Beneficiary04:19 From Dinner To Millions06:20 Next Gen Giving08:20 Welcoming New Leaders09:55 Leadership Behind Impact11:41 Business Vision Teamwork13:51 Industry Opportunities Cycles16:46 Rapid Fire Advice19:10 How To Get Involved
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  357 |  Inside the Minds of Dairy's Next Generation | Junior Advisory Committee Roundtable 30.06.2026 29min

  What’s inside the minds of the next generation of dairy leaders? We found out last week at the National Holstein Convention, where we sat down with 3 young leaders in the National Junior Holstein Association who are helping shape the future of the organization while representing thousands of junior members nationwide. Through leadership, service, and a whole lot of dedication, they're proving that the next generation is already making an impact.Mykel Mull from California, Cayden Bursiek from Ohio, and Ainsley Sellers from Pennsylvania talk about what inspired each of them to get involved with the National Holstein Junior Advisory Committee, what they've learned through serving in national leadership, how the Junior Advisory Committee gives young people a voice within the Association, and why programs like these matter so much for developing tomorrow's dairy leaders.Whether you're raising the next generation on your farm, involved in youth programs yourself, or simply want a glimpse of where our industry is headed, this conversation will leave you optimistic and inspired too.01:36 Meet the JAC Team02:09 Ainsley’s Dairy Story02:51 Cayden’s Show Ring Roots03:25 Mykel’s Unique Path04:57 What the JAC Does07:11 Programs and Skills Built08:34 Lessons From Nationwide Networking11:22 Leaders Who Inspired Them16:01 Most Impactful Junior Programs19:45 Future Plans in Dairy and Beyond
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  356 | Rebuilding After Tragedy: Four Cubs Farm's Story of Resilience 25.06.2026 35min

  When a devastating barn fire destroyed the heart of Four Cubs Farms in November 2017, the Peterson family faced a decision that would shape the future of their business for generations to come. In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen continues her conversation with Gary and Cris Peterson, Ben Peterson, and Dairy Manager Nathan Brandt as they reflect on one of the most difficult days in the farm's history—and how it became the catalyst for transformation.From the overwhelming support of neighbors and fellow dairy producers to rebuilding with robotic milking technology, the team shares how resilience, innovation, and a willingness to embrace change helped them emerge stronger than before. The conversation explores how data-driven decision making, animal welfare, technology adoption, and strategic growth are helping Four Cubs Farms remain competitive while preparing for its 150th anniversary and the next generation of leadership.This episode is sponsored by Compeer Financial.Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Their dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs.02:00 – The day the barn fire changed everything04:00 – Moving cows and saving the herd during the crisis06:00 – Community support and the dairy industry's response07:00 – Rebuilding after the fire and making a major decision08:00 – Choosing robotic milking technology10:00 – Bringing cows home and transitioning to robots12:00 – How the robotic dairy is organized today14:00 – Collecting and using data to improve performance16:00 – Measuring return on investment through data18:00 – Data, profitability, and continuous improvement20:00 – Solving challenges through real-time insights22:00 – Staying competitive in a changing dairy industry23:00 – Cow behavior, stocking density, and robot efficiency25:00 – Labor, technology, and future dairy strategies27:00 – Growth plans and expansion opportunities28:00 – Building the next generation of the herd30:00 – Celebrating 150 years of family farming32:00 – Looking ahead to the future of Four Cubs Farms33:00 – Lessons in resilience, leadership, and perseverance
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  355 | Leadership Across Generations: Creating a Dairy Business Built to Last 23.06.2026 35min

  For nearly 150 years, Four Cubs Farms in Grantsburg, Wisconsin, has been built on a simple principle: people matter.In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen sits down with Gary and Cris Peterson, their son Ben Peterson, and Dairy Manager Nathan Brandt to explore the leadership, culture, communication, and innovation that transformed a small family dairy into a thriving 1,000-cow operation.From succession planning and employee engagement to genomic testing, feed efficiency, and building trust across generations, this conversation offers valuable lessons for dairy producers looking to create resilient businesses that can thrive well into the future.Whether you're navigating farm transition, building a team, or looking for ways to strengthen your operation's culture, this episode delivers practical insights from a farm that has successfully blended family values with modern dairy management.This episode is sponsored by Compeer Financial. Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Their dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs.02:00 – Growing from 60 cows to 1,000 cows03:00 – Roles and responsibilities within the farm team05:00 – Cris Peterson's journey from city girl to dairy advocate09:00 – Leadership transition and bringing in outside talent10:00 – Nathan Brandt's path into dairy and Four Cubs Farms13:00 – Building a team with complementary strengths14:00 – Innovation through feed systems and grain storage16:00 – Genetics, genomic testing, and future herd growth20:00 – Nutrition strategies for today's high-performing dairy cows24:00 – The role of culture in farm success27:00 – Trust, communication, and employee retention30:00 – Creating clarity, consistency, and rhythm across the operation32:00 – Succession planning, growth, and preparing for the future
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  354 | Lessons from a Father-Daughter Vet Duo: The Next Generation of Dairy Care 18.06.2026 38min

  Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen visits with father-daughter veterinarians Dr. Paul Meagher and Dr. Amanda Onan of United Veterinary Services in Northeast Wisconsin about how dairy practice evolved from reactive emergency work to proactive, team-based consulting. Dr. Paul shares his path from a North Dakota dairy farm to nearly 40 years in mixed and large-animal practice, mentors who emphasized prevention, and lessons learned from top producers: the right mindset and decision-making with a consultant team, high-quality forages, and consistency.Dr. Amanda reflects on riding on after-hours calls as a child, emphasizes aligning larger dairy crews around shared goals, and predicts AI-driven tools such as calving-detection cameras and expanded monitoring. They discuss communication, humility, and “living in the light” through positivity and learning from negatives.This episode is brought to you by Heritage Vet Partners.Heritage Vet Partners is the nation’s leading veterinary partnership, specializing in mixed and large animal practices.  Heritage Vet Partners provides a unique partnership model that preserves local practice legacies, serving dairy and other livestock producers and companion animal owners through shared services, data, and strategic growth. Learn more at HeritageVetPartners.com02:10 Paul's Path to Practice03:16 Mentors and Preventive Shift04:59 Amanda's First Farm Call06:45 Supporting Her Vet Dream08:55 Learning From Top Producers10:44 Three Keys to Success16:54 From Firefighting to Consulting19:20 Data and Record Analysis24:15 Future Tech and AI27:32 Family Support and Grandpa Life30:04 Lessons Living in the Light
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  353 | The Young Dairy Manager Changing Herd Health One Insight at a Time 16.06.2026 24min

  Shelby Jacquier Washburn, is a fourth-generation dairy farmer and managing partner at Laurel Brook Farm in East Canaan, Connecticut, describes returning from an equine business program during COVID to help manage a 1,500-cow herd and 1,800 acres each of corn and hay/haylage while raising all young stock.In today's conversation, she explains how accepting a 200-tag Nedap trial led to whole-herd collars (Nedap Now) that detect health issues 12–24 hours earlier via rumination, eating time, and milk deviations, informing earlier treatment and culling decisions, identifying lameness, and paying back about half the system cost in a year through reduced hospital time. Data prompted diet changes for fresh cows, improved heats and overall cow brightness, new transition protocols (moving pre-fresh cows two days before due date) that boosted colostrum supply, and heat-stress monitoring that revealed the parlor as a hotspot, leading to added evaporative cooling, fans, and water.This episode is part of the High-Performance Mindset Series powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farming with smart technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering, sort gates, and AI-powered camera systems. Nedap is improving life on the farm by putting the right cow in the right place at the right time, every time.00:47 Meet Shelby Jacquier Washburn01:14 From Horses to Dairy03:41 Collars Across the Herd05:03 The 200 Tag Leap07:11 Fresh Cow Insights09:08 Diet Tweaks Big Wins11:18 Transition Monitoring Shift12:20 Colostrum Turnaround14:32 Heat Stress Hotspots16:48 What's Next in Tech21:16 Future in Connecticut
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  352 | Redefining What Leadership Looks Like on the Dairy with Annie Vannurden 11.06.2026 37min

  How do you lead multiple dairy operations, oversee teams across several states, and still make it home for supper with three young children waiting for you?In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen sits down with Annie Vannurden, Managing Partner and COO of Silver Streak Dairies, part of the Pace Ag Group. Annie shares what it takes to create consistency across multiple dairy sites while building a culture centered around accountability, communication, employee development, and cow care.From managing site leaders and implementing systems that support growth to navigating the realities of motherhood while pursuing ambitious business goals, Annie offers practical insights for dairy producers, managers, and anyone leading teams in agriculture. Whether you're growing a dairy business, building leadership skills, or trying to balance family and career, this conversation is packed with actionable lessons and honest reflections from someone living it every day.This episode is brought to you by Zoetis. As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is dedicated to helping producers achieve healthy animals, healthy dairies and healthy food through their world-class portfolio. For more information, visit ⁠DairyWellness.com.⁠01:42 Meet Annie Van Irden01:59 Inside Pace Ag Merge03:43 COO Day To Day06:52 Consistency Across Sites10:18 Clarity And Communication12:55 Maturity And Priorities13:52 People Wins And Expansion17:49 Work Hat Home Hat22:06 Boundaries And Presence26:32 Mentors And Influence31:44 Support System At Home35:13 Planning Routines Calendar
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  351 | Robots, Faith and Resilience: Transforming Tradition at Silver Spirit Farm 09.06.2026 34min

  Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy sits down with Sam Fessenden, a Cornell dairy science graduate with a PhD focused on the CNCPS model who worked with nutritionists globally before partnering with his wife Brenda and her parents, Craig and Cathy, to rebuild dairying at their Southeast Minnesota site.In this conversation, Sam shares early mentorship near Cornell, how consulting and barn tours informed their tech-forward design, and how they converted a former 70-stall stanchion operation into a 120-cow, sand-bedded, two-robot, largely automated free-flow barn launched in 2020 while welcoming their first child. He discusses feeding non-pelleted homegrown corn through robots, lessons from managing cows daily (manure observation and feed inventory realities), choosing open-minded advisors, patience in growth decisions, guidance for generational transition, resilience through cost control, extra acres, and value-added black calf raising, and how faith and family motivate raising three kids on the farm.This Episode is brought to you by AdisseoThis episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components, and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more at ⁠https://www.adisseo.com/en/⁠01:44 Sam’s Dairy Roots05:31 Cornell Mentors and Models08:42 From Consulting to Minnesota09:24 Rebuilding the Dairy Site11:49 Designing a Robot Barn13:45 Automation and Feeding Hacks16:32 Consulting Lessons Applied19:02 Choosing the Right Advisors21:25 Patience and Farm Values23:17 Succession and Growth Plans26:14 Resilience and Black Calves30:46 Family First and Faith
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  350 | Ice Cream, Show Cows and Family Values: The Vandoske Dairy Farms Story 04.06.2026 38min

  Today, Peggy Coffeen visits Bob and Tara Vandoske at Vandoske Dairy Farms in Cleveland, Wisconsin, to discuss how their 700-cow family dairy farm has grown into diverse business segments, including County Line Creamery, an on-farm ice cream store with viewing windows and open barn access, and a cattle boarding/show-cow facility. They share the farm’s multi-generational history, their three children’s roles (including show involvement and work responsibilities), and how these ventures create next-generation opportunities and consumer connection.Bob explains the creamery grew from COVID-era interest in local food, progressed through careful planning, and started by bringing in products rather than processing milk. They describe the boarding business’ unexpected growth, recent dairy facility upgrades including a new double-12 parallel parlor, and the importance of faith, teamwork, and relationships. NutriQuest nutritionist Jeff Rortvedt, highlights the farm’s multiple enterprises and Bob’s investments in cow care and the future.This episode is brought to you be NutriQuest.The NutriQuest Dairy Nutrition Team is a group of experienced nutritionists committed to serving dairy producers by partnering with them to develop an un-biased, customized nutrition program that delivers maximum profitability, achieved through a holistic approach, engaging in all aspects that influence nutrition program success.The NutriQuest Dairy Team is committed to serving the dairy industry and delivering their customers’ consistent results with a high return. Learn more at nutriquest.com/dairy-nutrition-solutions01:49 Vandoske Farm Story03:06 Kids and Farm Roles04:51 Why Not 10000 Cows05:33 County Line Creamery Idea08:33 Planning the Build Out11:05 Why Ice Cream Wins12:27 Cattle Boarding Begins15:37 Designing the Show Barn18:11 Busy Saturdays and Events21:02 Three Years of Rapid Growth21:30 Heavy Decisions and Faith21:51 Hardest Choices and New Roles24:17 Dairy Upgrades and New Parlor27:43 Raising the Next Generation29:44 Future Plans and Tractor Time35:25 A Nutritionist's Perspective
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  349 | Earning Trust, One Tough Calving at a Time 02.06.2026 28min

  Today on The Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen talks with Dr. Kady Bennett of United Vet Services (part of Heritage Vet Partners) about her unexpected path from an Illinois corn-and-soybean upbringing and an early photography major to large animal dairy practice in Wisconsin’s Northwoods.Dr. Bennett explains how starting as a kennel tech, then experiencing large animal work (including castrating bull calves) led her to switch to animal science and pursue vet school, with dairy research helping solidify her focus. She describes her passion for solving problems ... from casting a calf's broken jaw to uncovering protocol issues with lung ultrasound. Dr. Bennett is on a mission to be the best vet she can be, with the help of great mentors, fellow vets and supportive dairy farm clients.Heritage Vet Partners is the nation’s leading veterinary partnership, specializing in mixed and large animal practices.  Heritage Vet Partners provides a unique partnership model that preserves local practice legacies, serving dairy and other livestock producers and companion animal owners through shared services, data, and strategic growth. Learn more at HeritageVetPartners.com01:34 From Photography To Cows04:31 Earning Trust On Farms08:45 Mentors And Backup10:15 Problem Solver Mindset11:22 Broken Jaw Calf Win13:21 Calf Lung Ultrasound Data17:16 Motivation And Relationships18:46 Stepping Up Consulting21:23 Advice For Future Vets23:30 Creativity And Baking
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  348 | The Future of Dairy Management: AI, Automation and Data-Driven Action 26.05.2026 28min

  Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Manny Salcedo, founder of the Dairy Performance Network (DPN), discusses how modern dairy management has shifted from simply managing cows and people to managing overwhelming volumes of data from multiple on-farm systems. Drawing on his background working on dairies and later founding DPN, he explains their consulting work and its tools, including Ida, an AI-driven application that lets farmers ask questions about KPIs, health events, reproduction, and predictive culling. And find out what Manny believes it will take for today's dairy managers to turn information into action through the power of AI and automation.This episode is brought to you by the Dairy Performance Network (DPN).DPN - Connecting people, cows, and technology. Learn more at Dpnconnect.com & dairystash.com00:00 Data Driven Dairy01:48 What DPN Builds03:20 Too Much Data04:52 Ida AI Assistant06:02 From Dashboards to Actions07:18 Why Manny Built This11:38 Pilot Farms, Real Questions13:20 Voice Commands Automation17:42 Future Integration Wave20:19 Next Gen Manager Skills
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  347 | Courage, Honor, and Dairy with Veterans Kelsey DeBoer and Matthew Taber 21.05.2026 40min

  Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy talks with veterans, Matt Taber, a retired Marine and co-owner of Donley Farms in Shoshone, Idaho, and Kelsey DeBoer, a former U.S. Army Reserve construction engineer and now senior marketing manager at Zoetis, about how military service shapes leadership and perspective.Kelsey explains Zoetis’ Patriots Pledge partnership with Folds of Honor, donating a percentage of sales from select products from Memorial Day through Veterans Day to fund scholarships for families of fallen or disabled service members, and also law enforcement and first responders.They both discuss teamwork, accountability and sacrifice as lessons applied to their respective dairy work today, as they also reflect with gratitude on their time in service and the powerful perspective that lives on through the way they lead.Zoetis’ Patriots’ Pledge program supports Folds of Honor. Folds of Honor is a non-profit organization that provides education scholarships for spouses and children of America’s fallen or injured service members and first responders. The Patriots’ Pledge program from Zoetis designates a portion of sales from select products between Memorial Day and Veterans Day each year. Learn more here:https://www.zoetisus.com/services-and-programs/patriots-pledge/This episode is brought to you by Zoetis. As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is dedicated to helping producers achieve healthy animals, healthy dairies and healthy food through their world-class portfolio. For more information, visit ⁠DairyWellness.com.⁠03:02 Meet Matt & Kelsey04:13 Matt Journey in the Marines05:48 Deployments and Iwo Jima07:26 Kelsey's Path in the Army Reserve 10:23 Dairy After Service15:20 Military Lessons in Dairy18:40 Accountability at Zoetis21:05 Deployment Perspective Shift23:30 First World vs Third World25:39 Advice to Younger Self28:26 What Service Really Means30:02 Brotherhood and Sacrifice36:37 Lessons to Live By
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  346 | From the Battlefield to the Barn: Leadership, Teams and Tough Decisions with Greg Shoemaker, Cargill 19.05.2026 51min

  Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen interviews Greg Shoemaker, Cargill’s Commercial Director for North America Dairy Nutrition, about leading teams that support dairy producers through nutrition strategy, technology, and on-farm partnership across the US and Canada. Shoemaker shares how his path from rural Pennsylvania roots to a career as a US Army Ranger shaped his leadership approach today ensuring dairy farmers' success.Greg details the power of building trust, clarity and acting as a multiplier by removing barriers. He discusses learning from mistakes, investing in culture during normal times to withstand hard times, maintaining composure under stress, and adopting an “infinite game” mindset focused on long-term success in dairy.This episode is brought to you by Cargill Dairy Nutrition.No two dairies are alike, Cargill Dairy doesn’t expect them to be. When your dairy faces challenges, you need a partner with an original approach. Cargill has their own world-class research labs, developed their own proprietary nutrition software, and fostered an original team approach… all to deliver profitability on YOUR terms. Partner with a nutrition company as original as you are: cargillanimalnutrition.com/original02:31 Greg's Role at Cargill03:40 What Army Rangers Do05:08 From Military to Cargill07:16 Life in Dairy Consulting08:59 Mission and Values Leadership12:38 Building Culture and Trust15:49 Leading Under Pressure19:18 No Decision Is a Decision21:35 Infinite Game Mindset25:10 Better Questions Better Leadership26:20 Execute Iterate Lesson27:51 Vision for the Team29:11 Rallying Through Tough Times33:49 Morning Routine and Journals35:43 Nonnegotiables and Balance37:11 Hardest Leadership Lesson39:16 Purpose in Dairy Industry40:50 Rapid Fire Leadership Round47:18 Problem Solving and OODA Loop
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  345 | From Farm Kid to Risk Advisor | Brandon Weigel on What Dairy Producers Are Missing 14.05.2026 21min

  At Central Plains Dairy Expo, Peggy Coffeen caught up with Ever.Ag risk advisor, Brandon Weigel, a Wisconsin farm-raised entrepreneur who started raising show pigs at 12 and later entered risk management through a 4-H club connection. Weigel explains his role managing grain sell-side risk, dairy feed buying risk, and beef-on-dairy price risk, contrasting grain cashflow-driven sales with year-round dairy feed purchasing. He discusses major industry shifts he has observed in his career thus far, including rapid growth in beef-on-dairy breeding and increased market volatility.Ever.Ag partners with dairy producers to build customized risk management plans that help protect margins in any market environment. With dedicated advisors, industry leading technology, and proven tools like Dairy Revenue Protection, we help farms reduce uncertainty and secure long‑term financial strength.  Learn more at https://ever.ag/.01:40 Farm Roots and Show Pigs03:44 Entrepreneurship at 1204:08 4-H Connection to Ever.Ag04:53 Job Shadow to Career07:10 Day to Day Risk Advisor08:39 Lessons and Mentors10:51 Grain vs. Feed Strategy11:41 Market Shifts and Volatility14:07 Emotion vs. Fundamentals15:50 2026 Outlook Beef and Feed18:20 Rapid Fire and Wrap Up