Uplevel Dairy Podcast

Latest Episodes:

154 | Young Leader: Lexie Nunes Sep 10, 2024

Show notes

In 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 Genetics to now supporting dairy producers with advanced herd management systems.

Lexie recounts her adventures that have taken her from California to Ohio, then Texas, and back, noting how dairy judging opened doors to various opportunities. She emphasizes the importance of communication skills developed through judging and the invaluable experiences she gained during her collegiate and professional life. Lexie also highlights the major challenges she faced, particularly the intimidation of entering the dairy industry as a young professional and the importance of seeking help and staying open to growth. This episode offers rich insights into the career of a young professional making significant contributions to the dairy industry.

Are you a young professional or college student who is looking to make connections and hear stories of others and their paths to successful careers in dairy? If so, I have a special invitation for you:

Join me at World Dairy Expo in Madison WI on Monday, Sept 30 for the National Dairy Shrine and Young Professionals Luncheon and Career Connection to hear a panel of three young professionals who will share their experiences and how you can prepare for your next steps in the dairy industry. This panel features Rachel Kurth, MILC Group, Jared Dueppengiesser, Acepsis and Nick Randle, Zoetis.

Reserve your spot here:

https://forms.gle/nrvTQDpn91my6Vgb6

153 | Military Meets Dairy Farm Management: Nick Vander Weerd, CFO, Pleasant Dutch Dairy Sep 05, 2024

Show notes

Freedom. Who doesn’t want more of that?

A phone that rings less.

Fewer fires to put out.

A team you can trust to take care of things as if it were their own, so that you can focus on the tasks and plans that move your business forward.

My guest today not only values freedom, but fights for it, as a major in the South Dakota National Guard. And he’s taken what he has learned about leadership to empower his team to solve problems, make sound decisions and take ownership of the operation.

I met up with Nick Vander Weerd, CFO of Pleasant Dutch Dairy in Brookings, South Dakota, to find out how he relates his 25 years of military experience to the leadership strategies implemented at the dairy, hear it right here on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast.

Nick shares how he empowers employees by training them to be decision-makers at all levels and giving them the tools to solve problems that save time and money - in fact, one you will hear him talk about is ,Milc Pulse from the Milc Group - a pulsation monitoring technology that changed the game at Pleasant Dutch Dairy.

And,Nick discusses the future of the dairy industry in South Dakota, how he manages risk, and his personal philosophy of resilience, positivity, and continuous improvement.

This episode is sponsored in partnership with the Milc Group.

Milc Group is a dairy software company that brings real-time, actionable data to dairy farms across the world by revolutionizing the dairy industry with user-friendly cloud-based software. ONE™ by Milc Group is the all-in-one app that brings together all the important aspects of your dairy in one place.

Heading to WDE? Learn what the future of dairy software looks like with Milc Group at World Dairy Expo. Milc Group will be in the Exhibition Hall all week long at booth 4323. Go see for yourself all the solutions they have to offer when it comes to managing your dairy. Their cloud-based software brings all the important aspects of your dairy into ONE easy-to-use app.

Milc Group: ⁠https://www.milcgroup.com/⁠
Milc Pulse: ⁠https://www.milcgroup.com/product/facility⁠

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152 | Young Leader: Brianna Meyer Sep 03, 2024

Show notes

We catch up with Young Leader Brianna Meyer at Siemers Holsteins in Newton, Wis., just days after completing her summer internship at this newly built facility.

Find out how she expanded her skills from the 130-cow robot dairy she grew up on in Chilton, Wis., to integrating with a high-performing team on a 5,500-cow dairy, and how these experiences have prompted this aspiring large animal veterinarian to head into her sophomore year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a burning desire to grasp every opportunity to learn, grow and push herself to bring the highest value to her future veterinary clients.

This Episode is Brought to you by Adisseo

This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components, and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more at https://www.adisseo.com/en/

151 | Mindset Mini-Series: My 5 Hot Takes from “The Confident Mind” Aug 31, 2024

Show notes

If you are someone who is looking to gain confidence for yourself or help build confidence in people you manage or coach, or maybe even the kids you are raising, there are some nuggets in this book that I believe you will find valuable and useful. And that’s why I’m sharing with you on this bonus Uplevel Dairy Podcast today the cliff notes and my own key takeaways from the book, The Confident Mind by Nate Zinsser.

This book was suggested to me by Clare Alderink, he really found value in it as he prepared for his marathons, and I picked it up and not only found that it helped me personally but has been an excellent teaching tool, as a marathon runner, a mom and a coach in my favorite competitive sport: Dairy Quiz Bowl.

150 | Mindset Mini-Series: Jerome Meyer: Fighting Cancer, Finding Purpose and the Power of a Positive Mindset Aug 28, 2024

Show notes

Mindset Mini-Series: This week on Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we’re bringing back a few of your favorite conversations from top performers in the dairy business.

Everyone has two lives. The second one starts when you realize you only have one. A positive mindset is easy, when things in our lives our easy. But when we realize we are facing the battle of our lives, for our lives, there is no greater test of faith, perseverance and hope, And our guest today shares his personal journey over the course of the past year. At 39 years old, Jerome Meyer, area business manager for Zoetis, was at the top of his game. Leading his team as they helped dairy clients achieve their goals, an avid runner … and from the outside, every indication would say he was the pillar of health. Until an unexpected cancer diagnosis last year. While his health may have had its ups and downs, what remained steadfast was his positive mindset. In fact, this experience has connected Jerome to a faith he hadn’t found before, a magnified appreciation for his colleagues and the dairy community and given him an even stronger purpose in how he lives each and every day. It’s with great honor and gratitude that Jerome has allowed me to share his journey with you, right here on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast. 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. Guest: Jerome Meyer Area Business Manager, Zoetis Cell: 262.949.5854 jerome.meyer@zoetis.com Subscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJA Want to get new episodes in your inbox? Subscribe here: https://www.upleveldairy.com/subscribe

149 | Mindset Mini-series: Mastering a Marathon Mindset Aug 27, 2024

Show notes

Mindset Mini-Series: This week on Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we’re bringing back a few of your favorite conversations from top performers in the dairy business.

Back on Episode 100, Clare Alderink, manager at Ryzebol Dairy in Michigan, joined Tommy Oesch from Swiss Lane Farms to talk about doing hard things, like running 4 miles every 4 hours in 48 hours, the 75 hard challenge … and if you recall, Clare also mentioned he was training for an upcoming marathon. Well, I caught up with Clare just days after he crossed the finish line of the Kalamazoo Marathon. When I asked Clare how the race went, his simple response was this: It was hard. Clare had been training for months to not only condition his body with the miles, but as you will find out, more importantly, strengthen his mindset … and that is what got him through an unexpected challenge, all the way to the finish. Listen to find out how this dairy manager-turned-marathon runner views running in much the same way as managing the dairy: - From developing discipline and consistency - To defining which data points really improve performance in the barn and on the road - And practicing patience for the long run … no pun intended. Recommended read: The Confident Mind by Dr. Nate Zinsser Hear more from Clare on Ep. 100: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/nC8xDGc0OJb

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148 | Mindset Mini-Series: The Mindset of a High-Performing Manager Aug 26, 2024

Show notes

Mindset Mini-Series: This week on Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we’re bringing back a few of your favorite conversations from top performers in the dairy business.

Dairy manager Scott Blevins shares the habits, routines and principles that build his resilience and endurance to stay on top of his game while managing 6,500 cows, 6,600 youngstock and a team of people at Wiese Bros. Farms in Greenleaf, Wisconsin. What you’ll learn: - Staying physically, mentally and spiritually strong - Finding balance in a non-stop business - What Scott wishes he would have known 17 years ago when he started a career as a dairy manager - Scott’s core principles that create the culture at Wiese Bros. Farms

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147 | From Grain Forecasts to Dairy Profits: HighGround Dairy August Monthly Market Update Aug 22, 2024

Show notes

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 report’s impact on corn and soybean projections, tight milk supplies driving up cheese prices, and the continued orderly rally in butter. Curtis also discusses insights on risk management, margin optimization, and how dairy producers can remain resilient amidst market volatility. Alex's detailed resources on federal milk marketing orders are highlighted, offering valuable tools for producers to navigate complex market dynamics.
This episode is brought to you by:
HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain.
Information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes and is not a solicitation to buy or sell commodities. Opinions expressed are current opinions as of Aug. 19 at 4 p.m. CST and only represent the views of the speaker and not those of HighGround Trading, unless otherwise expressly noted.

146 | Leading with Courage and Confidence: Katie Coyne Aug 20, 2024

Show notes

Do you ever stop and think about those people that never had to help you along the way? But they did. The ones that reached out with encouragement, that advocated for you when they didn't have to. The ones that believed in you at times when you didn't even yet know believe in yourself.

Well, my guest today is one of those people. She is a woman who has done exactly that for so many youth in the dairy industry. And at one point in time, I was one of those, and that's why it's my greatest pleasure and greatest honor to welcome to the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Katie Coyne.

And not too long ago, I had heard that she was in her final stages of her time on this side of heaven and I realized that now was the time for me to pay that back. To sit down with someone who had been a part of so many other people's dairy stories and to tell her own dairy story. And to capture the wisdom of a woman who has been a tireless advocate for dairy youth
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145 | Maximizing Efficiency on the Feed Pad: Lessons from Trillium Hill Dairy Aug 15, 2024

Show notes

Join me for this bonus feature with Mike and Ben Jones from Trillium Hill Dairy in Wisconsin, who have revolutionized feed pad design by creating a system that efficiently separates rainwater from manure leachate. This innovation helps dairy farms reduce hauling costs, minimize environmental impact, and significantly cut down on infrastructure expenses. Let's dive into this conversation to discover how their design could benefit dairy operations around the country.

In this episode, Mike and Ben Jones discuss the inception of their innovative feed pad design, crafted to keep clean rainwater out of manure pits. They detail how their system uses plastic barriers and a unique manhole cover solution to channel rainwater separately, achieving up to 95% discharge rate directly into road ditches without additional permits. This efficient system not only saves on manure pumping costs but also allows dairy farmers to optimize their existing manure storage facilities, fostering both economic and environmental sustainability.

Learn more about this system by contacting Mike and Ben with Dairy Nutrient Reclamation at DairyNutrientReclamation@gmail.com

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