Uplevel Dairy Podcast

Latest Episodes:

125 | From Flatline to Finish-line; Marathons, Milk & Mindset Jun 12, 2024

Show notes

Running the race of her life, Rachel Eslick was minutes away from achieving her dream of qualifying for the Boston Marathon. With a traumatic change in her race, Rachel was forced to pick herself up and reevaluate what her next steps were. Reflecting on her dairy farming family values of resilience, determination, and hard work, she leaned into this to shift her mindset and become her favorite self. Rachel has taken a setback to an incredible comeback, not only in her running ambitions but through her business, health, and mindset.

This Episode is Brought to you in Collaboration with STtalks and STgenetics

Connect with STtalk to follow along in this six part series below!

Listen to STtalks here: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sttalks/⁠

Learn more about ST Genetics: ⁠https://www.stgen.com/

Make sure to join the Uplevel Dairy email list below to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox. To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!

Subscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJA⁠
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124 | How Milk is Winning New Consumers with Wellness Jun 11, 2024

Show notes

Milk has a whole new story to tell. Eve Pollet, senior vice president of strategic intelligence at Dairy Managment Inc. (DMI) joins us to share the consumer trends that are creating a hunger for health and wellness solutions, the emerging research around milk’s super-food characteristics and how she and her team are positioning dairy to capture more dollars in the marketplace and add more value back to the dairy farmer.

This Episode is Brought to you in Collaboration with STtalks and STgenetics

Listen to STtalks here: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sttalks/⁠

Learn more about ST Genetics: ⁠https://www.stgen.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

123 | Bar 20 Dairy Capturing the Power of Sustainability Jun 10, 2024

Show notes

When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, for Steve Shehadey of Bar 20 Dairy, life gave his family cow manure, and with that they make energy. For the 4th generation dairy farm, capturing the power of sustainability came naturally to them, since 2007 they have been pioneering the way within the energy sector of the dairy industry. Bar 20’s efforts have led to incredible industry achievements, in 2023 they were named Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year by the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and have now partnered with BMW North America and California Bioenergy to harness the energy their 25-million-gallon methane digester produces.

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

122 | Jones Dairy Expands Consumer Connection Jun 09, 2024

Show notes

When Jones Dairy near Spencer, Iowa, expanded their Jersey herd and built a 64-stall rotary parlor last year, they not only sought to optimize efficiency and cow comfort, but they also designed their new facility with a flair of hospitality, to accommodate the many visitors that stop by their farm each year.

Aaron Titterington, one of the farm’s partners, joins us to explain how they have incorporated a self-guided experience with education and a viewing window for passers-by, as well as formalized larger group tours to accommodate everyone from school children to retirees, in Jones Dairy’s efforts to educate consumers and connect them to cows, farming and food.

Find and follow Jones Family Dairy here:

https://www.facebook.com/jonesfamilydairy

https://jonesfamilydairy.com

121 | STtalks & Uplevel Dairy Introduce a Six Part Series to Celebrate June Dairy Month Jun 07, 2024

Show notes

We’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/

Learn more about ST Genetics: https://www.stgen.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

120 | Think Outside the Box: How to Cut Labor Costs and Max Out Milk in Automated Milking Systems Jun 04, 2024

Show notes

If you tuned in to hear Jessica Pralle-Trimner from Miltrim Farms talk about managing 30 robots under one roof on Ep. 118, you may recall her mention of Pauly Paul from Complete Management Consulting and the efficiency audit that helped their dairy regroup pens to spend less time on herd management tasks, reorganize and reduce labor to save money and make this barn more efficient, profitable and an even better place for cows and people.

Take a listen to Pauly Paul as he shares his “outside the box” approach to helping robot dairies improve profitability and efficiency.

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

This Episode is Sponsored by Complete Management Consulting

Contact Pauly Paul

www.CompleteManagementConsulting.com
completemanagementconsulting@gmail.com
920-418-3135

119 | World Milk Day with Dairy Discovery at Swisslane Farms Jun 01, 2024

Show notes

In this special bonus episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we are raising a glass to World Milk Day by appreciating the hard work of dairy farmers globally.

The episode delves into Dairy Discovery, a Michigan-based nonprofit that connects consumers to their food through on-farm experiences. Founder Annie Link of Swiss Lane Farms and Executive Director Renee McCauley discuss Dairy Discovery's origin, mission and impact.

They share stories of farm tours, educational camps, and community events that help bridge the gap between consumers and the dairy industry, while highlighting future goals to expand their impact and invite listeners to get involved.

The episode rounds out with details on their World Milk Day celebrations, including an all-you-can-eat cereal bar event. Additionally, Dylan Brockshus from Adisseo, the episode sponsor, shares his personal connection to the dairy industry and his own plans to celebrate World Milk Day.

To support the Dairy Discovery:

https://www.dairydiscovery.org/
Follow: https://www.facebook.com/DairyDiscovery
Phone: 616-868-6735
renee@dairydiscovery.org

Make sure to help celebrate World Milk Day with #worldmilkday and #enjoydairy!

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

118 | 30 Robots Under One Roof: Right Data, Right Cows, Right Time May 30, 2024

Show notes

Do you ever wish you had a 24-hour herdsperson, who never showed up late, never complained and could pick up on a problem with a cow before you could?

Well, that’s what automation has done for Jessica Pralle Trimner, the dairy manager at Miltrim Farms in Athens, Wis., home to 30 Lely A5 milking robots and 1,800 cows under one roof, alongside a 1,400-cow conventional herringbone parlor and freestall facility at the same site.

I met up with Jessica at Miltrim’s event center, the Milkhaus, to talk about the suite of technology that allows her team to focus on the right data and the right cows, at the right time.

We talk about:

Using real-time data to transform transition cow management
Empowering employees with data-driven insights
And the grouping strategy that has pushed the envelope on elite performance.

Plus, we catch up with Jessica about her “one word” for 2024: Presence.

And listen to Jessica's One-Word episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5wus0sznNiGNTqH3f3Ffkz?si=aGkGmRV3TC2g8X85uOglQg

And just like the tech in their collars, this episode in our High-Performance MIndset Series is powered by Nedap.

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 to more episodes in this series below.

117 | Jerome Meyer: Fighting Cancer, Finding Purpose and the Power of a Positive Mindset May 28, 2024

Show notes

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

116 | Mastering a Marathon Mindset with Clare Alderink May 24, 2024

Show notes

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

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

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