Uplevel Dairy Podcast

Latest Episodes:

95 | Women Leading the Way at Pagel Family Businesses: From Grief to Growth with Jamie Pagel Witcpalek Mar 19, 2024

Show notes

This week, we bring you a 3-part series, as we celebrate the month of March: the month of women’s history, international women’s day, as well as National Agriculture Day.

What better way to do this than in Kewaunee, Wisconsin, at Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy, with three very special guests from Pagel Family Businesses … three women who have risen to the challenge to be leaders … here at the dairy, in their community and far beyond.

This family has overcome hardship, in particular, the tragic loss of well-loved industry leader and the family’s patriarch, John T. Pagel, along with his son-in-law, Steve Witcpalek, six years ago.

Yet, the family has rallied together to carry on a legacy and a business.

In this episode, Jamie Pagel Witcpalek, chairwoman of Pagel Family Businesses, opens up about loss, grief and moving forward.

Tune into the next two episodes in this series to hear from:

Chase Pagel on Sharing Dairy’s Story
Ashley Pagel on Empowering People

Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Our dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs.
For more information, contact the Compeer Dairy Industry Experts .

94 | 3 Things the Top 10% of Dairy Producers Do Mar 14, 2024

Show notes

In 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 hedge against uncontrollable market volatility.

The three things that Leland sees the top 10% of dairy farmers doing are:

Being extremely knowledgeable on the details of the business
Having an action plan around risk management
Being cognizant of what it takes to be a reputable business

This episode is brought to you by HighGround Dairy

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. Learn more about them below or at ⁠https://www.highgrounddairy.com/⁠.

93 | How to Pass On a Multi-million Dollar Dairy Farming Business: 3 Critical Questions for Succession Success with Leland Kootstra Mar 12, 2024

Show notes

In 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 importance of early and ongoing dialogue between generations to ensure successful transitioning of the family dairy businesses.
Three critical questions posed to the senior generation to help them identify their vision of success, ideal transition timelines, and their willingness to re-invest in their current business if given a chance to start over.
Corresponding in-depth questions directed at the incoming generation aimed at understanding their definition of success, skillset gaps, and their long-term perspective on the regional dairy industry.
The emotional and familial sensitivity surrounding transition planning and the role of an advisor in facilitating healthy conversations.
Insights on the dynamic industry, changing expectations, and how generational goals can inform and sometimes transform the succession planning process.

This episode is brought to you by HighGround Dairy

92 | Pursuing Greatness with Hans Nederend - Part 2: Perseverance and Living on Purpose Mar 07, 2024

Show notes

Hans Nederend isn’t only committed to producing high-quality milk on his dairies. He’s also committed to living a high-quality life. Whether it’s leading his family or leading his team, hear how Hans keeps his faith at the center of his roles as both a dad and a dairyman.

In his responses to the “Uplevel 5,” Hans talks about:

The book that changed his life and his leadership
The Calvin Coolidge quote on his business card
Honoring God by living out your purpose

92 | Pursuing Greatness with Hans Nederend - Part 1: Secrets to World-class Milk Quality Mar 05, 2024

Show notes

What does it take to maintain milk quality at a level of less than 75,000 SCC on 9,000 cows for 15 consecutive years?

You might be surprised.

We are catching up with Hans Nederend III from Nederend Dairies in Marsing, Idaho, who shared his secrets to milk quality success at the 2024 National Mastitis Council Annual Meeting.

A past National Dairy Quality Award winner, Hans talks about:

✅ Consistency, persistency and his daily tracking spread sheet

✅ His performance-based pay system

✅ How he motivates his team of milking professionals

👀 Spoiler alert: He doesn’t talk about any magical technology, tube or treatment.

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.

91 | WonderCow: A California Dairy Family’s Faith-filled Journey to Create a Superfood Supplement Feb 29, 2024

Show notes

In 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 challenges of Amazon and the supply chain

And the faith-filled journey of building the WonderCow brand.

Find WonderCow: https://wondercow.com/

Follow WonderCow:

@wondercow on Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok

90 | Young Leader Madison Busse, United Dairies, Alexandria, Minnesota Feb 27, 2024

Show notes

She manages 15 employees, 1,200 baby calves and 700 maternity cows … and she’s just 24 years old.

Our Uplevel Dairy Young Leader today is Madison Busse, Calf and Maternity Manager for Minnesota-based United Dairies.

The Ohio native didn’t grow up on a dairy but learned to love it, and while her path was originally to become a large animal veterinarian, an internship with a calf raiser prompted a change of heart and change of direction that led her to Alexandria, Minnesota, to a position where she can’t wait to get out of bed every day … the perfect combination of being hands-on with calves and cows, working with people and being part of a culture that supports her in being successful as a young manager at United Dairies.

Find out how she is forging her path in a field that some people actually discouraged her from pursuing and why she loves giving baby calves and cows a chance to thrive, with Madison Busse.

The Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast is the special podcast series for producers and professionals in the first 5 years of their dairy careers. Find it on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, as well as its own platform, Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.

Join the Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/792440762650346/

89 | Record-Low Heifer Inventories, Record-High Credit Card Debt and New Crop Projections: HighGround Dairy February Monthly Market Update Feb 22, 2024

Show notes

Today’s big question: With heifer inventories at historic lows and global milk production trending lower in 2024, we seem to be poised for better milk prices compared to 2023, so what's your action plan to capitalize on this opportunity?

If this question has you thinking, you’ve come to the right place, because Curtis Bosma is joining us for the HighGround Dairy Monthly Market Update.

In this episode, hear more about:

The supply update for heifer inventory & global milk production
The demand update for milk spot basis, credit card debt & milk fat
New crop balance sheets for corn and soybeans

This episode is brought to you by HighGround Dairy

Curtis Bosma is vice president of producer services for HighGround Dairy. You can download your own producer market update here: ⁠https://www.highgrounddairy.com/comprehensive-gdt-auction-analysis-20-february-2024/

88 | 3 Steps to Set Up Middle Managers for Success + the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association Annual Meeting with Clint Al-Ag Feb 20, 2024

Show notes

On 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 competencies but alignment with core values and desire to be a leader

Reinforcing the chain of command
Ongoing support for new managers

Join Clint and other producers and industry professionals who specialize in raising dairy calves, heifers and cross calves at the 2024 DCHA Annual Meeting.

2024 DCHA Annual Meeting

April 9-11, 2024 | Westminster Colorado
To register, sponsor, or exhibit in the trade show: https://calfandheifer.org/2024-annual-meeting-agenda-2/

Dairy Calf and Heifer Association (DCHA)

www.calfandheifer.org

87 | Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders featuring Emily Shaw Schaapman, Dairy Girl Fitness Feb 15, 2024

Show notes

And our featured Young Leader today is Emily Shaw Schaapmann, also known as the Dairy Girl Fitness, shares the career journey that led her to starting her own business.

Describing her initial struggles finding her place in the dairy industry and experiencing career frustration, Emily discusses how she channeled her passions for health, fitness, and dairy promotion into establishing Dairy Girl Fitness. Five years later, this business has helped more than 500 women reach their health goals and includes a team of four coaches.

Follow Emily Shaw Schaapman on Social

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/DairyGirlFitness/⁠
Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/dairygirlfitness/⁠
Podcast: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/cowgirltalk/⁠
YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNADOKh4JsW_Lp7gGVfyyYQ⁠
Website: ⁠https://dairygirlfitness.com/⁠

Join the Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/792440762650346/⁠

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