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What does it take to build a dairy legacy that continues to move the industry forward? For Pat Maddox's of RuAnn Dairy and Maddox Dairy in California, innovation has been part of the family business for nearly 70 years. In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen visits with Pat at World Dairy Expo to explore his family's history of early adoption, from pioneering facility designs and embryo transfer to today's advancements in cow health monitoring. Pat shares how real-time data from smaXtec bolus technology helps his team identify sick cows earlier, navigate labor challenges and make more informed decisions. He also explains how he evaluates new technology, why he looks for at least a four-to-one return on investment and what advancements he hopes to see next in dairy genetics and cow health. It's a conversation about honoring a legacy while continuing to ask one important question: What if there's a better way? smaXtec is the internal health management system for dairy cows. The unique bolus technology measures internal temperature, rumination, drinking cycles, activity, and more. smaXtec helps dairy farmers of any size make confident, data-driven decisions that lead to healthier cows, fewer treatments, and better performance. With early detection and 24/7 monitoring, dairies can stay ahead of herd health issues and focus on long-term herd success. Find out more: https://smaxtec.com/us/ 00:00 — A Family Legacy Built on Dairy Innovation01:55 — Three Generations of Dairy Farming in California02:56 — Pat Maddox: The Mindset Behind Early Adoption04:10 — The First TMR Mixers and Freestall Barns in the West05:00 — Pioneering Changes in Milking and Milk Quality05:47 — Golden Genes: Building a Progeny Testing Program06:11 — Exporting Dairy Cattle Around the World07:05 — Getting Started With Embryo Transfer07:57 — How Embryo Transfer Changed the Herd09:13 — Diversifying Through Genetics and Embryo Marketing10:24 — The Fiesta Sale: Bringing the Dairy Community Together12:19 — Continuing the Legacy Through Embryo Technology13:16 — The Biggest Game Changer: Improving Herd Genetics13:36 — Designing a Mega Dairy in the Early 1980s14:26 — Building a Blueprint That Influenced Dairies Worldwide15:06 — Bringing New Technology Inside the Cow15:48 — Implementing smaXtec Before Avian Influenza16:30 — Why Internal Temperature Matters for Early Detection17:36 — Using Real-Time Data to Manage Cow Health18:21 — How Early Detection Helped During Avian Influenza19:19 — Changing Daily Cow Checks With Health Monitoring20:12 — Catching Sick Cows Before Symptoms Become Visible20:49 — Technology and Today’s Dairy Workforce22:18 — Getting the Whole Team Comfortable With Technology23:01 — Sharing Experiences With Other Dairy Producers24:32 — How to Evaluate a New Technology Investment25:09 — Why Pat Looks for a 4-to-1 Return25:51 — What’s Next? The Future of Cow Monitoring26:17 — Measuring Fertility and Embryo Potential27:00 — Breeding for Healthier, More Efficient Cows27:49 — What the Next 10 Years Could Bring for Holsteins29:18 — The Center of the Dairy World: World Dairy Expo30:08 — The Uplevel Challenge: Keep Asking “What If?”

Leadership doesn't always begin in a boardroom. For Taylor Novak of EA Risk, formerly Ever.Ag, it started with showing beef cattle, taking on leadership opportunities at Iowa State University and learning to embrace the unfamiliar. In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Taylor joins Peggy Coffeen at World Dairy Expo to share her growth path from beef cattle and feed sales into the dairy industry and her current role as Business Development Manager at EA Risk. She reflects on the mentors who encouraged her, the experiences that built her confidence and the importance of stepping outside her comfort zone to grow. Taylor also shares how understanding different personalities and adapting communication styles can strengthen relationships across generations and teams. From staying connected to her roots to helping dairy producers succeed, this conversation offers practical lessons for young professionals and anyone looking to become a stronger leader in agriculture. EA Risk, formerly Ever.Ag Risk Management, 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://ea-risk.carrd.co/ 00:00 — Leadership Lessons Beyond the Boardroom01:56 — Meet Taylor Novak of EA Risk02:12 — Connecting People and Serving Dairy Producers03:15 — From Beef Cattle to the Dairy Industry04:14 — Growing Up Showing Cattle and Staying Connected to the Farm05:27 — How Farm Experience Shapes Customer Relationships06:16 — Finding Her Path and Purpose in Agriculture08:12 — Advice for Young Professionals Finding Their Way08:34 — Leadership Lessons from Iowa State University09:50 — The Mentors Who Encouraged Her to Take a Leap11:01 — Taking Ownership and Leading by Doing12:09 — Motivating Others Through Hands-On Leadership12:29 — Giving Yourself Grace While Growing as a Leader13:15 — The Power of Mentorship15:32 — Adapting Your Communication to Different Personalities16:42 — Leaning on Your Team and Asking Good Questions17:55 — Understanding Generational Differences in Communication20:47 — What Drives Taylor to Serve Agriculture?22:18 — Her Evolution in Ever.Ag and EA Risk23:26 — Rapid-Fire Questions with Taylor26:22 — The Uplevel Challenge: Thank a Mentor and Be One for Someone Else

What is your dairy farm really worth—and does investing $1 million in facilities mean you’ve added $1 million in value? On this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen sits down with Brad Herkenhoff, a Senior Dairy Lending Specialist, and Shelby Borman, a Certified General Appraiser, from Compeer Financial to explore what drives dairy farm appraisals. They discuss rising land values, construction costs and the facility features that can make a property more attractive to potential buyers. The conversation also examines how location, functionality and expansion plans influence appraised value—and why the cost of a project may not match the value it adds. From financing growth to buying property and planning a farm transition, Brad and Shelby explain how an appraisal can be more than a lending requirement. Learn how understanding your farm’s value today can help you make more informed decisions for its future. 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. Visit https://www.compeer.com/specialists/dairy 00:00 — What Is Your Dairy Farm Really Worth? 00:28 — Meet the Compeer Financial Experts 01:26 — Understanding Dairy Appraisals 02:00 — Rising Land Values Across the Midwest 03:11 — Construction Costs and Facility Values 05:27 — Dairy Expansion: Growth Opportunities and Higher Costs 07:11 — Which Facility Improvements Add Value? 08:02 — Building for the Right Herd Size 09:52 — Planning Expansion in Phases 11:36 — How Location and Buyer Demand Affect Value 13:26 — When a Dairy Farm Is Harder to Sell 14:13 — Using Existing Equity to Support Growth 15:13 — Planning Capital Investments for the Long Term 16:19 — Why an Appraisal Can Help Before You Buy 17:14 — Appraisals and Farm Succession Planning 18:16 — Establishing a Starting Point for Farm Value 19:45 — Why Every Investment Doesn’t Return Dollar for Dollar 20:45 — Working With Your Lender and Appraiser 21:54 — The Uplevel Challenge: Know Your Farm’s Value 22:18 — Turning Appraisal Insights Into Better Decisions

What makes a great cow—and which breeding decisions shape the future of the Holstein breed? Recorded live during World Dairy Expo, this special edition of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast brings together Greg Andersen of Seagull Bay Dairy and WinStar Genetics, Idaho, Jordan Siemers of Siemers Holsteins, Wisconsin, and Andrew Steiner of Pine Tree Dairy, Ohio, for an open conversation about the cows and bulls that have influenced their breeding programs. They revisit influential cow families, discuss the sires that made a lasting impact, and share the stories behind pivotal purchases and unexpected matings. The conversation also explores the balance between genomic rankings and real-world performance, including strength, fertility, health traits, production and the ideal modern dairy cow. Looking ahead, the breeders consider genetic diversity, international bloodlines, evolving evaluations and the traits that will matter most to profitable herds. This episode is brought to you by EA Risk, Milc Group, smaXtec and United Sires.  EA Risk, formerly Ever.Ag Risk Management, 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://ea-risk.carrd.co/ Milc 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. smaXtec is the internal health management system for dairy cows. The unique bolus technology measures internal temperature, rumination, drinking cycles, activity, and more. smaXtec helps dairy farmers of any size make confident, data-driven decisions that lead to healthier cows, fewer treatments, and better performance. With early detection and 24/7 monitoring, dairies can stay ahead of herd health issues and focus on long-term herd success. Find out more: https://smaxtec.com/us/ United Sires is a partnership of well-known Holstein breeders from the United States bringing genetic solutions to dairy producers worldwide. Our mission, “Breed the Best, Better,” reflects the work we have been doing on our farms for generations. As multi-generational dairy farmers, we adhere to a simple yet powerful principle: We Milk What We Make. We understand the importance of breeding cattle that are profitable throughout their lifetimes, functional across all dairy enterprises, and aesthetically pleasing. Learn more at Unitedsires.com and follow on Facebook at United Sires and Instagram @unitedsiresofficial. 00:00 — Introducing The Breeders' Table 02:02 — Why These Breeders Wanted to Talk Genetics 07:07 — The Holstein Cows That Belong on Mount Rushmore 10:34 — The Foundation Cows Influencing Today’s Breeding Programs 16:50 — The Bulls That Changed Holstein Genetics 20:00 — Influential Sires and the Traits They Transmitted 30:00 — What Makes a Profitable, Modern Dairy Cow? 35:00 — Genomics, Type and Real-World Herd Performance 40:00 — Breeding Decisions, Unexpected Matings and Lessons Learned 46:20 — The Purchases and Cow Families That Changed Everything 50:31 — Rebuilding Maternal Lines and Preserving Genetic Diversity 53:24 — European Genetics and New Opportunities for the Breed 55:54 — Rapid-Fire Questions: Indexes, Size, Fat and Protein 1:00:00 — What Makes Breeding Holsteins Rewarding? 1:02:22 — The Decisions and People Shaping the Future of Genetics

What motivates someone to run 100 miles and bike another 100? For Jordan Matthews of Rosy-Lane Holsteins, the challenge was about more than endurance. It was an opportunity to raise funds for the UW Carbone Cancer Center and bring people together around a cause that matters.In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen talks with Jordan about the motivation behind his Crossing Wisconsin challenge, the personal experiences that shaped his mission, and the lessons he learned along the way.Jordan shares insights on resilience, mental health, leadership and the power of community, showing how a personal challenge can inspire others and make a difference beyond the miles.Support the UW Carbone Cancer Center: Help support the cause behind Jordan’s challenge by donating here: https://give.wiscmedicine.org/CrossingWisconsin 0:00 Crossing Wisconsin: 100 Miles Running, 100 Miles Biking 03:10 Honoring Loved Ones Through a Challenge 04:50 From the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan 06:55 How Cancer Close to Home Changed Jordan’s Perspective 08:00 From a First 5K to Ultramarathons 09:45 Finding a Purpose Bigger Than Yourself 13:55 Bringing Friends and the Dairy Community Along 17:35 Pushing Others Beyond What They Thought Possible 20:35 The Connection Between Physical Activity and Mental Health 34:00 Finding Clarity Away From Screens and Distractions 37:00 Getting Through the Darkest Hours of the Challenge 40:40 Reflecting on Loved Ones and Finding Strength 43:55 Supporting Cancer Research at the UW Carbone Cancer Center 45:20 Exceeding the Fundraising Goal 48:45 What’s Next at Rosy-Lane Holsteins? 52:45 You vs. You: Be a Little Better Than Yesterday

What does it take to prepare the next generation to lead a dairy farm before ownership officially changes hands? Peggy Coffeen visits B&B Dairy near Waupun, Wisconsin, to talk with father-son team Brent and Chase Harmsen about building trust, sharing responsibility and navigating farm succession. They discuss the evolution of their dairy, from a stanchion barn to robotic milking, along with improvements in forage quality, nutrition and calf care. Brent and Chase share lessons from a family buyout, including why communication, aligned goals and a written partnership agreement are essential. They also explain why giving the next generation room to make decisions and learn from mistakes can prepare them for future leadership. Discover how this family is building a stronger dairy business through collaboration, continuous improvement and planning ahead.This episode is brought to you by 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-solutions 00:00 Succession Starts Before the Handoff 01:58 From a Stanchion Barn to Robotic Milking 02:37 Why Chase Returned to the Family Farm 03:41 Learning, Growing and Taking on Responsibility 04:19 Dividing Roles Between Cows and Business Management 05:31 Challenges with Robotic Milking and Calf Health 06:56 Improving Forage Quality and Nutrition 08:34 Homegrown Feed, Soybeans and Feed Costs 11:07 What Makes High-Quality Forage? 15:36 Building Trust Through Responsibility 17:26 Improving Calf Facilities and Management 24:03 Cow Comfort, Health and Dairy Performance 26:30 Making Decisions Together Across Generations 30:32 Planning for the Future of the Dairy 32:40 Learning the Business Side of Farm Succession 35:14 Knowing When to Let Go 37:01 Why the Next Generation Needs Room to Make Mistakes 38:56 Lessons from a Family Buyout 40:34 Aligning Goals and Communicating Through Disagreements 41:48 Why Every Farm Partnership Needs an Exit Strategy 43:47 A Nutritionist's Perspective on the Partnership 45:16 Uplevel Takeaway: Transfer Responsibility, Not Just Assets

In this final Showbox Stories Live from the Tanbark episode filmed at World Dairy Expo, Peggy Coffeen and Tim Abbott of Showbox Sires interview Katie DiGangi of Darlington Ridge Dairy about the origins and goals behind the D-Ridge prefix, her family’s growing involvement in showing, and the values she hopes to pass to her daughters Mila and Paige. Katie explains how their tagline “passion, care, quality” guides decisions on their 4,500-cow dairy, how show cattle create responsibility and character for kids, and how CowManager helped improve herd metrics like pregnancy and cull rates. Along with that, the conversation celebrates the success of D-Ridge at the 2026 World Dairy Expo, including owning and exhibiting three class winners, breeding the junior champion of the Red & White show and taking home top honors for junior best three females, all quite a feat for a farm that only first stepped onto the colored shavings five years ago! This series is brought to you by CowManager. CowManager delivers 24/7 real-time data to help producers enhance herd health, fertility and nutrition. To learn more, contact your CowManager Specialist at Select Sires or visit CowManager.com. Website: https://www.cowmanager.com/Contact: https://www.cowmanager.com/contact/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CowManagerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cowmanagers/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cowmanager-bv/posts/?feedView=all\YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/cowmanager 01:46 Katie Takes Stage 03:22 A Magical Expo Day 05:47 Building D Ridge Brand 07:29 Why Show Cows 09:48 Raising Kids With Chores 12:47 Tech That Frees Time 14:53 Dreaming Future Stories 16:20 Mila The Deal Maker 17:42 Surprise Trophy Moment 19:45 Where To Find Showbox 21:10 Series Wrap And Thanks

In Part 4 of Showbox Stories Live from the Tanbark at World Dairy Expo, Peggy Coffeen and Tim Abbott of Showbox Sires welcome Dr. Sheila McGuirk from the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine to discuss her long involvement with the show, beginning in 1983 as a Holstein assistant and evolving into ring responsibilities and veterinary leadership. McGuirk explains the critical role of Expo veterinarians in health, welfare, safety, and preparing elite show cows for top performance, and describes bringing veterinary students to Expo for pre-unload health checks, an accredited experience that has introduced many students,often with no prior cow exposure, to dairy cattle and mentorship. She also shares the Hellenbrand Lasting Legacy Award, created after Mike Hellenbrand's passing in 2020, to support youth by awarding donated calves that are shown through Expo and sold via the World Classic Sale, with applications opening October 1 and closing January 1, 2027. For more information on this youth opportunity, visit https://hellenbrandlastinglegacy.com/ This series is brought to you by CowManager. CowManager delivers 24/7 real-time data to help producers enhance herd health, fertility and nutrition. To learn more, contact your CowManager Specialist at Select Sires or visit CowManager.com. Website: https://www.cowmanager.com/Contact: https://www.cowmanager.com/contact/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CowManagerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cowmanagers/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cowmanager-bv/posts/?feedView=allYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/cowmanager02:42 Dr. McGuirk's Expo Origins 04:32 Vet Team Behind Scenes 05:56 Training Show Athletes 06:55 Students Health Check Program 10:27 Mentoring Story Chicago Student 13:14 Helennbrand Legacy Award

Filmed live at World Dairy Expo for Showbox Stories: Live from the Tanbark, Peggy Coffeen and Tim Abbott welcome Clark Woodmansee and Bryan Voegeli to share unforgettable Expo memories, the influence of mentors, and the multi-generation family legacies behind Woodmansee Holsteins and Begley’s Brown Swiss, including Bryan’s family role in the Expo’s origins. They discuss why they return for competition, people, and learning, recall stories ranging from a near ring mishap to generational pride, and emphasize honesty, repeat customers, and mentorship as keys to lasting success, along with the prestige of the Klusendorf tradition. Tara Bohnert of CowManager then explains new calving alerts that monitor behavior within 14 days of due date to provide low/medium/high calving probability, helping teams manage maternity pens, intervene earlier, and support healthier cows and calves, while sharing her own Jersey show and mentor-driven dairy journey.This series is brought to you by CowManager.CowManager delivers 24/7 real-time data to help producers enhance herd health, fertility and nutrition. To learn more, contact your CowManager Specialist at Select Sires or visit CowManager.com.Website: https://www.cowmanager.com/Contact: https://www.cowmanager.com/contact/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CowManagerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cowmanagers/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cowmanager-bv/posts/?feedView=allYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/cowmanager02:59 Meet Clark and Bryan04:11 Why Expo Matters09:14 Unforgettable Expo Moments12:08 Generations on the Farm15:57 Sales and Customer Trust22:25 Advice for Young Breeders26:07 CowManager Calving Alerts32:08 Tara Showbox Story35:04 Mentors and Legacy

Welcome to Part 2 of Showbox Stories Live from the Tanbark at World Dairy Expo, where Peggy Coffeen and Tim Abbott sit down with Chris Hill of MD Hillbrook, as he recounts starting in 4-H judging in 1983, becoming a fitter, and learning from mentors that shaped his career. Hill emphasizes that success is about treating people well, taking risks, and evolving in the sales business, including creating the Bright Futures Sale Series during COVID and the Music City Celebration in Nashville (taking place Dec. 7, 2026). Additionally, Dr. Lori Nagel of CowManager explains the value of continuous lifetime monitoring from calves onward, using behavior, activity, eating and rumination data to prioritize care, evaluate management practices like vaccination, weaning and dehorning timing, and reduce long-term health impacts. This series is brought to you by CowManager.CowManager delivers 24/7 real-time data to help producers enhance herd health, fertility and nutrition. To learn more, contact your CowManager Specialist at Select Sires or visit CowManager.com. Website: https://www.cowmanager.com/Contact: https://www.cowmanager.com/contact/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CowManagerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cowmanagers/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cowmanager-bv/posts/?feedView=allYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/cowmanager 01:34 Barn Radio Memories 02:22 Meet Chris Hill 03:46 Early Expo and Fitting 05:45 Mentors and Old School Clipping 07:22 People First Success 09:18 Unforgettable Expo Moments 10:14 Old Barns and Icon Strings 14:34 Risk Taking and Bright Futures 17:12 Million Dollar Doc Story 18:26 Nashville Sale Preview 20:56 Meet Dr. Lori Nagel 22:17 Why Lifetime Monitoring Matters 24:39 Calf Alerts and Management Wins 27:37 Favorite Calf Story

Recorded live at World Dairy Expo, this kickoff episode of a five-part Showbox Stories series features Uplevel Dairy, Tim Abbott of Showbox Sires, and presenting sponsor CowManager. Peggy Coffeen and Tim introduce the idea that every showbox holds untold industry stories, and in this series they will be exploring just a fraction of them. Make sure to tune in all week to catch all of the guests! Guest Brian Leslie, Australian auctioneer, breeder, and lifelong cowman, recounts his first 1988 Expo trip inspiring International Dairy Week in Tatura, its youth focus, global mentorship, and challenges like securing facilities and breed-society conflict, and advises young people to listen, learn, and work responsibly. CowManager’s Jared Krull explains “Know What’s Next,” lifetime monitoring from calf to cow, and a milk sensor in development. This series is brought to you by CowManager.CowManager delivers 24/7 real-time data to help producers enhance herd health, fertility and nutrition. To learn more, contact your CowManager Specialist at Select Sires or visit CowManager.com. Website: https://www.cowmanager.com/Contact: https://www.cowmanager.com/contact/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CowManagerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cowmanagers/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cowmanager-bv/posts/?feedView=allYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/cowmanager 02:05 Showbox Stories Origins 06:32 Community Showbox Story 09:35 Introducing Brian Leslie 12:14 Expo Inspiration To IDW 14:43 Building IDW And Youth 20:35 Mentors And Advice 28:50 CowManager Knows What's Next 31:35 Milk Sensor And Future Tech

In this episode of the High-Performance Mindset Series powered by Nedap, Peggy Coffeen interviews Rodney Elliot, an Irish-born dairy farmer who, alongside his wife Dorothy and family, has spent 20 years building Drumgoon Dairy in South Dakota into a multi-site operation and helping launch the 5,000-cow County Line Dairy partnership, where a 100-stall rotary milks 100 cows about every eight minutes. Elliot explains how scaling became more manageable through specialized roles, simplified protocols, and shared systems across sites, including centralized data access via DairyComp and activity monitoring through Alta CowWatch powered by Nedap. Rodney details a high-performance reproduction program with one dedicated technician per farm, minimal hormonal intervention, and targets like 32–34% pregnancy rate, plus strategic heifer pipelines through Kansas Dairy Development. Elliot discusses labor challenges, using technology and sort gates to reduce pen walking, the importance of partners and buy-sell agreements, difficult build decisions like walking away from a biodigester plan, and focusing leadership energy on controllables such as repro, cow comfort, feed quality, and people. 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. 00:00 From Ireland to South Dakota 01:55 Meet Rodney Elliott 05:31 Scaling with Partners 07:37 Inside County Line 12:24 Building for Scale 14:04 Profitable Cow Goals 18:19 Defining Great Repro 20:35 Collars and CowWatch 22:07 One Tech Accountability 26:29 Morning Briefings 29:26 Labor and Monitoring 31:34 Trusting Simple Systems 32:37 Why Nedap 36:11 Collar Data Continuity 37:04 Trusting Tech and IT 38:49 Future Risks and Labor 48:41 Legacy and Transition 52:11 Building and Partnerships 53:25 Tough Calls Keep Simple 01:00:05 Advice and Wrap Up

Live from World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, Peggy Coffeen interviews House Agriculture Committee Chair Congressman G.T. Thompson ahead of his roundtable with the American Dairy Coalition. Thompson, a central Pennsylvania dairy farm native, highlights dairy priorities he has championed, including ongoing efforts to restore whole milk options in schools and updates included in “Farm Bill 1.0” signed July 4, 2025, such as modernizing Dairy Margin Coverage from 5 to 6 million pounds and offering a 25% multi-year sign-up discount, along with provisions affecting make allowances and milk marketing orders. The conversation centers on workforce needs and Thompson’s bipartisan Securing Agricultural Workforce Act, which would make year-round dairy eligible for the H-2A program by replacing “seasonal” with “temporary” (under 350 days). He urges listeners to contact Congress and the White House to pass SAWA now. Stay tuned for more exclusive conversations captured from World Dairy Expo coming out soon! 01:08 GT Thompson's Ag Roots 02:14 Whole Milk Push 03:18 Farm Bill Wins 05:52 Workforce Focus 06:35 SAWA Explained 08:32 Why Visas Matter 10:52 Call to Action 13:35 Wrap Up Thanks

Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen is onsite with Josh Webb, at multi-generational Heglar Creek Dairy near Declo, Idaho, a fifth-generation family operation that relocated from Utah in the mid-1970s and has since grown and diversified. Webb describes the family’s structured pathway into the business, requiring education, outside work, interviews, and defined roles, as well as a clear exit strategy including retirement expectations. He explains how the operation expanded into multiple enterprises, and how two nearby dairies differ in breeds and milking systems, including a 2018 Jersey robot barn with 18 Lely units. Webb discusses being early adopters of technology, adopting Milc group's cloud-based OneFeed and OneAnimal for real-time accuracy and integration, prioritizing “first who, then what” in hiring, using EOS-style meetings, and partnering with Danone, including transitioning to non-GMO feed and related regenerative changes. The episode emphasizes legacy as building people and work ethic so the next generation can keep evolving. This episode is brought to you by Milc Group. Milc 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. 02:33 Five Generations To Idaho 04:52 Earning Your Way Back 10:01 Diversifying Beyond Dairy 11:40 Rules For Entry And Exit 13:38 Two Dairies Two Systems 16:40 Why Build A Robot Barn 22:51 First Who Then What 25:02 Recruiting And Retaining Talent 26:56 Meetings Support And Tech Tools 29:57 Tech That Empowers Teams 30:59 OneFeed Simple Accuracy 34:56 Defining Dairy Success 36:14 Future Manager Skills 38:14 Partnering With Danone 42:13 Legacy Beyond The Farm 51:20 Work Ethic Sweat Pledge

Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy interviews longtime dairy industry leader Peter Coyne about the relationships that shaped his life and his responsibility to “pay it back to the next in line.” Coyne describes his path from growing up in western New York around Holsteins and influential cow people, to working with Pinehurst, attending UW–River Falls, managing and expanding dairy herds, enduring a difficult partnership exit, gaining key leadership experience at John Dee Farm, and later joining VitaPlus, where he contributes cow and people management skills. Ahead of World Dairy Expo, he shares his family’s involvement and his 41 years coaching dairy judging, emphasizing connection, culture, perseverance, learning through mistakes, and helping young people believe in themselves, often through simple acts like remembering names, giving time, and encouragement to keep moving. 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/ 07:20 From New York to Dairy Career 13:21 Hard Lessons and Big Leaps 16:06 Joining VitaPlus 19:40 Culture and Perseverance 25:44 Risk Taking Mindset 31:13 Giving Back Through Coaching 39:00 What Makes a Great Coach 47:55 Showing Cows Builds Grit 49:51 Learning Beside Great People 51:07 Mistakes Create Experience 54:54 Coach Versus Mentor 56:32 Mentoring Across Generations 01:01:05 Life Advice for Students 01:10:48 Parting Words and Payback 01:15:25 Expo Stories and Wins