MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

The Wisconsin Fairest of the Fairs program has been impacting people’s lives for over 60 years. Throughout the years, the sisterhood of the Fairests has remained a place where young women grow in confidence, poise and public speaking. But the community goes beyond the girls themselves. Nicole Nohl-Ress & Kevin C. Ress described themselves to me as Fairest of the Fair enthusiasts. They ta...

It takes a village to make a fair run and often the ringleaders are those on the fair boards. Melody Thiel is a new board member with the Calumet County Agricultural Association Board of Directors. Although she's only been in her role for a little under a year, Melody is no stranger to the fair. She tells Kiley Allan about her experience thus far. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...

When a person spends over a decade critiquing and analyzing cheese, it becomes second nature, as if it's a language you've been speaking since birth. Russell Smith recently judged at this year's World Championship Cheese Contest, an event that he's been judging at since 2012. He says that no matter your native language, the best cheeses speak to you. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

When people describe leadership training, it can encompass any number of theories and strategies to help understand the best ways to inspire a group of people with the goal to work together for a common cause. Fred Lohman is a supervisor as a cheese plant in Wisconsin and tells us what it means to lead ourselves before leading others. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coming off the success at the World Championship Cheese Contest, Dave Buholzer of Klondike Cheese tells Stephanie Hoff about his family's 100-year journey. From milk cans in 1925 to its current status as a world-class, multi-generational powerhouse, Klondike is an example of how cheesemaking has evolved. Buholzer discusses the evolution of dairy technology, the strategic shifts in cheesemaking to...

Wisconsin has adopted a waiver suspension on testing for Porcine Reproductive & Respiratory Syndrome(PRRS) as well as Porcine Epidemic Virus (PEDv) in the states hog population. The waiver brings some relief to the states pork producers after uncertainty on how far a proposed rule revision would advance.  The draft rule was approved by the DATCP Board on January 29th, and by the Governor...

The Dairy Business Innovation Alliance or DBIA gives out grants every year to businesses within the dairy industry to help them start, grow, and renovate. One of the more unique recipients makes vodka using sheep whey. Scott Kring, a co-owner of Birch Point Distillery in Westby, shares how this process works and what the grant was used for at their facility. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Beef plants across the country have been closing, and this is due to a multitude of reasons. One of these reasons is the historically low number of cattle within the US. Brenda Boetel, the department chair and professor of agricultural economics at UW-River Falls, shares a more in depth look at these closures and why Argentine imports of beef may not necessarily be bad. See omnystudio.com/listener...

Dr. Tera Montgomery, Director at the School of Agriculture, University of Wisconsin-Platteville says they've got a lot to offer students and industry.  In her conversation with Kiley Allan, Montgomery says campus offers seven majors, including animal science and ag-business. Enrollment is rising due to Wisconsin’s direct admission policy and a growing student interest in precision...

Determination is an unwritten characteristic of anyone involved in agriculture.  The 2026 Groundbreaker award winners, presented by Compeer Financial, exemplify that determination.  The selected winners are Bryanna and Dylan Handel of Barneveld.  There story has taken many turns over the past decade, but they remain determined to pursue their passion for agriculture.  Pam Jahnk...

Stephanie Hoff sits down with Alison Pfau, a bilingual regional dairy educator, and Trisha Wagner, Farm Management Program manager, to explore the launch of the Forward Farm Safety Toolbox. This is a research-based initiative designed to help farmers lead their own interactive safety discussions. The program moves away from traditional classroom lectures toward practical, bilingual modules that ad...

Wisconsin dairy farmer and DFW Board Member Annaliese Wegner shares how everyday farm management translates into impactful industry leadership. She explores how the farmer-led checkoff creates unity among over 5,000 diverse operations to build global demand and protect consumer trust. Whether milking 30 cows or 3,000, Annaliese encourages all producers to lend their perspective to ensure a strong...

Beef is back in the center of the plate thanks to the new Dietary Guidelines that influence all food programs funded by the government, explains J. Garrett Edmonds, senior director of government affairs with the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. But how can beef producers keep that momentum going? Edmonds talks to Bob Bosold.  A beautiful day on the horizon with near-record highs. But wh...

Stephanie Hoff visits with the new FISC Program Director Mary Holle, who dairies in Baldwin. FISC is a 16-week course specifically designed for the "slow season," running from the last week of October to the second week of March. Students spend roughly 80 percent of their time at the Mann Valley Lab Farm, working directly with cows, silages, and industry professionals. While the current curriculum...

Veterinarian Kendra Wells with Valley Veterinary Clinic tells Stephanie Hoff that the dairy industry has shifted its perspective on calves, moving from seeing them as future earners to recognizing them as the immediate, high-value "future of the farm." Due to the use of sexed semen and beef semen, farms are raising fewer replacement heifers, meaning each individual calf must be of higher qual...

Wisconsin's dairy industry is thriving and always changing.  Looking for the "next big thing".  Some dairy sheep owners in western Wisconsin hope the next big thing is vodka.  From sheep whey.  Ben Jarboe gets the story from Scott Kring, Co-owner of Birch Point Distillery in Westby.  Thanks to a grant from the   Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA), Birch Point D...

UW-Badger standout and NFL Hall of Famer, Joe Thomas, has turned farmer in southwest Wisconsin.  Stephanie Hoff finds out what lured the offensive lineman to transition from field battles on turf, to field battles on pasture.  Thomas is using his halloffamebeef.com product to elevate awareness and raise funds for Blood Cancer United and the "Big Climb" event at Camp Randall May 16th. Sun...

Stephanie Hoff learns all about labneh at the 2026 World Championship Cheese Contest in Madison. Expert judge Aileen Kacvinsky discusses the debut of labneh, a versatile Middle Eastern-style cultured dairy product that balances the texture of sour cream with the tang of yogurt. The conversation highlights the global flavor trends influencing U.S. production. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

As cities like Madison, or counties like Dane, expand at record rates, we’re faced with a puzzle: how do we house a booming population without paving over the farmland that defines our state? Capital Area Regional Planning Commission Executive Director Jason Valerius tells Stephanie Hoff that his job is to focus on water quality and land use, which come together to require conversations abou...

It’s election time for the 9 open districts for the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin Board of Directors, so it’s a great time to talk about farmer leadership and their voice. Today, we learn the story of Sandy Madland, a Wisconsin dairy farmer and Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin Board Director.  Madland was elected to represent Adams, Juneau, and Monroe counties. As a Director, she helps rep...

Jeff Endres, chair of Yahara Pride Watershed, tells Stephanie Hoff about the critical role of farmer-led conservation. This is the 2026 cost-share sign-up period for Yahara Pride Farms. Established over a decade ago to address water quality in the Madison chain of lakes watershed, the group has grown from a dozen initial farms to a network of 80 participating operations.  See omnystudio.com/l...

Today marks the beginning of the World Champion Cheese event at Monona Terrace Convention Center in downtown Madison.  With more than 3,300 entries from around the world and 56 world class judges ready to go - it draws a crowd.  One person that's witnessed the excitement first hand is Steve Stettler.  Stettler is a Master Cheesemaker himself and owner/operator of Decatur Dairy in Br...

Consumers continue to buy beef despite escalated prices.  Unfortunately, those prices don't reflect the profit level at the farm or processing level.  Ben Jarboe finds out why beef processing facilities are closing with these high beef prices.  Dr. Brenda Boetel, ag economist from UW-River Falls, explains the dynamics of what's happening. Nice day today but watch out for the commute...

Through paper and fiber, the state remains a powerhouse of productivity.  Wisconsin maintains its position as the #1 paper producer in the U.S., bolstered by two new $500 million mills recently constructed in the Green Bay area by Green Bay Packaging and Georgia Pacific. Beyond direct mill jobs, the industry supports a massive supply chain where every single papermaking job creates betwe...

Former NFL pro turned farmer Joe Thomas joins Stephanie Hoff in-studio to talk about his journey into Hall of Fame Beef and Hall of Fame Meats, a farm-to-table business in Southwest Wisconsin dedicated to regenerative agriculture and high-quality nutrition. Learn how Blood Cancer United's "Big Climb" at Camp Randall Stadium is bringing people together to fight blood cancer through a team-based sta...