Uplevel Dairy Podcast

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen sits down with Dr. George Wiggans to discuss his extensive career in dairy cattle genetics and genomics. Dr. Wiggans shares his journey from growing up on a dairy farm to working closely with Dr. Paul Van Radden, leading to significant contributions in genetic evaluations that propel the dairy industry. He highlights the transformative ro...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen interviews Peter Vail, a prominent figure in the dairy cattle show world and the fertilizer business.  Vail recounts his career journey from starting CaroVail Fertilizer Company in 1964 to his significant investments in various dairy cattle breeds. He shares personal anecdotes about his childhood on a commercial dairy farm, his ventures i...

This episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast features a partnership with the National Dairy Shrine to present interviews with the winners of the Pioneer Award. Executive Director Mike Opperman introduces the series, sharing insights about the organization's history, mission, and contributions to the dairy industry. Mike details his own journey within the dairy sector and discusses the various awa...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen interviews Nathan Abel, the next-generation dairyman at Abel Dairy Farms. Nathan shares insights on how his hands-on experience, education, and incorporation of technology are helping him prepare for future leadership and ownership roles. He discusses his educational journey, the importance of learning both the technical and business aspe...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen interviews Aidan Connolly, president of AgriTech Capital, to discuss the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on dairy farming. Connolly highlights the importance of adopting technology to overcome challenges such as labor shortages, water conservation, and precision nutrition. He delves into the potential of real-time data an...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen interviews Dr. Jacey Benzing, a large animal veterinarian from St. Anna's Veterinary Clinic in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Dr. Benzing shares her path from a childhood fascination with veterinary medicine, sparked by an unforgettable experience with her backyard pony, to her present role where she helps dairy farms achieve their goals. S...

From a childhood farm in the Philippines to dairy operations worldwide with Dr. Mike Catangui. In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy interviews Dr. Mike Catangui, the first entomologist and parasitologist to feature on the show. Dr. Mike discusses the critical role of entomology and parasitology in the dairy industry, highlighting the impact of insects like stable flies on dairy catt...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy is joined by Marinus Noordam as they dive into the dynamics of his business partnership at AJ Dairy, emphasizing their complementary skill sets and responsibilities. We explore his rich history, from being born in the Netherlands to immigrating to the United States, and the eventual establishment of the dairy farm. The story highlights the challe...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen catches up with Jack Pirtle, a dairyman and farmer with P7 Dairy and Pirtle Farms in New Mexico, whose journey from business and personal hardships led to a profound transformation through faith.   Jack updates us on his dairy, farming and now cattle enterprise. However, the heart of the conversation lies in Jack's awakening via the R...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen welcomes back Jordan Matthews, an ultra-endurance athlete and dairy farmer at Rosy-Lane Holsteins in Watertown, Wisconsin. They discuss how genetics, environment management, and feed technology at the rumen microbial level are unlocking the full potential of dairy cows. Jordan shares his recent endeavors on the farm and in the trail, incl...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we are traveling to Colorado's dairy country as Peggy visits with Dr. Blaine Nicks, Director of Herd Operations at Jager Ag, and Joshua Stroud, Director of Calf Care at Bower Ag, as they share their strategies for managing large-scale dairies while emphasizing milk quality. They discuss the importance of team leadership, daily execution, and the ro...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen visits Steve Abel of Abel Dairy Farms in Wisconsin to discuss strategic growth and leadership in the dairy industry. Steve shares insights on expanding their operations, managing personnel, and maintaining a values-driven approach. He also highlights the importance of technology and teamwork in modern dairy farming. This episode delves in...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, farm efficiency and profitability expert Pauly Paul from Complete Management Consulting discusses strategies to help dairy producers navigate through the anticipated low milk prices in 2026. He highlights the importance of labor efficiency, reproduction management, and optimized feeding practices. Through real-world examples and farm audits, Pauly shar...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy sits down with Greg Bethard, CEO of High Plains Ponderosa Dairy, to catch up on his progress and leadership strategies. Highlighting topics such as stress management, the development of new leaders, and Greg's personal approach to health and longevity, the conversation also explores the importance of effective people management and the future...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy continues her series from Hornstead Dairy in Brillion, Wisconsin, featuring an in-depth conversation with Brian Horn. Brian shares the journey of transforming a simple 4-H project into a cutting-edge dairy operation driven by technology and innovation. The episode highlights how the multi-generational farm utilizes advanced monitoring tools like...

In this heartfelt episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen sits down with Gary de Graaf, a dairyman renowned not just for his life with dairy cows but for his profound faith and role in discipleship. Gary shares his incredible journey of experiencing God's miracles firsthand—from a life-threatening brain bleed that was timely diagnosed and treated, to multiple significant health cha...

In this episode, recorded live at the World Dairy Expo, Peggy sits down with Tim Baumgartner, the genetics manager at Jer-Z-Boyz Ranch in Pixley, California. Tim shares his journey from growing up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin to becoming a pivotal figure in the dairy genetics industry. He discusses his passion for cows and people, recounting how one pivotal conversation led to a rewarding career i...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen talks with Curtis Bosma from HighGround Dairy about the current state of the dairy market as of December 2025 and projections for 2026. They discuss stagnant dairy prices, particularly in cheese and butter, the role of whey in sustaining Class 3 milk prices, and the impacts of overproduction and bird flu on milk supply. Curtis also provid...

The long commitment of Nedap and GEA’s innovation partnership comes together to deliver performance that pays. In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy continues the conversation with Galen Smith of Coldstream Farms. They discuss the complexities and strategies involved in transitioning a family farm business across generations. Galen shares insights into how his father-in-law integrate...

The long commitment of Nedap and GEA’s innovation partnership comes together to deliver performance that pays. In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy is joined by Galen Smith, who discusses over 20 years of cow monitoring at Coldstream Farms and the critical role of technology and data-driven decision making in managing dairy profitability. Smith outlines the implementation and evolut...

In this special live panel episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen moderates a discussion featuring three distinguished dairy industry leaders:  Kylene Anderson,  managing editor of   Hoard’s Dairyman,  Brian Coyne  Manager of Applied Genetic Strategies at Select Sires, and  Amanda Lichtensteiger,  Strategic Marketing Lead for Diamond V.  This conversation was captured at the National...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen sits down on the showbox with Tim Abbott. Tim reflects on his 2025 word "focus," shares insights into the successes and challenges faced during the year, and reveals his new word for 2026. Tim's wife, Sharyn, joins the conversation to share her word too! The episode also highlights the Abbott family's new venture, Deep C...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we hear from JR Boyke of Vir-Clar Farms in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, about coming back to join his family farm and growing into his roles as a manager and owner as the dairy has expanded and taken on a second site. JR discusses how his father insisted he gain experience working on other dairies, which shaped his skills and leadership abilities. He reflec...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Joe Kern of Ever Ag discusses critical market trends impacting the agricultural industry as we move towards 2026. Kern provides an in-depth analysis of global influences, margin pressures, and potential threats to farming businesses. The episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast, and it highlights how dairy producers can optimize their operations u...

In this special Thanksgiving Day episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy has a powerful conversation with Tim Peart, Senior Vice President of Production Animal at MWI, as they reflect on their 'Words of the Year' for 2025. Tim also shares how the impactful practice of selecting a 'Word of the Year' has been for himself and his team, sharing insights into his selected words for...