Uplevel Dairy Podcast

International Women in Dairy Series: Ysabel Jacobs, Ferme Jacobs, Quebec, Canada We’ve been celebrating women around the world this month with the International Women in Dairy Series here on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, and today I’m joined by a Canadian dairy woman who knows a thing or two about what it takes to win.  Ysabel Jacobs has stood center of the ring at the world’s most competitive cows s...

Join us at Central Plains Dairy Expo for Happy Hour! If you are heading to Sioux Falls, stop by the Sheraton Hotel Atrium (party deck) on Wednesday, March 26 from 4-7 p.m.  Enjoy a complimentary cocktail with some of the familiar faces and voices from Uplevel Dairy Podcast and chat with the sponsors that make this podcast possible including: Adisseo Compeer Complete Management Consulting HighGroun...

International Women in Dairy Series: Jan Winke In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, host Peggy Coffeen sits down with Jan Winke, a dairy farmer and professional with Nedap, who moved from Iowa to New Zealand 17 years ago. She discusses her family’s transition from struggling on a small farm in Iowa to today being proud owners of their own dairy farm in New Zealand.  Jan shares her compell...

International Women in Dairy: Erica Rijneveld, Livestock Show Equipment, Netherlands We are celebrating International Women's Day and Women's History Month by sharing stories from women around the world who are making a difference in the dairy business, and today’s guest is a one-woman powerhouse who has paved her own path with hard work, perseverance and a commitment to excellence as a European-b...

International Women in Dairy: Fernanda Lopes, Global Ruminant Strategy Manager, Adisseo We are celebrating International Women's Day and Women's History Month by bringing on global dairy industry leader Fernanda Lopes. Originally from Brazil, she first found her passion for dairy at 12 years old, spending Saturday mornings with a local embryo transfer veterinarian.. Her pursuit of personal...

Kritzia López Arvelo, a third-generation dairy farmer from Puerto Rico, shares her life journey, encompassing her roles as a lawyer, a dairy farmer, and a new mother. She discusses the challenges faced by dairy farmers in Puerto Rico, including high costs, the impact of hurricanes, and the struggle for sustainability.  Kris reflects on the resilience built during Hurricane Maria and its aftermath,...

Join the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association (DCHA) for the Annual Conference in Westminster, Colorado, April 8-10. Visit dairycalfandheifer.org  Two heifer growers from two different parts of the country join us today: TJ McClure joins us from southwest Kansas, and Kendall Wassenaar from northwest Iowa, to chat about the strategies they have been using to overcome challenges on their heifer develop...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, hosted by Peggy Coffeen, Curtis Bosma from High Ground Dairy provides a comprehensive February monthly market update. Key topics include: The current state of tariffs and their potential impact on the dairy industry Insights from the World Ag Expo Trends in milk production across various U.S. states And the global dairy supply Catch your own February M...

“Where quality and service meet” was the brand promise Ideal Dairy was founded upon more than 100 years ago, as not only a dairy farm but a local supply of door-to-door fresh milk delivery in Hudson Falls, New York.  Well, fast forward to today, and this dairy farm and the families who operate it continue to live out that motto with their 3,800-cow herd, known widely for excellence in their geneti...

We just dropped episode number 200 of the Uplevel Dairy podcast, that’s 200 conversations with dairy leaders - from CEOs to high-performing managers, immigrants, industry icons, entrepreneurs, influencers, and even an Olympian. Today I’m summarizing for you the top 7 lessons from these incredible leaders, 7 key themes you can apply today at work and at home to increase your energy, clarify your fo...

$18,000 an acre for farmland? Today, we talk about hot trends in land values and rental prices with Jade Kruschke from Compeer Financial.  And from Compeer’s dairy team, Senior Ag Lending Specialist Curtis Gerrits shines some light on land acquisition strategies he sees dairy farmers implementing to gain access to acres for feed, cropping and manure without paying premium prices. About Compeer Fin...

“There’s nothing more painful than having to watch a farmer go to an auction to bid on their own land.” - Will McKinley, Menn Law  Today we talk with Will about farming partnerships: What to know before you get into a partnership How to protect yourself and the farm should one party want to get out Buy-sell agreements Operating agreements Shareholder agreements Contact Will McKinley at Menn Law: W...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast Young Leader Series, Sarah Thomas shares her journey from growing up in North Carolina to her current role at Select Sires in Ohio. Sarah discusses her involvement in dairy judging and mentorship, emphasizing mental health and the importance of advocating for oneself. She reflects on the significant impact of mentors in her life and how she's now giving...

You may know Dr. Marissa Hake from her online following as the @Calfvet, but what you may not know are the big dreams, bold prayers, and brave actions that led to her career of now five years with Fairlife and the recent opening of their direct-to-consumer farm store for Black Label Beef. Get ready to laugh with us, cry with us and be inspired on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast. Connect with Marissa Onl...

25 years ago, a twenty-year-old Dutchman left his homeland in pursuit of a dream - the American dream - and a dairy farm that would allow him to live out his passion. This quest led Sander Penterman to Jon-De Farms in northern Wisconsin, where he met who would be some of his greatest mentors, Dean and Todd Doorninck. This became a stepping stone to eventually owning his own dairy farm in Thorp, Wi...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, host Peggy Coffeen interviews Greg Bethard, CEO of High Plains Ponderosa Dairy, who shares his unconventional journey into the dairy industry.  Greg discusses the challenges he faced transitioning from a consultant and CFO to managing and owning a dairy farm in Kansas.  Despite initial hardships and the unexpected loss of a key partner and friend, John...

Today, we’re talking about managing your heifer inventory, cutting down your cull rate, and making more milk and more money without purchasing pricey replacements as we sit down with Pauly Paul from Complete Management Consulting on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast.  This Episode is Sponsored by Complete Management Consulting Contact Pauly Paul www. CompleteManagementConsulting.com completemanagementcons...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Curtis Bosma from HighGround Dairy provides an in-depth analysis of key market factors affecting the dairy industry in 2025. Topics covered include: The finalized rulings on Federal Milk Marketing Orders Supply and demand shifts And inventory trends in dairy commodities like cheese and butter.  Curtis also emphasizes the importance of financial managem...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy is sitting down with Will McKinley, President of Menn Law Firm, to discuss the importance of trust and estate planning for farm families.  Will explains three different types of trusts, including Medicaid, revocable, and irrevocable trusts, and their relevance in asset protection, probate avoidance, and tax planning for farms. He shares insights...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy is sitting down with Tom McCarty to hear about his journey as the patriarch of McCarty Family Farms. Moving his family from Pennsylvania to Northwest Kansas nearly 25 years ago, Tom discusses the strategic steps they took to grow their dairy business.  He emphasizes the values of hard work, forward-thinking, and resilience that have guided his fa...

Meet fourth-generation Pennsylvania dairyman Jared Kurtz, and listen alongside as I help him put his “why” into words. I’ll be opening the morning session of the Pennsylvania Dairy Summit on Feb. 5, with a conversation inspired by the book “Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action” by Simon Simek.  Get a preview here as find out Jared’s “why” -  why he chose to come back t...

Want to end 2025 better than you started it? Ever struggle with New Year’s resolutions that stick? Today I’m walking you through three steps that I do at the beginning of each year to gain the clarity and momentum to make each year better than the last, while creating more margin in your day to make room for habits that will get you where you want to be. 00:00 Welcome and Recap of 2024 00:35 Strug...

Impact Farming Podcast host Tracy Burnet jumps on from Manitoba to join Uplevel Dairy Podcast host Peggy Coffeen as they reflect on the one word they each chose to live by in 2024, and how they are preparing to uplevel and creating an impact in 2025! Check out the Impact Farming Podcast: https://www.farmmarketer.com/impact_farming_show/season-one-episodes   Impact Farming Podcast on YouTube: https...

Best of 2024: We are catching back up with some of our top guests from the past year, and today we chat with Idaho dairyman Hans Nederend, Nederend Dairies. In Episode 92, Hans shared his secrets to achieving world-class milk quality, and then expanded upon that as we talked about his roles as not only a dairyman, but also a dad and a leader. In this episode, Hans talks about the challenge of deal...

Best of 2024: We are catching back up with some of our top guests from the past year and are so grateful to welcome Katie Coyne. Earlier this year, Katie shared her personal story of growing up in the dairy industry and how she has made it her mission to pay it back to the next in line through mentoring and encouraging youth. Katie also shared her personal journey with cancer and the prognosis giv...