What You Need to Know about Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) Curtis Bosma from HighGround Dairy joins us to cover the commonly asked questions he hears from dairy producers regarding new risk management programs aimed at day-old beef-on-dairy calves and dairy cull cows. About HighGround Dairy This episode is brought to you by HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market par...
Jul 10, 2025•27 min•Season 3Ep. 243
In this special episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy is joined by Jim Ostrom, CEO of Milk Source, to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Dairy Cares of Wisconsin. Jim shares the origin and growth of Dairy Cares, a charitable initiative that started as a garden party among friends and is on pace to raise a cumulative total of more than $4 million for Children's Wisconsin. The candid discussion with Jim reveals the heart behind Dairy Cares, highlighting families and their stories, as well as ...
Jul 08, 2025•27 min•Season 3Ep. 242
At the end of 2024, I sat down with Katie Coyne to catch up and reflect on how her year had gone and to see what she had hoped to bring in for 2025. Today, we share this re-release in remembrance of Katie’s life, her incredible impact, and the legacy she leaves behind. In this episode, Katie opened up about her roots in the dairy industry and her passion for mentoring the next generation. She believed deeply in paying it forward, and her words and actions reflected that commitment every day. Kat...
Jul 03, 2025•34 min•Season 3Ep. 241
Have you ever stopped to think about the people who didn’t have to help you—but did anyway? The ones who showed up with encouragement, opened doors for you, and believed in you long before you believed in yourself? Katie Coyne was one of those people—for me, and for so many others in the dairy community. In this special episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast , we are joined by Katie’s daughter, Kelly Reynolds, to reflect on Katie’s life and legacy, followed by the conversation Katie and I had one ...
Jul 01, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Season 3Ep. 240
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Preston Fernandes shares his extraordinary journey from California's Central Valley to managing multiple distressed dairies. Rooted in his family's legacy, Preston's story highlights his innovative lean management style, risk-taking appetite, and the tough lessons learned about leadership and growth. Listeners will gain insights into scaling a dairy business sustainably in today’s competitive industry and marvel at Preston's bold vision for the futur...
Jun 26, 2025•38 min•Season 3Ep. 239
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy sits down with Gabe Smith, a Zoetis territory business manager with a unique career path in the dairy industry. Gabe shares his journey from managing a small dairy herd, working with top genetic herds, to his role at Zoetis. He discusses the significance of saying yes to new opportunities, the importance of taking care of people and animals, and the valuable lessons learned from mentors in the dairy community. Gabe also reflects on personal cha...
Jun 24, 2025•27 min•Season 3Ep. 238
In this June 2025 market update from High Ground Dairy, Curtis Bosma reviews significant movements in the dairy industry, including milk, feed, and cattle markets: The dairy segment sees strong cheese and butter production with rising domestic demand and favorable export conditions. Economic fluctuations and Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) changes impact producer payments. The feed market focuses on corn and soybean meal dynamics, highlighting crop conditions and biofuel policy impacts. Reco...
Jun 19, 2025•23 min•Season 3Ep. 237
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy sits down with Adam Westenbroek of Westwind Farms in Bakersfield, California. Adam shares how cutting-edge technology is empowering him to be both the dairyman and the dad he wants to be. He emphasizes the importance of implementing technological advancements, such as activity monitoring and sort gates, to improve cow comfort and efficiency, which in turn has allowed him to spend more time with his family. Adam also talks about the personal and...
Jun 17, 2025•33 min•Season 3Ep. 236
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy sits down with Doug DeGroff, a seasoned dairy professional who brings the rare perspective of having lived and worked in three of the most prominent dairy regions in the U.S.—New York, Wisconsin, and California. Doug shares his expansive career in the dairy industry, from milking cows on one of New York's most progressive dairies, managing a dairy in Wisconsin, to settling in California's Central Valley. Now with Progressive Dairy Solutions, Do...
Jun 12, 2025•44 min•Season 3Ep. 235
Welcome to Uplevel Dairy's #1 Most Downloaded Episode! Over five years ago, dairy farmer Tom Oesch and his partners at Swiss Lane Farms in Michigan defined their vision: To grow to 7,000 cows in seven years. Find out how they are putting that vision into action, transitioning the business from one generation to the next, and growing leaders within their team. And walk away with a renewed motivation from Tom to live life to its fullest NOW. What you’ll learn: The decision to double down on dairyi...
Jun 10, 2025•41 min•Season 3Ep. 234
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen speaks with Mikayla McGee of Jon-De Farms in Baldwin, Wisconsin. With dairy farming roots at Jon-De dating back to 1912, Mikayla shares her journey of returning to her family farm, challenging traditions, and making bold decisions to optimize operations. From right-sizing their dairy herd and adopting a rotary parlor to navigating human resources and maintaining the legacy, Mikayla discusses the blend of innovation and tradition that dr...
Jun 05, 2025•34 min•Season 3Ep. 233
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen is joined by David Moser, Operations Manager of Oakridge Dairy. David recently attended the 2025 Entre-Leadership Summit in Denver, Colorado, featuring renowned leadership experts such as John Maxwell, Patrick Lencioni, and Jim Collins. He shares highlights from the summit, emphasizing the importance of personal growth, leadership, and effective team management through tools like Working Genius. Additionally, David discusses how leaders...
Jun 03, 2025•40 min•Season 3Ep. 232
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy podcast, I am joined for part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Don Niles, a veterinarian turned dairyman, to talk more about his significant contributions to dairy farming and sustainability in Northeast Wisconsin. Dr. Niles shares his passionate journey from city life to dairy farming, emphasizing the importance of innovative practices, cow comfort, and environmental sustainability, with particular focus on how Peninsula Pride Farms—a farmer-led watershed initi...
May 29, 2025•39 min
Enjoy this listener favorite rerun on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast. Join me on this episode of the Uplevel Dairy podcast as I sit down with the groundbreaking Dr. Don Niles. From his humble beginnings as a veterinarian in Wisconsin to transforming the dairy world, Dr. Niles shares his incredible journey. This episode delves into the experiences that shaped his career, his partnership with visionary dairyman John Pagel, and the innovative practices they implemented at Dairy Dreams that set new stand...
May 27, 2025•51 min•Season 3Ep. 230
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy visits Plum Creek Dairy in Fox Lake, Wisconsin, to speak with owners Abe and Mandy, and consultant Pauly Paul from Complete Management Consulting. The episode delves into the history of Plum Creek Dairy, from its origins in custom harvesting and manure handling to its transformation into a thriving dairy farm. Featuring insights on efficiency improvements, a major transition in herd management, and the benefits of cross-training employees, the ...
May 22, 2025•26 min•Season 3Ep. 228
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, host Peggy Coffeen welcomes Curtis Bosma from HighGround Dairy for the May market update. The discussion covers significant changes in Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP) and Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) programs, including updated rules and new protections for beef cross calves and cull cows. Curtis provides insights into trends in milk production, the cheese market, butter market, and milk powder exports. Additionally, they cover key points about the...
May 20, 2025•22 min•Season 3Ep. 228
Recognized as one of the most progressive dairy farms in Wisconsin since the mid 1960s, Norm-E-Lane Farms in Chili, Wisconsin, has a long history of not only leading in the business of dairy farming, but also of leading an entire industry forward. From engaging with the community to advocating for policy, the value of relationships is one that the late Jerry Meissner passed on to his children and grandchildren. And today we are sitting down with the third and fourth generation of the Meissner fa...
May 15, 2025•43 min•Season 3Ep. 227
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Jerod Henrickson, a dedicated dairyman from Bella Holsteins in Platteville, Colorado, shares his journey from growing up on his family's dairy farm to taking on a leadership role. After his father’s motorcycle accident in 2005, Jerod was thrust into managing the expanding operation, a challenge that taught him invaluable lessons in resilience and decision-making. Throughout the discussion, Jerod highlights the technological advancements that have rev...
May 13, 2025•39 min•Season 3Ep. 226
In this heartfelt second part of the Special Mother's Day edition of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, host Peggy sits down with three inspiring dairy farm moms—Nicole Barlass, Katie Grinstead, and Katy Katzman. They dive deep into the health impacts of their dual roles in managing family and farm, addressing topics such as farm mom guilt, emotional boundaries, and the importance of self-care. These women share personal anecdotes highlighting their struggles and triumphs, emphasizing the necessity of s...
May 09, 2025•32 min•Season 3Ep. 225
In this special Mother's Day edition of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, hosted in partnership with Animal Health Visions (AHV), we honor the influential women who balance motherhood, farming, and agricultural advocacy. Peggy interviews three inspiring dairy farm moms—Nicole Barlas, Katie Grinstead, and Katy Katzman—who share their journeys, challenges, and the passion that drives them. Each mom reflects on their path back to the family farm, their involvement in volunteering and community projects, a...
May 08, 2025•40 min•Season 3Ep. 225
In this special Mother’s Day episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy sits down with Danielle Volles, a dairy farm mom who transitioned from a banking career to running a dairy farm in Marietta, NY. Danielle discusses her journey of trading high heels for work boots, managing 4,000 livestock, and raising five children, including two adopted nieces. She shares insightful perspectives on parenting, balancing family life with farm responsibilities, and recognizing the invaluable contributions of...
May 06, 2025•54 min•Season 3Ep. 224
We’re picking up where we left off with the Abbott brothers, the two farm boys from Vermont who went on to achieve high levels of success in two different parts of the dairy business: Tim Abbott and David Abbott. We talk about tough decisions, taking risks and what it takes to be successful as a leader. Dave reflects on his experiences as CEO at Purina Mills, as well as stepping outside of the agriculture industry and into various other leadership roles, and Tim talks about taking the leap from ...
May 01, 2025•36 min•Season 3Ep. 223
We're talking country music, career paths, and most importantly, courage, character, and the common bond of two brothers from Cabot, Vermont, here on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast. Tim Abbott is back, and he’s brought his big brother David Abbott onto the show. We get to hear David’s story, from graduating in the top third of his high school class of 10, to his 25-year career with Purina Mills, where he eventually became CEO, before stepping out of ag to grow and consult across other industries. Thr...
Apr 29, 2025•36 min•Season 3Ep. 222
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy sits down with Steven Landwehr, CEO of United Dairies in Minnesota, part of the PACE Group. Steven shares his journey from growing up on a dairy farm to leading a multi-partner, multi-site enterprise. He discusses the key role of transformational leadership, accountability, and decision-making in the success of their operations. Steven talks about the importance of growing and empowering his team members, instilling confidence, and professional...
Apr 24, 2025•31 min•Season 3Ep. 221
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast's Young Leaders series, Peggy and Kiley Pagel from Pagel’s Family Businesses welcome Dr. Megan Abeyta, an independent dairy nutritionist with GPS Dairy Consulting. Dr. Abeyta shares her unique journey from growing up in a non-agricultural background in Fort Collins, Colorado, her unforgettable experiences with sheep during lambing season, and landing in her role today, helping dairy cows and farmers be their best. Listeners will hear about her work at...
Apr 22, 2025•19 min•Season 3Ep. 220
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen and Curtis Bosma from HighGround Dairy are catching up on the monthly market updates for April. In this conversation, you can hear about the impact of tariffs on dairy exports such as whey protein and non-fat dry milk, and how planting projections for corn and soybeans in 2025 might affect the dairy industry. The episode also delves into the volatility of the markets influenced by recent announcements from the Trump administration. Curt...
Apr 17, 2025•21 min•Season 3Ep. 219
In the latest episode, hosted at the 2025 Professional Dairy Producers (PDP) Annual Conference in Madison, Wisconsin, Peggy converses with Will McKinley from Menn Law, a legal advisor and General Counsel for the PDP, about the intricate challenges of managing family-run multimillion-dollar dairy farms. The discussion focuses on common issues such as the 'Cousin Eddie' scenario, where less competent family members may pose risks to farm management and decision-making. Will emphasizes the importan...
Apr 15, 2025•27 min•Season 3Ep. 218
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen sits down with Curtis Bosma from HighGround Dairy and Pauly Paul from Complete Management Consulting at the Central Plains Dairy Expo. They discuss strategies to enhance profitability and efficiency on dairy farms as we progress through 2025. Curtis shares insights on the importance of financial planning and risk management in the dairy markets, while Pauly emphasizes the value of operational efficiency audits. Both experts underscore t...
Apr 10, 2025•26 min•Season 3Ep. 217
Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy is joined by Alltech’s Jorge Delgado and Compeer’s Brad Herkenhoff to chat about the challenges and strategies related to improving dairy farm culture. The discussion dives into the importance of identifying and fostering a strong culture on dairy farms, emphasizing the significance of communication and understanding employee motivations. Jorge Delgado shares actionable steps and success stories, highlighting the need for mission statements and continuou...
Apr 08, 2025•28 min•Season 3Ep. 216
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen sits down with Tommy Oesch from Swiss Lane Farms at the Central Plains Dairy Expo in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Tommy discusses his transition into the role of visionary at Swiss Lane Farms, key wins and challenges in the first quarter of 2025, and the importance of labor solutions and team culture. They also cover the personal aspects of balancing family life, including the recent wrestling season and the impact of losing a valued team...
Apr 03, 2025•27 min•Season 3Ep. 215
