Dairy Stream

How We Got Here: Bomaz Farms in Hammond, Wisconsin

Learn more about BankFirst.

Dairy Stream and the Menn Law Firm are proud to present the third annual “How We Got Here” podcast series featuring dairy farmers sharing the history of their farm and steps they have taken to get to where they are today.

Dairy Stream host Joanna Guza and guests Bob and Tom Zwald, second and third generations at Bomaz Farms, discuss early influences, improvements to be better the farm, challenges, financial preparations and the future for the farm and dairy industry.

This three-part series is sponsored by the Menn Law Firm.

About the guests:

• Bob Zwald is the second generation to operate Bomaz Farms in Hammond, Wisconsin. Bob's is the general manager and oversees the cattle.
• Tom Zwald is the third generation to operate Bomaz Farms in Hammond, Wisconsin. Tom oversees cropping operations on the farm. They milk 1,500 cows and farm 2,500 acres.  

Season 1: How We Got Here (2024):

• How We Got Here: Norm E Lane in Chili, Wisconsin
• How We Got Here: Solhawk Dairy in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
• How We Got Here: Verhasselt Farms in Kaukauna, Wisconsin

Season 2: How We Got Here (2025):

• How We Got Here: Ocooch Dairy in Hillsboro, Wisconsin
• How We Got Here: Melichar Broad Acres in Port Washington, Wisconsin
• How We Got Here: Scheps Dairy in Almena, Wisconsin

Compeer Financial is proud partner of Dairy Stream.  Learn more about Dairy Stream sponsorship.

This podcast is produced by the Voice of Milk, a collaboration of individual dairy organizations working to improve the future of dairy farm families. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing podcast@dairyforward.com. 

Dairy Streamlet: How We Got Here: Bomaz Farms in Hammond, Wisconsin

Learn more about BankFirst.

Dairy Stream and the Menn Law Firm are proud to present the third annual “How We Got Here” podcast series featuring dairy farmers sharing the history of their farm and steps they have taken to get to where they are today. The Dairy Streamlet is a condensed version of a long Dairy Stream episode and covers the high-level points of the conversation. If this topic interest you, then listen to the full episode on June 3.

This three-part series is sponsored by the Menn Law Firm.

About the guests:

• Bob Zwald is the second generation to operate Bomaz Farms in Hammond, Wisconsin. Bob's is the general manager and oversees the cattle.
• Tom Zwald is the third generation to operate Bomaz Farms in Hammond, Wisconsin. Tom oversees cropping operations on the farm. They milk 1,500 cows and farm 2,500 acres.  

Compeer Financial is proud partner of Dairy Stream.  Learn more about Dairy Stream sponsorship.

This podcast is produced by the Voice of Milk, a collaboration of individual dairy organizations working to improve the future of dairy farm families. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing podcast@dairyforward.com. 

Rewind: Kinnard Farms: Soil health is a team effort

Dairy Stream Rewind with Lee Kinnard on July 23, 2025.

Farmers in Wisconsin have teamed up to create a farmer-led watershed group called Peninsula Pride Farms and it’s taking soil health to the next level. We are going to learn more about the farmer-led group, how they make informed management decisions, conservation practices to build organic matter and manure management practices. Dairy Stream host, Joanna Guza, and guest Lee Kinnard of Kinnard Farms discuss the following topics: 

• History of Peninsula Pride Farms
• From field day to conservation idea
• Making informed management decisions
• Including everyone in conservation efforts
• Conservation practices that make big impacts
• Building organic matter
• Importance of manure
• Manure application methods
• Adding other minerals to help with soil structure
• Tools that support conservation
• Manure management success stories
• Conservation goals for Kinnard Farms
• Conservation future trends

Special thanks to GLC Minerals for sponsoring this episode.

About the guest

• Lee Kinnard is president and owner of Kinnard Farms located in Kewaunee County in Wisconsin. He manages the business, the people and the cows. Kinnard Farms consist of 9,250 cows, 7,800 heifers located in Colorado in partnership with four Wisconsin farmers, 11,500 acres, and has 21,000 acres with a nutrient management plan and currently provides jobs to 137 valued employees. Over the years, Kinnard Farms has grown due to Lee’s new ideas, methods and solutions that have a positive impact on animal care, regenerative agriculture and food production.  

Resources

• Producer-Led Group Roadmap and more
• Peninsula Pride Farms website
• Kinnard Farms website
• Farmer-led services through Farmers for Sustainable Food

Compeer Financial is proud partner of Dairy Stream.  Learn more about Dairy Stream sponsorship.

This podcast is produced by the Voice of Milk, a collaboration of individual dairy organizations working to improve the future of dairy farm families. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing podcast@dairyforward.com. 

Cheese processing in the Midwest with Greg Siegethaler and Mike North

Billions of dollars in new investment are pouring into the I-29 corridor and the Great Lakes region, creating some of the most technologically advanced cheese processing plants in the world.

Dairy Stream host, Joanna Guza, and guests, Greg Siegethaler and Mike North, discuss the following topics: 

• Overview of cheese processing capacity in the Midwest
• Economic signals for the Midwest area
• What it means for farmers in the short-term
• Processors achieving net zero and ESG requirement
• Make allowances
• Dairy landscape in 10 years

About the guests

• Greg Siegethaler, president of the Dairy Business Association and the VP of Milk Marketing, Strategic Sourcing, & Sustainability at Grande Cheese 

• Mike North, president of the Producer Division at Ever. Ag and a past DBA president  

Learn more about Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative.

Compeer Financial is proud partner of Dairy Stream.  Learn more about Dairy Stream sponsorship.

This podcast is produced by the Voice of Milk, a collaboration of individual dairy organizations working to improve the future of dairy farm families. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing podcast@dairyforward.com. 

Dairy Streamlet: Cheese processing in the Midwest with Greg Siegethaler and Mike North

The Dairy Streamlet is a condensed version of a long Dairy Stream episode and covers the high-level points of the conversation. If this topic interest you, then listen to the full episode on May 20.

Dairy Stream host, Joanna Guza, and guests, Greg Siegethaler, president of the Dairy Business Association and the VP of Milk Marketing, Strategic Sourcing, & Sustainability at Grande Cheese and Mike North, president of the Producer Division at Ever. Ag and a past DBA president, discuss the billions of dollars in new investment pouring into the I-29 corridor and the Great Lakes region, creating some of the most technologically advanced cheese processing plants.

Learn more about Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative.

Compeer Financial is proud partner of Dairy Stream.  Learn more about Dairy Stream sponsorship.

International Year of the Woman Farmer: Featuring Five Female Farmers

This unique episode welcomes five female farmers from across the Midwest to celebrate the International Year of the Women Farmer.  

Dairy Stream host Joanna Guza discusses the following topics:

• The best piece of advice
• Advice to their younger selves
• Balancing roles
• Helpful resources that bring success in their roles
• Future goals, steps to take

Guests include:

• Christina Zuiderveen, Black Soil Dairy, IA 

• Heidi Fischer, Fischer Clark Dairy, WI  

• Dorothy Elliott, Drumgoon Dairy, SD 

• Kate Minten, Spadegenske Dairy, MN 

• Kelly Oudenhoven, Larrand Dairy, WI 

Compeer Financial is proud partner of Dairy Stream.  Learn more about Dairy Stream sponsorship.

This podcast is produced by the Voice of Milk, a collaboration of individual dairy organizations working to improve the future of dairy farm families. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing podcast@dairyforward.com. 

Dairy Streamlet: International Year of the Woman Farmer: Featuring five Midwest Farmers

This Dairy Streamlet takes a unique approach and covers how to celebrate mothers’ and fathers’ day on the farm and what traditions they’ve learned from their mothers. We encourage you to listen to the episode on May 6 focused on advice, resources and future goals for these five accomplished women.  

Guests include:

• Christina Zuiderveen, Black Soil Dairy, IA 

• Heidi Fischer, Fischer Clark Dairy, WI  

• Dorothy Elliott, Drumgoon Dairy, SD 

• Kate Minten, Spadegenske Dairy, MN 

• Kelly Oudenhoven, Larrand Dairy, WI 

Compeer Financial is proud partner of Dairy Stream.  Learn more about Dairy Stream sponsorship.

This podcast is produced by the Voice of Milk, a collaboration of individual dairy organizations working to improve the future of dairy farm families. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing podcast@dairyforward.com. 

Wisconsin policy update, importance of advocacy

The Wisconsin legislative sessions has wrapped up and we want to walk you through the wins, surprises and importance of member engagement.

Dairy Stream host, Joanna Guza, and guests, Chad Zuleger and Cody Carpenter, discuss the following topics: 

• Biggest wins for Wisconsin dairy
• Surprises in the policy space
• Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports
• Farm field calculator
• Label grown meat
• Clean water and PFAS
• Importance of engagement
• Basic to advance ways to get involved
• What’s next in the policy space

About the guests

• Chad Zuleger is the Executive Director of the Dairy Business Association. He has been working in the policy space for 25 years.  
• Cody Carpenter, owns and operates Redrock View Farms with his family in Darlington, Wisconsin, where they milk 650 cows and farm 1,500 acres. Cody is currently serving as a DBA board member and also a member of the Lafayette Ag Stewardship Alliance.  

Resources:

• Dairy Business Association priorities
• ARIP Program
• Producer- Led Watershed Protection Grants
• Crop Insurance Premium Rebates for Planting Cover Crops
• Rock Elm local ordinance: DBA members help prevent local ordinance
• Wisconsin dairy and farm statistics from Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin
• Dairy Day at the Capitol information
• DBA Dairy Golf Classic July 28 information

Learn more about Dairy Business Association.

Compeer Financial is proud partner of Dairy Stream.  Learn more about Dairy Stream sponsorship.

This podcast is produced by the Voice of Milk, a collaboration of individual dairy organizations working to improve the future of dairy farm families. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing podcast@dairyforward.com. 

Dairy Streamlet: Wisconsin policy update, importance of advocacy

The Dairy Streamlet is a condensed version of a long Dairy Stream episode and covers the high-level points of the conversation. If this topic interest you, then listen to the full episode on April 29.

Dairy Stream host, Joanna Guza, and guests, Chad Zuleger, executive director of the Dairy Business Association, and Cody Carpenter, dairy farmer and owner of Redrock View Farms in Darlington, Wisconsin and also a DBA board member, discuss the Wisconsin legislative wins, surprises, basic to advanced ways to engage policymakers and what’s next in the policy space.

Learn more about Dairy Business Association.

Compeer Financial is proud partner of Dairy Stream.  Learn more about Dairy Stream sponsorship.

This podcast is produced by the Voice of Milk, a collaboration of individual dairy organizations working to improve the future of dairy farm families. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing podcast@dairyforward.com.

Rewind: Adaptive strategies to combat the shifting weather patterns

Dairy Stream Rewind with Chris Clark on August 13, 2025.

We are taking a big picture look at the challenges mother nature has brought us and how farmers are overcoming these challenges. We will cover adaptive strategies farmers are implementing, crop selection, new technologies, pest control and more. Dairy Stream host, Joanna Guza, and guest Chris Clark of UW-Extension discuss the following topics: 

• Shifting weather patterns and the impact on planting and harvesting windows
• Adaptive strategies
• Crop selection and varieties
• Emerging best practices in nitrogen and phosphorus
• Compaction in the Midwest
• Data tools for in-season decision making
• New or increasing pest and disease threats
• Agronomic trends or challenges in the next 3-5 years
• Resources for farmer education

About the guest

• Chris Clark is an agronomic outreach specialist with Northeast Wisconsin for the nutrient and pest management team for the University of Wisconsin Division of Extension. Chris partners, cooperates and brings together farmers, researchers and industry providing agronomy outreach she focuses on crop and soil nutrient use. Chris began her role at Extension in 2023. Prior to joining Extension, Chris worked in private sector agronomy lab testing for 12 years, and as a agriculture teacher and FFA Advisor for 9 years. She has a BA in Agricultural Education from UW-River Falls and is a Wisconsin Certified Crop Advisor and has been a member of the WI CCA board for 6 years. 

Resources

• Wisconet
• Ag Weather Outlook
• Agriculture Data | Wisconsin State Climatology Office
• UW Extension Agriculture- Agriculture – Extension
• Farmer-led services through Farmers for Sustainable Food
• Find a farmer-led group near you

Compeer Financial is proud partner of Dairy Stream.  Learn more about Dairy Stream sponsorship.

This podcast is produced by the Voice of Milk, a collaboration of individual dairy organizations working to improve the future of dairy farm families. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing podcast@dairyforward.com.