Dairy Stream

Dairy Strong Speaker Dr. Thomas Barnett: The world is experiencing three major transitions

The 2026 is Jan. 14-15 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, we hope you can join us - learn more at dairystrong.org.

We are showcasing past Dairy Strong conference speakers and some of the key highlights. At the 2024 Dairy Strong conference, Dr. Thomas P.M. Barnett, a strategist and bestselling author, was the keynote speaker. He shared the latest on the demographic studies and what steps the United States could take to win over the globe’s growing middle class, which could help U.S. farmers with selling their products abroad. In 2024, he shared how the world is going through three major transitions — climate change, demographic transition and a growing global middle class.  

Join us at Dairy Strong on January 14-15 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Gain timely political updates, dive into the dynamics of producer-processor relationships and learn strategies to sustain a stronger future for dairy through innovation and collaboration. United together, we’re leading with purpose—one person, one policy and one farm at a time. To learn more, visit dairystrong.org.

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. 

How We Got Here: Scheps Dairy in Almena, Wisconsin

Voice of Milk and BMO are proud to bring back the “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 Dan Scheps, owner of Scheps Dairy, and Paul Salm of BMO discuss early influences, improvements to better the farm, challenges, financial preparations and the future of the farm and dairy industry.

This three-part series is sponsored by BMO.

About the guests:

• Dan Scheps is the owner of Scheps Dairy in Almena, Wisconsin where they milk 1,850 cows and farm 2,700 acres. Dan farms with his brother, Ken.

• Paul Salm manages a portfolio of diverse production agricultural relationships, including dairy, row crop, grain merchandising and potato customers and has over 30 years of experience in the banking industry 

2025 Season 2: How We Got Here Podcast series

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

2024 Season 1: How We Got Here Podcast series

• 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

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. 

Join us at Dairy Strong on January 14-15 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Gain timely political updates, dive into the dynamics of producer-processor relationships and learn strategies to sustain a stronger future for dairy through innovation and collaboration. United together, we’re leading with purpose—one person, one policy and one farm at a time. To learn more, visit dairystrong.org.

Dairy Streamlet: How We Got Here: Scheps Dairy in Almena, Wisconsin

Voice of Milk and BMO are proud to bring back the “How We Got Here” podcast series featuring dairy farmers sharing the history of their farm and the 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 Nov. 26.

This three-part series is sponsored by BMO.

About the guests:

• Dan Scheps is the owner of Scheps Dairy in Almena, Wisconsin where they milk 1,850 cows and farm 2,700 acres. Dan farms with his brother, Ken.

• Paul Salm manages a portfolio of diverse production agricultural relationships, including dairy, row crop, grain merchandising and potato customers and has over 30 years of experience in the banking industry 

2025 Season 2: How We Got Here Podcast series

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

2024 Season 1: How We Got Here Podcast series

• 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

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. 

Join us at Dairy Strong on January 14-15 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Gain timely political updates, dive into the dynamics of producer-processor relationships and learn strategies to sustain a stronger future for dairy through innovation and collaboration. United together, we’re leading with purpose—one person, one policy and one farm at a time. To learn more, visit dairystrong.org.

Dairy Strong Speaker Jeff Eggers: Adjust leadership style to adapt

The 2026 is Jan. 14-15 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, we hope you can join us - learn more at dairystrong.org.

We are showcasing past Dairy Strong conference speakers and some of the key highlights. Jeff Eggers is a leading senior policy advisor, best-selling author and organizational performance expert and former Navy SEAL. He has 20+ years of experience managing strategic efforts and leading high-stakes, high-performing teams during his time with the White House, Department of Defense and the U.S. Navy as a Navy SEAL. Jeff spoke at the 2025 Dairy Strong conference. 

Join us at Dairy Strong on January 14-15 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Gain timely political updates, dive into the dynamics of producer-processor relationships and learn strategies to sustain a stronger future for dairy through innovation and collaboration. United together, we’re leading with purpose—one person, one policy and one farm at a time. To learn more, visit dairystrong.org.

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. 

 

How We Got Here: Melichar Broad Acres in Port Washington, Wisconsin

Voice of Milk and BMO are proud to bring back the “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 Adam and Kendall Melichar, owners of Melichar Broad Acres, and Jen Peal of BMO discuss early influences, improvements to better the farm, challenges, financial preparations and the future of the farm and dairy industry.

This three-part series is sponsored by BMO.

About the guests:

• Adam and Kendall Melichar, owners of Melichar Broad Acres in Port Washington, Wisconsin where they milk 1,750 cows and farm 1,700 acres.  

• Jen Peal is an agricultural banking officer for BMO and manages a portfolio of diverse production agricultural and agribusiness related customers with a focus on dairy farms. She has over 20 years of banking experience.  

2025 Season 2: How We Got Here Podcast series

• How We Got Here: Ocooch Dairy in Hillsboro, Wisconsin

2024 Season 1: How We Got Here Podcast series

• 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

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. 

Join us at Dairy Strong on January 14-15 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Gain timely political updates, dive into the dynamics of producer-processor relationships and learn strategies to sustain a stronger future for dairy through innovation and collaboration. United together, we’re leading with purpose—one person, one policy and one farm at a time. To learn more, visit dairystrong.org.

Dairy Streamlet: How We Got Here: Melichar Broad Acres in Port Washington, Wisconsin

Voice of Milk and BMO are proud to bring back the “How We Got Here” podcast series featuring dairy farmers sharing the history of their farm and the 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 Nov. 5.

This three-part series is sponsored by BMO.

About the guests:

• Adam and Kendall Melichar, owners of Melichar Broad Acres in Port Washington, Wisconsin where they milk 1,750 cows and farm 1,700 acres.  

• Jen Peal is an agricultural banking officer for BMO and manages a portfolio of diverse production agricultural and agribusiness related customers with a focus on dairy farms. She has over 20 years of banking experience.  

2025 Season 2: How We Got Here Podcast series

• How We Got Here: Ocooch Dairy in Hillsboro, Wisconsin

2024 Season 1: How We Got Here Podcast series

• 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

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. 

Join us at Dairy Strong on January 14-15 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Gain timely political updates, dive into the dynamics of producer-processor relationships and learn strategies to sustain a stronger future for dairy through innovation and collaboration. United together, we’re leading with purpose—one person, one policy and one farm at a time. To learn more, visit dairystrong.org.

How We Got Here: Ocooch Dairy in Hillsboro, Wisconsin

Voice of Milk and BMO are proud to bring back the “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 Jim Mlsna, owner of Ocooch Dairy, and Brad Guse of BMO discuss early influences, improvements to better the farm, challenges, financial preparations and the future of the farm and dairy industry.

This three-part series is sponsored by BMO.

About the guests:

• Jim Mlsna is the owner of Ocooch Dairy in Hillsboro, Wisconsin where they milk 950 cows and farm 1,450 acres.  

• Brad Guse manages a portfolio of diverse production agricultural relationships made up of primarily dairy farm accounts. Brad has over 30 years of experience in agricultural banking. 

2024 Season 1: How We Got Here Podcast series

• 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

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. 

Join us at Dairy Strong on January 14-15 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Gain timely political updates, dive into the dynamics of producer-processor relationships and learn strategies to sustain a stronger future for dairy through innovation and collaboration. United together, we’re leading with purpose—one person, one policy and one farm at a time. To learn more, visit dairystrong.org.

Dairy Streamlet: How We Got Here: Ocooch Dairy in Hillsboro, Wisconsin

Voice of Milk and BMO are proud to bring back the “How We Got Here” podcast series featuring dairy farmers sharing the history of their farm and the 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 Oct. 15.

This three-part series is sponsored by BMO.

About the guests:

• Jim Mlsna is the owner of Ocooch Dairy in Hillsboro, Wisconsin, where they milk 950 cows and farm 1,450 acres.  

• Brad Guse manages a portfolio of diverse production agricultural relationships made up of primarily dairy farm accounts. Brad has over 30 years of experience in agricultural banking. 

2024 Season 1: How We Got Here Podcast series

• 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

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. 

Join us at Dairy Strong on January 14-15 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Gain timely political updates, dive into the dynamics of producer-processor relationships and learn strategies to sustain a stronger future for dairy through innovation and collaboration. United together, we’re leading with purpose—one person, one policy and one farm at a time. To learn more, visit dairystrong.org.

Farm succession planning — including non-family members

Farm transition plans are starting to include non-family members and it offers unique opportunities and challenges in succession planning. We will cover how transition plans have evolved, lending support, essential items, tools, economic pressures and policy items.  Dairy Stream host, Joanna Guza, and guest Bill Oppriecht of Compeer Financial discuss the following topics: 

• Evolution of farm transitions
• Lender support
• Essential items
• What’s driving the shift to non-family members
• Successful example of a blended farm ownership
• Risks for non-family members
• Lending tools or resources
• Biggest challenge
• Economic pressures
• Advice to dairy owners who don’t have a successor
• Policy
• Reviewing transition plans

Special thanks to Compeer Financial for sponsoring this episode.

About the guest

• Bill Oppriecht is a senior dairy lending specialist at Compeer Financial. He has been part of the Farm Credit System for more than 11 years, with the last six years focusing specifically on dairy operations. Bill grew up on a small dairy farm and uses that background to help support dairy producers in southern Wisconsin. Bill graduated from University of Wisconsin-Platteville, double majoring in ag business and animal science with a dairy emphasis. He is a member of Dairy Business Association, Professional Dairy Producers, Farm Bureau and the Wisconsin Holstein Association. Bill resides in southwestern Wisconsin with his wife, Heidi, and two sons, Alex and Evan. 

Resources

• Success in Succession Planning series (1 of 3): How to get organized
• Success in Succession Planning series (2 of 3): Financial analysis
• Success in Succession Planning series (3 of 3): Legal and mediation
• Dairy Streamlet: Succession planning and creating generational wealth
• Succession planning and creating generational wealth

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. 

Join us at Dairy Strong on January 14-15 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Gain timely political updates, dive into the dynamics of producer-processor relationships and learn strategies to sustain a stronger future for dairy through innovation and collaboration. United together, we’re leading with purpose—one person, one policy and one farm at a time. To learn more, visit dairystrong.org.

Dairy Streamlet: Farm succession planning — including non-family members

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 September 24.

Farm transition planning is an important topic that we continue to cover on Dairy Stream as new tools and insights are shared. Dairy Stream host, Joanna Guza, and guest Bill Oppriecht of Compeer Financial discuss essential items, involving non-family members, resources and how to keep tabs on your succession plan.

Special thanks to Compeer Financial for sponsoring this episode.

About the guest

• Bill Oppriecht is a senior dairy lending specialist at Compeer Financial. He has been part of the Farm Credit System for more than 11 years, with the last six years focusing specifically on dairy operations. Bill grew up on a small dairy farm and uses that background to help support dairy producers in southern Wisconsin. Bill graduated from University of Wisconsin-Platteville, double majoring in ag business and animal science with a dairy emphasis. He is a member of Dairy Business Association, Professional Dairy Producers, Farm Bureau and the Wisconsin Holstein Association. Bill resides in southwestern Wisconsin with his wife, Heidi, and two sons, Alex and Evan. 

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. 

Join us at Dairy Strong on January 14-15 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Gain timely political updates, dive into the dynamics of producer-processor relationships and learn strategies to sustain a stronger future for dairy through innovation and collaboration. United together, we’re leading with purpose—one person, one policy and one farm at a time. To learn more, visit dairystrong.org.