Dairy Stream

Dairy Streamlet: Learning Spanish and impact on your farm

The Dairy Streamlet is a new, condensed version of Dairy Stream that takes the long episode and covers just the high-level points of the conversation. If this topic interests you, we encourage you to listen to the July 26 episode. 

Dairy Stream host Joanna Guza talked with Spanish instructor Katie Dotterer and dairy farmer Walt Moore about the impact of speaking Spanish and how to get started with learning the language.

Special thanks to The Nature Conservancy of Wisconsin for sponsoring this episode.

About the guests

• Meet Katie Dotterer: A life-long advocate for agriculture and education, Katie enjoys finding ways to infuse the two together. Her love for agriculture and the Spanish language developed through her upbringing as part of the third generation on her family’s dairy farm in central PA. Katie has degrees in Business Management and Marketing, Secondary Education, and Spanish, and is certified in ESL: English as a Second Language. Recognizing a need to bridge an industry wide communication gap, she developed online Spanish Courses tailored specifically to agriculture, through her educational and advocacy business, AgvoKate (a play on her name & advocating for agriculture). Additionally, she rarely turns down an opportunity to advocate and engage with the 98% of the population who are removed from agriculture. She has done this through on-farm tours (in-person and virtual) when she co-owned and operated a dairy farm as a first-generation farmer, public speaking engagements, news segments and through her social media platforms. When she’s not teaching or advocating, Katie loves traveling, dancing, playing piano and guitar, history, palm trees, dark chocolate and tea! Learn more about Katie’s online Spanish courses here or email her at katiedotterer@agvokate.com.
• Walt Moore: Walt is President and General Manager of Walmoore Holsteins, Inc. The family farm has been in operation over 113 years and 5 generations.  Walt is in partnership with his wife Ellen.  Walmoore Holsteins, Inc. milks 1050 cows with a 31,000-pound herd average (producing in excess of 3.6 million gallons of milk annually), raises 880 replacement young stock, 100 Wagyu crosses, farms 1700 acres of corn for silage and grain, alfalfa, soybeans and Triticale.  Walmoore employs 15 full time and several part-time people.  Walt is also the General Partner of Moore Family Farm LP which was formed as a land holding company.  Additionally, Walt and Ellen with partners Duane and Marilyn Hershey started Moocho Milk Transportation Inc. in 2006 to haul their own milk.  Walt and Ellen along with Son Jake and his wife own Moore Meats LLC a premium American Wagyu farm to fork beef company.  Walt has traveled to other states and China helping to educate other producers on Best Management Practices.  Walt also serves on several committees including the Chester County Conservation District Board, London Grove Friends Finance Committee, American Dairy Coalition currently serving as President and On the Center for Dairy Excellence Board currently serving as President. He also served on the PDMP board as the Vice-President and President.  Walt also enjoys spending time with his family, attending PSU football games, hunting, boating and traveling. 
  
  

This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C. 

Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing podcast@dairyforward.com. 

Workable Workforce Series: HR management and legal matters

In the fourth and final part of the Workable Workforce Series, we cover general HR management from a legal standpoint.  Employment Law Attorney Troy Thompson of Axley Brynelson Law Firm shares insight on farm employment policies, avoiding claims in the hiring process, worker compensation, strategies for dealing with an underperforming employee and terminating employment. Dairy Stream host Joanna Guza dives into the topics below with Troy:

• 1:25: Four categories of farm employment policies
• 6:15: Displaying employment HR items
• 7:42: Helping farm managers and supervisors be successful with HR items
• 12:20: Common HR mistakes
• 20:53: Avoid employment discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims
• 26:35: Documentation of claims
• 26:04: Protecting your farm from unfair competition
• 30:47: How to stay organized with HR matters and foreign labor
• 32:38: HR management with seasonal workers
• 35:16: Worker compensation claims
• 40:21: Reasonable accommodations or medical leave of absence
• 43:54: Handling underperforming employees
• 46:08: Professionally terminating an employee
• 47:44: Disputing unemployment claims

Special thanks to Compeer Financial for sponsoring this episode.

About the guest

• Troy Thompson is a management-side employment attorney with Axley Brynelson Law Firm in Madison, Wisconsin, where he also serves as the firm’s Labor and Employment Practice Group Leader. Axley is one of Wisconsin’s historic full service law firms [founded in 1885] with extensive experience representing businesses in the dairy industry including: (1) closely held family businesses, (2) agricultural cooperatives, (3) food manufacturers and packagers, and (4) international dairy equipment and robotics manufacturers. Troy is a 1994 graduate of UW-Madison and a 1998 graduate of Marquette Law School. He grew up in a small farming community in south-central Wisconsin [City of Waterloo; Jefferson County] and paid his way through school by working for several agri-businesses.  Today, he represents his clients in a broad range of labor and employment, risk avoidance, and business litigation matters.

Dairy Stream has dedicated four episodes to focus on an asset on your farm, your workforce. The four episodes of the Workable Workforce Series will cover recruiting, engaging, coaching and HR legal items. The series is sponsored by Syngenta and Compeer Financial.

May 3: Workable Workforce Series: Recruiting and Onboarding Talent | LISTEN HERE

May 24: Workable Workforce Series: Retention and Engagement | LISTEN HERE

June 14: Workable Workforce Series: Coaching and Counseling | LISTEN HERE

This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing podcast@dairyforward.com. 

Dairy Streamlet: Workable Workforce Series: HR management and legal matters

The Dairy Streamlet is a new, condensed version of Dairy Stream that takes the long episode and covers just the high-level points of the conversation. If this topic interests you, listen to the full episode on July 5. 

In the fourth and final part of the series, Dairy Stream host Joanna Guza talked with Employment Law Attorney Troy Thompson about general HR management, worker compensation, discipline, leave of absence and termination.  

Special thanks to Compeer Financial for sponsoring this episode.

About the guest

• Troy Thompson is a management-side employment attorney with Axley Brynelson Law Firm in Madison, Wisconsin, where he also serves as the firm’s Labor and Employment Practice Group Leader. Axley is one of Wisconsin’s historic full service law firms [founded in 1885] with extensive experience representing businesses in the dairy industry including: (1) closely held family businesses, (2) agricultural cooperatives, (3) food manufacturers and packagers, and (4) international dairy equipment and robotics manufacturers. Troy is a 1994 graduate of UW-Madison and a 1998 graduate of Marquette Law School. He grew up in a small farming community in south-central Wisconsin [City of Waterloo; Jefferson County] and paid his way through school by working for several agri-businesses.  Today, he represents his clients in a broad range of labor and employment, risk avoidance, and business litigation matters.

Dairy Stream has dedicated four episodes to focus on an asset on your farm, your workforce. The four episodes of the Workable Workforce Series will cover recruiting, engaging, coaching and HR legal items. The series is sponsored by Syngenta and Compeer Financial.

May 3: Workable Workforce Series: Recruiting and Onboarding Talent | LISTEN HERE

May 24: Workable Workforce Series: Retention and Engagement | LISTEN HERE

June 14: Workable Workforce Series: Coaching and Counseling | LISTEN HERE

This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing podcast@dairyforward.com. 

Workable Workforce Series: Coaching and Counseling

In the third part of the Workable Workforce Series, we cover coaching and counseling employees. HR professional Michelle Gubser and dairy farmer Christine Bender share experiences, recommendations and tips for coaching all types of employees (entry-level to manger), handling poor performance versus bad behavior and scenarios on handling difficult situations. Dairy Stream host Joanna Guza dives into the topics below with Michelle and Christine:

• 1:52: Difference between coaching and counseling   
• 3:26: Christine shares her perspective of coaching and counseling  
• 6:05: What coaching should look like with for an entry-level to manager position
• 9:58: Coaching environment
• 14:41: Address a common problem with the whole team
• 17:00: Poor performance versus bad behavior   
•  21:12: Professional way to talk about performance  
•  22:31: How employees can share concerns about issues   
• 25:40: Employee feedback, audits
• 29:05: Resources for coaching and counseling employees
• 33:25: How to handle the constant-problem employee
• 36:50: How to handle a late employee   
• 40:03: How to handle an employee that calls in sick that isn’t sick
• 42:25: How to handle an employee that keeps breaking items
• 45:39: How to handle an employee that isn’t making progress
• 48:37: How to handle a challenge with a family member on the farm
• 51:23: How to handle a common problem with the whole group    

Special thanks to Syngenta for sponsoring this episode.

About the guests

• Christine Bender was born and raised on her family’s dairy farm, McFarlandale Dairy LLC. in Watertown, Wisconsin. She graduated from UW-Madison in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Dairy Science and Life Sciences Communication. Following graduation she worked for CP Feeds as a dairy nutritionist for about three and a half years before returning home full-time to the family farm. McFarlandale Dairy LLC is currently home to about 1,100 cows and 15 full-time employees. Christine currently serves as the herd manager, overseeing the health of all animals at the farm as well managing all the employees. 
• Michelle Gubser has over 20 years of experience in human resources and leadership.  She currently serves as the Chief Talent Officer at ProVision Partners Cooperative in Marshfield, WI.  In this role, she leads the cooperative’s talent strategies and is responsible for creating and building high-performing teams.  Michelle has an undergraduate degree in Human Resources from the University of Northwestern - St. Paul and is currently pursuing an MBA in Agribusiness at North Dakota State University.   

Dairy Stream has dedicated four episodes to focus on an asset on your farm, your workforce. The four episodes of the Workable Workforce Series will cover recruiting, engaging, coaching and HR legal items. The series is sponsored by Syngenta and Compeer Financial.

May 3: Workable Workforce Series: Recruiting and Onboarding Talent | LISTEN HERE

May 24: Workable Workforce Series: Retention and Engagement | LISTEN HERE

July 5: Workable Workforce Series: HR Management and Legal Matters

This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing podcast@dairyforward.com. 

Dairy Streamlet: Workable Workforce Series: Coaching and Counseling

The Dairy Streamlet is a new, condensed version of Dairy Stream that takes the long episode and covers just the high-level points of the conversation. If this topic interests you, listen to the full episode on June 14. 

In this third part of the series, Dairy Stream host Joanna Guza talked with HR professional Michelle Gubser and dairy farmer Christine Bender about coaching and counseling new and long-term employees. 

Special thanks to Syngenta for sponsoring this episode.

About the guests

• Christine Bender was born and raised on her family’s dairy farm, McFarlandale Dairy LLC. in Watertown, Wisconsin. She graduated from UW-Madison in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Dairy Science and Life Sciences Communication. Following graduation she worked for CP Feeds as a dairy nutritionist for about three and a half years before returning home full-time to the family farm. McFarlandale Dairy LLC is currently home to about 1,100 cows and 15 full-time employees. Christine currently serves as the herd manager, overseeing the health of all animals at the farm as well managing all the employees. 
• Michelle Gubser has over 20 years of experience in human resources and leadership.  She currently serves as the Chief Talent Officer at ProVision Partners Cooperative in Marshfield, WI.  In this role, she leads the cooperative’s talent strategies and is responsible for creating and building high-performing teams.  Michelle has an undergraduate degree in Human Resources from the University of Northwestern - St. Paul and is currently pursuing an MBA in Agribusiness at North Dakota State University.   

Dairy Stream has dedicated four episodes to focus on an asset on your farm, your workforce. The four episodes of the Workable Workforce Series will cover recruiting, engaging, coaching and HR legal items. The series is sponsored by Syngenta and Compeer Financial.

May 3: Workable Workforce Series: Recruiting and Onboarding Talent | LISTEN HERE

May 24: Workable Workforce Series: Retention and Engagement | LISTEN HERE

June 14: Workable Workforce Series: Coaching and Counseling

July 5: Workable Workforce Series: HR Management and Legal Matters

This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing podcast@dairyforward.com. 

Workable Workforce Series: Retention and Engagement

In the second part of the Workable Workforce Series, we cover retention and engagement with employees. HR professional Joni Booth and dairy farmer Sandy Larson share experiences, recommendations and tips on retaining employees, incentives, retention interviews and keeping all level of employees engaged. Dairy Stream host Joanna Guza dives into the topics below with Joni and Sandy:

• 1:12: Importance of retaining employees and how to do it    
• 4:43: Putting employees in the right role   
• 6:41: How Sandy retains employees on her farm  
• 8:38: Do incentives work
• 12:35: Retention interviews  
• 18:53:  Retention interviews by groups
•  20:41: Community factors for employees   
• 24:44: Keeping employees engaged   
• 27:40: Confidential feedback
• 29:14: How Sandy keeps employees engaged  
• 32:04: Engagement for short versus long term employees  
• 33:35: Making employees feel a part of the team   
• 36:06: Do incentives or benefits keep employees engaged
• 38:57: Resources to keep employees engaged 

Special thanks to Compeer Financial for sponsoring this episode.

About the guests

• Joni Booth is on a mission to help create a better world of work. Formally trained as a financial analyst, she grew a passion for helping organizations optimize their human capital to achieve their business objectives. Throughout her career, she has worked with various global organizations across different industries, providing solutions that improve employee engagement, increase productivity, and drive overall organizational performance. Her expertise includes talent acquisition and management, performance management, employee experience, and workforce planning. 
• Sandy Larson is the 5th generation to lead Larson Acres, her family-owned dairy in Evansville, Wis.  Sandy works hard on employee engagement and management, business administration, and public relations.  She is a member of the Board of Directors for ALCIVIA, National FARM Farmer Advisory Council, and active member of the Rock County dairy organizations.  Sandy is the founder and advisor to the Rock County Ag Ambassador program, which employees a part-time person to advocate on behalf of agriculture in the county.   Additionally, Sandy is an active advocate for dairy within the community and through social media outlets. 

Dairy Stream has dedicated four episodes to focus on an asset on your farm, your workforce. The four episodes of the Workable Workforce Series will cover recruiting, engaging, coaching and HR legal items. The series is sponsored by Syngenta and Compeer Financial.

May 3: Workable Workforce Series: Recruiting and Onboarding Talent | LISTEN HERE

June 14: Workable Workforce Series: Coaching and Counseling

July 5: Workable Workforce Series: HR Management and Legal Matters

This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing podcast@dairyforward.com. 

Dairy Streamlet: Workable Workforce Series: Engagement and Retention

The Dairy Streamlet is a new, condensed version of Dairy Stream that takes the long episode and covers just the high-level points of the conversation. If this topic interests you, listen to the full episode on May 24. 

In this second part of the series, Dairy Stream host Joanna Guza talked with HR professional Joni Booth and dairy farmer Sandy Larson about retaining employees and keeping them engaged. They dive into retention ideas and resources, what engagement looks like for short- and long-term employees and incentives.

Special thanks to Compeer Financial for sponsoring this episode.

About the guests

• Joni Booth is on a mission to help create a better world of work. Formally trained as a financial analyst, she grew a passion for helping organizations optimize their human capital to achieve their business objectives. Throughout her career, she has worked with various global organizations across different industries, providing solutions that improve employee engagement, increase productivity, and drive overall organizational performance. Her expertise includes talent acquisition and management, performance management, employee experience, and workforce planning. 
• Sandy Larson is the 5th generation to lead Larson Acres, her family-owned dairy in Evansville, Wis.  Sandy works hard on employee engagement and management, business administration, and public relations.  She is a member of the Board of Directors for ALCIVIA, National FARM Farmer Advisory Council, and active member of the Rock County dairy organizations.  Sandy is the founder and advisor to the Rock County Ag Ambassador program, which employees a part-time person to advocate on behalf of agriculture in the county.   Additionally, Sandy is an active advocate for dairy within the community and through social media outlets. 

Dairy Stream has dedicated four episodes to focus on an asset on your farm, your workforce. The four episodes of the Workable Workforce Series will cover recruiting, engaging, coaching and HR legal items. The series is sponsored by Syngenta and Compeer Financial.

May 3: Workable Workforce Series: Recruiting and Onboarding Talent | LISTEN HERE

June 14: Workable Workforce Series: Coaching and Counseling

July 5: Workable Workforce Series: HR Management and Legal Matters

This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing podcast@dairyforward.com. 

Workable Workforce Series: Recruiting and onboarding talent

Finding and sustaining a workable workforce is a challenge. It starts with recruiting and onboarding. HR professional Lori Culler and dairy farmer Laura Finger share experiences, recommendations and tips for recruiting, selecting and onboarding employees. Dairy Stream host Joanna Guza dives into the topics below with Lori and Laura:

• 1:38: Where should farms start with sourcing and recruiting talent  
• 3:44: Share the reality of the job  
• 5:23: Best place to post a job
• 6:33: How Laura recruits for her farm 
• 8:49: How to assess the talent pool
• 9:56: What to share about pay and benefits  
• 13:46: How to select the best candidate
•  18:26: Ensuring the farm and candidates expectations are met  
•  24:04: What is an effective onboarding plan   
• 25:43: Making the handbook ‘fun’
• 27:00: How to build a positive employee culture
• 28:00: First week is critical, don’t forget about 30, 60, 90 day check-ins    
• 31:22: How to check-in with new employees  
• 32:34: Biggest mistake with onboarding
• 33:35: Ensuring all the backgrounds and cultures of employees are thriving
• 36:58: The future of recruiting and onboarding  

Special thanks to Syngenta for sponsoring this episode.

About the guests

• Lori Culler is the founder of AgHires, an online job board and recruiting firm dedicated to the Agriculture, Horticulture, and Food Production industry. Lori grew up on her family's 3rd generation potato and grain farm operating today across four states. After graduating from the University of Toledo with a bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management, she began working in recruiting and management consulting. While hiring for her family’s operation, she quickly realized the lack of resources in the industry to find and attract talent which inspired her to launch AgHires. 
• Laura Finger and her husband Phil are owner operators of Finger Family Farm in Oconto Wisconsin.  They are the 5th generation on their dairy that milks 540 cows, raises all their own replacements and farms 1800 acres.  Laura has a Dairy Science Degree from Iowa State University and uses both cow knowledge and evolved people skills to lead a team of 20 employees with a variety of backgrounds ranging from local people, high schoolers, retirees and migrant labor.  Her main jobs are to raise calves and kids, manage the parlor and anything involving their team of people on the farm. 

Dairy Stream has dedicated the next four episodes to focus on an asset on your farm, your workforce. The four episodes of the Workable Workforce Series will cover recruiting, engaging, coaching and HR legal items. The series is sponsored by Syngenta and Compeer Financial.

• May 24: Workable Workforce Series: Retention and Engagement 
• June 14: Workable Workforce Series: Coaching and Counseling
• July 5: Workable Workforce Series: HR Management and Legal Matters

This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing podcast@dairyforward.com. 

Dairy Streamlet: Workable Workforce Series: Recruiting and onboarding talent

The Dairy Streamlet is a new, condensed version of Dairy Stream that takes the long episode and covers just the high-level points of the conversation. If this topic interests you, listen to the full episode on May 3. 

Dairy Stream has dedicated the next four episodes to focus on an asset on your farm, your workforce. The four episodes of the Workable Workforce Series will cover recruiting, engaging, coaching and HR legal items. The series is sponsored by Syngenta and Compeer Financial.

In this first part of the series, Dairy Stream host Joanna Guza talked with HR professional Lori Culler and dairy farmer Laura Finger about the most critical step with developing your workforce. They cover how to recruit, select and onboard new employees.

Special thanks to Syngenta for sponsoring this episode.

About the guests

• Lori Culler is the founder of AgHires, an online job board and recruiting firm dedicated to the Agriculture, Horticulture, and Food Production industry. Lori grew up on her family's 3rd generation potato and grain farm operating today across four states. After graduating from the University of Toledo with a bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management, she began working in recruiting and management consulting. While hiring for her family’s operation, she quickly realized the lack of resources in the industry to find and attract talent which inspired her to launch AgHires. 
• Laura Finger and her husband Phil are owner operators of Finger Family Farm in Oconto Wisconsin.  They are the 5th generation on their dairy that milks 540 cows, raises all their own replacements and farms 1800 acres.  Laura has a Dairy Science Degree from Iowa State University and uses both cow knowledge and evolved people skills to lead a team of 20 employees with a variety of backgrounds ranging from local people, high schoolers, retirees and migrant labor.  Her main jobs are to raise calves and kids, manage the parlor and anything involving their team of people on the farm. 

This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing podcast@dairyforward.com. 

The future of dairy processing

Dairy processing is a competitive industry and Wisconsin is home to a world-class facility – the Center for Dairy Research – driving the development of new products to meet consumer demands, both domestically and abroad. Ken Heiman, owner of Nasonville Dairy, and John Jaeggi, coordinator of the Cheese Industry and Applications Program and coordinator of the Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker Program at the Center for Dairy Research (CDR), share processor challenges, how CDR can help and the future of dairy processing. Dairy Stream host Joanna Guza dives into the topics below with Ken and John:

• 1:55: Past challenges at Nasonville Dairy
• 4:15: How CDR supported Nasonville Dairy
• 5:53: Number of projects that CDR works on
• 6:45: What has been the most common challenge
• 7:47: CDR support during the pandemic
• 10:15: CDR support in a timely manner
• 11:24: Does the manufactures and supplier provide adequate support
• 13:46: Challenges with exports and regulation
• 17:26: Importance of dairy competitions
• 22:28: How to ask CDR for help
• 23:25: Wisconsin processors get priority, international support
• 25:26: How dairy farmers ask CDR for support
• 26:56: Do dairy processors pay for CDR support
• 27:33: CDR confidential assistance
• 29:45: Future challenges in dairy processing
• 33:08: Ken perspective on future challenges

Special thanks to Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin for sponsoring this episode.

About the guests

• Ken Heiman is a Master Cheesemaker who owns Nasonville Dairy in Marshfield, Wisconsin, is an encyclopedia of all things dairy – from cheese’s ancient roots in Egyptian tombs and Greek mythology to the exact time it takes his plant to turn a tanker load of milk into feta. Also, a true Wisconsinite who got his cheesemaker’s license before his driver’s license.

• John Jaeggi is the coordinator of the Cheese Industry and Applications Program at John is responsible for the coordination and execution of trials and application extensions. In addition, John lectures and conducts lab sessions for numerous CDR and company contracted short courses. John has a B.S. in Business and Economics. He is a third generation licensed Wisconsin Cheesemaker with over 45 years of experience in the industry. He has also been a technical judge in many contests including the United States and World Championship Cheese Contest.

This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.