Uplevel Dairy Podcast

Peggy Coffeen
  • 4.9 (34)
  • Business
  • Updated Weekly

What does it take to be a successful, profitable and competitive dairy farm business? This is the podcast for dairy owners, managers and advisors who are after their next level of success. Join Uplevel Dairy host Peggy Coffeen each week as she sits down with the industry’s leading dairy producers and thought leaders for real conversations about business, management and leadership.

  1. 1h ago

    362 | Tax and Legal Strategies for Farm Transition with Menn Law

    On the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen concludes a three-part Farm Forward listener Q&A series with Will McKinley of Menn Law and Pat Sturz, a retired CPA and longtime agriculture tax advisor, discussing why legal and tax planning must be integrated in farm succession. They explain how farm growth and asset write-offs can create future tax problems, why “sell the farm on a land contract” can trigger unexpected upfront taxes due to different asset classes, and how early planning, entity choice, and large early gifting can improve outcomes. They highlight tools like profits interests to share future growth or reward key employees without immediate income tax, strategies like “shadow” partnership entities to move assets out of C corps over time, and the role of stepped-up basis at death. They close with key mistakes, priorities, and the need for readiness and clarity about who will be involved and retirement cash needs. Contact Will McKinley or Pat Sturz at Menn LawWilliam-McKinley@mennlaw.com(920) 731-6631 pat_sturz@mennlaw.com 715-586-0050 Learn more at https://mennlaw.com/Do you have a question on succession and farm transition you would like to hear Will answer on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast? Send your questions to peggy@upleveldairy.com 01:13 Meet Will and Pat 04:30 Long Term Tax Mindset 06:13 Gifting and Entity Choices 09:43 Avoid Land Contract Traps 12:00 Profits Interest Explained 15:20 Shadow Farm Strategy 18:32 Biggest Misunderstandings 23:19 One Year Retirement Priorities 24:42 Common Mistakes and Wrap Up

  2. 1d ago

    361 | The Biggest Mistake Families Make with Land with Will McKinley

    Today's conversation tackles one of the most emotional and misunderstood topics in farm succession planning: how do you provide for non-farming children without putting the future of the farm at risk? Will McKinley explains why "fair" doesn't always mean "equal" and shares practical strategies that allow farm families to care for every child while protecting the operation they've spent a lifetime building. From trusts and LLCs to long-term leases, purchase options, and structured buyout agreements, you'll learn how thoughtful planning today can prevent conflict tomorrow. Will also shares real-life success stories and heartbreaking cautionary tales that demonstrate exactly what happens when estate plans leave room for ambiguity. Whether you're actively planning your estate or simply beginning family conversations, this episode offers valuable insight into preserving both your farm and your family relationships. Contact Will McKinley at Menn LawWilliam-McKinley@mennlaw.com(920) 731-6631 Learn more at https://mennlaw.com/ 00:00 Why "Fair Isn't Always Equal" in Farm Succession 01:28 Understanding the Real Value—and Responsibility—of Inheriting a Farm 03:05 Using Trusts and LLCs to Protect Farm Assets 05:02 The Biggest Mistake Families Make with Farmland 06:15 Purchase Options, Long-Term Leases & Buyout Strategies 08:10 Why You Should Never Leave Rent Negotiations to Future Generations 09:48 Real Success Story: A Farm Family That Planned Ahead 12:58 When Poor Planning Forced a Farm to Shut Down 15:05 Good Intentions, Bad Estate Planning 17:16 Eliminating Ambiguity Before It Leads to Litigation 18:00 Three Questions Every Farm Parent Should Answer Before They're Gone

  3. 2d ago

    360 | Why Farm Transitions Fail with Will McKinley

    Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen interviews attorney Will McKinley of Menn Law in a three-part follow-up to the Farm Forward conference, focusing on why farm transitions fail and how to prevent it. McKinley cites two primary failure causes: economic infeasibility and psychology/communication breakdowns, including control issues and lack of confidence in successors; he shares examples where debt forced likely land sales and where strict post-death “guardrails” led a son to leave and the dairy to shut down. He emphasizes earlier planning, strong financial advisors, and tools like trusts with independent trustees. Discussing non-family key employees, he warns ownership success is about 50/50, urges transparency, cautions against rushed promises and mingling assets like cattle or equipment, and suggests alternatives such as higher compensation or limited real-estate partnerships. Make sure to tune in tomorrow and Thursday for parts two and three. Contact Will McKinley at Menn Law: William-McKinley@mennlaw.com (920) 731-6631 https://mennlaw.com/ Do you have a question on succession and farm transition you would like to hear Will answer on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast? Send your questions to peggy@upleveldairy.com 00:00 Why Transitions Fail 02:16 Two Failure Causes 02:40 Debt And Taxes Trap 03:52 Psychology And Control 08:08 Preventing Financial Failure 13:14 Trusts And Guardrails 16:18 Non-Family Partners 25:50 Avoiding Messy Entanglements

  4. Jul 9

    359 | Ask the Expert: Next-Level Dairy Cow Immune Support

    Today, Peggy sits down for an exclusive, 'Ask the Expert' feature with veterinarian Dr.Jan van Dijk of AHV discusses how common stressors in dairy cows, such as calving, transition, heat stress, pen moves, and high production, can disrupt immune function and lead to issues like metritis, mastitis, temperature spikes, reduced rumination, and lost milk that can affect an entire lactation. Dr. Van Dijk explains the damage caused by both overreacting and underreacting immune responses and introduces AHV’s Aspi, a plant-extracted immunomodulatory complementary feed given orally as a tablet/liquid or bolus, used proactively or reactively, with no milk withhold. In a farm comparison to an injectable nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory in monitored cows, Aspi lowered temperature more gradually but for longer, maintained activity, improved rumination, and greatly reduced repeat temperature spikes over 20 days. This episode is brought to you by AHV Your herd’s health is our priority. You get the best of both worlds: cutting-edge science and practical, hands-on support. With veterinary expertise and applied research behind every solution, you’ll have access to insights that matter. Delivered through our dedicated data service and backed by personal guidance from our on-farm consultants. Whether you’re making decisions in the barn or reviewing data, we’re here to support your goals—every step of the way. Learn more at https://ahvint.com/us/dairy-cows-calves. 00:00 Why Cow Stress Matters 00:48 Meet The Expert 01:22 Signs Of Poor Immunity 02:09 Over Vs Under Reaction 02:28 Introducing Aspi 03:06 How Aspi Is Used 04:06 On Farm Trial Results 05:17 Reoffending And Recovery 06:27 Future Of Immune Modulation 07:57 What Aspi Delivers

  5. Jul 7

    358 | Making a $4 Million Impact: Dairy Cares of Wisconsin

    Today, Peggy Coffeen sits down with Jim Ostrom, president and CEO of Milk Source and co-founder of Dairy Cares of Wisconsin, to discuss how a backyard gathering in Wisconsin grew over 17 years into an event drawing 450–550 people and raising more than $4 million for Children’s Wisconsin, a world-class hospital network with 18 branches. Ostrom explains Dairy Cares’ purpose and highlights gratitude, welcoming new participants, and inspiring a next generation through youth donations and fundraising efforts. He credits the impact to teamwork, hard work, and shared passion, and shares leadership approaches like envisioning “what could be” and relying on strong partners and teams. Ostrom reflects on tough commodity cycles in dairy, opportunities in beef and efficiency-driven export competitiveness, his personal advice to “compare yourself to yourself yesterday,” his interest in AI, and ways to get involved with a goal to raise $500,000 this year. To get involved in Dairy Cares of Wisconsin's continual impact, Make a donation at dairycaresofwisconsin.orgJoin us for the annual Dairy Cares Garden Party, July 25, De Pere, Wis.Support through the virtual auction: https://pro.gofundme.com/live/register/2026-dairy-cares-of-wisconsin-garden-party/4c24640e-e3ed-4dc9-aa29-d175b99cfe27 00:00 Backyard Idea Begins01:41 Garden Party Origins02:27 Mission And Beneficiary04:19 From Dinner To Millions06:20 Next Gen Giving08:20 Welcoming New Leaders09:55 Leadership Behind Impact11:41 Business Vision Teamwork13:51 Industry Opportunities Cycles16:46 Rapid Fire Advice19:10 How To Get Involved

  6. Jun 30

    357 |  Inside the Minds of Dairy's Next Generation | Junior Advisory Committee Roundtable

    What’s inside the minds of the next generation of dairy leaders? We found out last week at the National Holstein Convention, where we sat down with 3 young leaders in the National Junior Holstein Association who are helping shape the future of the organization while representing thousands of junior members nationwide. Through leadership, service, and a whole lot of dedication, they're proving that the next generation is already making an impact. Mykel Mull from California, Cayden Bursiek from Ohio, and Ainsley Sellers from Pennsylvania talk about what inspired each of them to get involved with the National Holstein Junior Advisory Committee, what they've learned through serving in national leadership, how the Junior Advisory Committee gives young people a voice within the Association, and why programs like these matter so much for developing tomorrow's dairy leaders. Whether you're raising the next generation on your farm, involved in youth programs yourself, or simply want a glimpse of where our industry is headed, this conversation will leave you optimistic and inspired too. 01:36 Meet the JAC Team02:09 Ainsley’s Dairy Story02:51 Cayden’s Show Ring Roots03:25 Mykel’s Unique Path04:57 What the JAC Does07:11 Programs and Skills Built08:34 Lessons From Nationwide Networking11:22 Leaders Who Inspired Them16:01 Most Impactful Junior Programs19:45 Future Plans in Dairy and Beyond

  7. Jun 25

    356 | Rebuilding After Tragedy: Four Cubs Farm's Story of Resilience

    When a devastating barn fire destroyed the heart of Four Cubs Farms in November 2017, the Peterson family faced a decision that would shape the future of their business for generations to come. In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen continues her conversation with Gary and Cris Peterson, Ben Peterson, and Dairy Manager Nathan Brandt as they reflect on one of the most difficult days in the farm's history—and how it became the catalyst for transformation.From the overwhelming support of neighbors and fellow dairy producers to rebuilding with robotic milking technology, the team shares how resilience, innovation, and a willingness to embrace change helped them emerge stronger than before. The conversation explores how data-driven decision making, animal welfare, technology adoption, and strategic growth are helping Four Cubs Farms remain competitive while preparing for its 150th anniversary and the next generation of leadership.This episode is sponsored by Compeer Financial.Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Their dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs.02:00 – The day the barn fire changed everything04:00 – Moving cows and saving the herd during the crisis06:00 – Community support and the dairy industry's response07:00 – Rebuilding after the fire and making a major decision08:00 – Choosing robotic milking technology10:00 – Bringing cows home and transitioning to robots12:00 – How the robotic dairy is organized today14:00 – Collecting and using data to improve performance16:00 – Measuring return on investment through data18:00 – Data, profitability, and continuous improvement20:00 – Solving challenges through real-time insights22:00 – Staying competitive in a changing dairy industry23:00 – Cow behavior, stocking density, and robot efficiency25:00 – Labor, technology, and future dairy strategies27:00 – Growth plans and expansion opportunities28:00 – Building the next generation of the herd30:00 – Celebrating 150 years of family farming32:00 – Looking ahead to the future of Four Cubs Farms33:00 – Lessons in resilience, leadership, and perseverance

  8. Jun 23

    355 | Leadership Across Generations: Creating a Dairy Business Built to Last

    For nearly 150 years, Four Cubs Farms in Grantsburg, Wisconsin, has been built on a simple principle: people matter. In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen sits down with Gary and Cris Peterson, their son Ben Peterson, and Dairy Manager Nathan Brandt to explore the leadership, culture, communication, and innovation that transformed a small family dairy into a thriving 1,000-cow operation. From succession planning and employee engagement to genomic testing, feed efficiency, and building trust across generations, this conversation offers valuable lessons for dairy producers looking to create resilient businesses that can thrive well into the future. Whether you're navigating farm transition, building a team, or looking for ways to strengthen your operation's culture, this episode delivers practical insights from a farm that has successfully blended family values with modern dairy management. This episode is sponsored by Compeer Financial. Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Their dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs. 02:00 – Growing from 60 cows to 1,000 cows 03:00 – Roles and responsibilities within the farm team 05:00 – Cris Peterson's journey from city girl to dairy advocate 09:00 – Leadership transition and bringing in outside talent 10:00 – Nathan Brandt's path into dairy and Four Cubs Farms 13:00 – Building a team with complementary strengths 14:00 – Innovation through feed systems and grain storage 16:00 – Genetics, genomic testing, and future herd growth 20:00 – Nutrition strategies for today's high-performing dairy cows 24:00 – The role of culture in farm success 27:00 – Trust, communication, and employee retention 30:00 – Creating clarity, consistency, and rhythm across the operation 32:00 – Succession planning, growth, and preparing for the future

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About

What does it take to be a successful, profitable and competitive dairy farm business? This is the podcast for dairy owners, managers and advisors who are after their next level of success. Join Uplevel Dairy host Peggy Coffeen each week as she sits down with the industry’s leading dairy producers and thought leaders for real conversations about business, management and leadership.

Information

  • Creator
    Peggy Coffeen
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    358
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 868329
  • Show Website
    Uplevel Dairy Podcast

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