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. 2d ago

    384 | People First: The Leadership Philosophy Behind a Growing Dairy

    Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen is onsite with Josh Webb, at multi-generational Heglar Creek Dairy near Declo, Idaho, a fifth-generation family operation that relocated from Utah in the mid-1970s and has since grown and diversified. Webb describes the family’s structured pathway into the business, requiring education, outside work, interviews, and defined roles, as well as a clear exit strategy including retirement expectations. He explains how the operation expanded into multiple enterprises, and how two nearby dairies differ in breeds and milking systems, including a 2018 Jersey robot barn with 18 Lely units. Webb discusses being early adopters of technology, adopting Milc group's cloud-based OneFeed and OneAnimal for real-time accuracy and integration, prioritizing “first who, then what” in hiring, using EOS-style meetings, and partnering with Danone, including transitioning to non-GMO feed and related regenerative changes. The episode emphasizes legacy as building people and work ethic so the next generation can keep evolving. This episode is brought to you by Milc Group. Milc Group is a dairy software company that brings real-time, actionable data to dairy farms across the world. They are dedicated to revolutionizing the dairy industry with their user-friendly cloud-based software. ONE™ by Milc Group is our all-in-one app that brings together all the important aspects of your dairy together in one place. With products such as feed and animal management software, people training, dairy facility monitoring, and scale management, Milc Group is committed to providing producers with tools they need to succeed. 02:33 Five Generations To Idaho 04:52 Earning Your Way Back 10:01 Diversifying Beyond Dairy 11:40 Rules For Entry And Exit 13:38 Two Dairies Two Systems 16:40 Why Build A Robot Barn 22:51 First Who Then What 25:02 Recruiting And Retaining Talent 26:56 Meetings Support And Tech Tools 29:57 Tech That Empowers Teams 30:59 OneFeed Simple Accuracy 34:56 Defining Dairy Success 36:14 Future Manager Skills 38:14 Partnering With Danone 42:13 Legacy Beyond The Farm 51:20 Work Ethic Sweat Pledge

  2. 4d ago

    383 | Help Them Believe in Themselves | Peter Coyne on Coaching and Mentoring Dairy's Next Generation

    Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy interviews longtime dairy industry leader Peter Coyne about the relationships that shaped his life and his responsibility to “pay it back to the next in line.” Coyne describes his path from growing up in western New York around Holsteins and influential cow people, to working with Pinehurst, attending UW–River Falls, managing and expanding dairy herds, enduring a difficult partnership exit, gaining key leadership experience at John Dee Farm, and later joining VitaPlus, where he contributes cow and people management skills. Ahead of World Dairy Expo, he shares his family’s involvement and his 41 years coaching dairy judging, emphasizing connection, culture, perseverance, learning through mistakes, and helping young people believe in themselves, often through simple acts like remembering names, giving time, and encouragement to keep moving. This Episode is brought to you by AdisseoThis episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components, and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more at https://www.adisseo.com/en/ 07:20 From New York to Dairy Career 13:21 Hard Lessons and Big Leaps 16:06 Joining VitaPlus 19:40 Culture and Perseverance 25:44 Risk Taking Mindset 31:13 Giving Back Through Coaching 39:00 What Makes a Great Coach 47:55 Showing Cows Builds Grit 49:51 Learning Beside Great People 51:07 Mistakes Create Experience 54:54 Coach Versus Mentor 56:32 Mentoring Across Generations 01:01:05 Life Advice for Students 01:10:48 Parting Words and Payback 01:15:25 Expo Stories and Wins

  3. Sep 24

    382 | Transforming Dairy Risk Management with Jim Matthews and Duane Banderob

    Today, on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen talks with Duane Banderob and Jim Matthews about Ever.Ag separating into two standalone organizations.  EA Risk, formerly Ever.Ag Risk Management, is now an independent company focused solely on managing commodity markets across the agricultural supply chain. They share that it’s the same people, producer relationships, and farmer-first focus that the market has come to know over the past two decades. They explain that services remain unchanged, including protecting revenue and input risk through livestock and crop insurance, futures and options, energy and feed procurement strategies, advisory/consulting, and market publications, supported by their proprietary Vault platform and EA Risk Insights research. The team sees the split as a chance to sharpen focus, improve technology and customer experience, and evolve offerings as dairy operations face increasing complexity, including beef-on-dairy exposure, digesters, new financing realities, and higher capital costs, while maintaining on-farm relationship standards and continuity for clients. EA Risk, formerly Ever.Ag Risk Management, partners with dairy producers to build customized risk management plans that help protect margins in any market environment. With dedicated advisors, industry-leading technology, and proven tools like Dairy Revenue Protection, we help farms reduce uncertainty and secure long‑term financial strength. Learn more at https://ea-risk.carrd.co/. 00:00 Dairy Risk Shifts 02:02 Ever.Ag Shift Explained 03:47 Services That Stay 07:33 What Changes Next 09:19 Vault Platform Insights 10:10 Industry Risks Ahead 13:06 Core Philosophy: Relationships 16:09 Legacy Of Dairy Markets 18:24 Buggy Lesson 22:04 One Year Outlook 28:07 World Dairy Expo Plans

  4. Sep 22

    381 | Beyond the Protocol: Why People Are the Key to Better Animal Care

    Today, Peggy Coffeen is onsite as she welcomes Dr. Tera Barnhardt to the Uplevel Dairy Podcast to discuss leadership, communication, and navigating hard seasons in production agriculture. Dr. Barnhardt, a Kansas-based veterinarian, mom, business owner, and agriculture advocate, describes serving dairies, calf ranches, and feed yards across southwest Kansas and the High Plains while managing heavy animal movement logistics and regulatory paperwork. She explains that effective problem solving depends less on perfect protocols and more on understanding each farm’s systems and people, especially as many employees lack agricultural backgrounds. Barnhardt emphasizes culturally aware training and tailoring communication to owners, managers, and frontline workers using different formats and technologies. She reflects on formative animal welfare leadership experiences in a large feeding operation, lessons from the H5N1 outbreak and consumer trust, and advice to view hard days as growth opportunities while integrating, not balancing, work and family. Heritage Vet Partners is the nation’s leading veterinary partnership, specializing in mixed and large animal practices.  Heritage Vet Partners provides a unique partnership model that preserves local practice legacies, serving dairy and other livestock producers and companion animal owners through shared services, data, and strategic growth. Learn more at HeritageVetPartners.com 01:04 Meet Dr. Tera Barnhardt 02:22 Many Hats and Advocacy 04:30 Why Rural Kansas 06:24 A Day on the Road 09:09 Problem Solving Systems 11:40 Training for Welfare 14:34 Leadership Lessons Feedyard 20:32 Adapting to Change 22:27 Communication Across Cultures 27:26 Social Media and Audiences 29:53 H5N1 Frontline Story 38:26 Advice for Young Vets 41:51 Integrating Work and Family

  5. Sep 17

    380 | From Vegetarian to Dairy Advocate: How Jill Houin Found Her Place in Dairy

    Peggy Coffeen interviews Jill Houin at Homestead Dairy in Plymouth, Indiana, where the family milks 5,000 cows across three sites, including a 2,200-cow robotic dairy with 36 robots and a semi-automatic feed system. Jill, a former New Jersey teacher and vegetarian who married into the dairy, describes learning farm life, becoming the farm’s tour guide and key messenger, and using truthful, practical explanations to convert skeptics. She shares how community tours brought 1,000 visitors in three hours, and highlights sustainability stories like generating electricity from manure and Notre Dame food waste to power about 1,000 homes an hour. Jill also discusses taking on farm bookkeeping, mediating family perspectives, working with Spanish-speaking staff and interns from Mexico, and launching The Break Room Meat Market restaurant featuring the farm’s beef and other local products. This episode is brought to you by Zoetis. As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is dedicated to helping producers achieve healthy animals, healthy dairies and healthy food through their world-class portfolio. For more information, visit ⁠DairyWellness.com.⁠ 00:00 Meet Jill Houin 01:47 Robotic Dairy Updates 02:35 From Jersey to Dairy 05:40 Vegetarian to Advocate 07:21 Tours and Key Messages 11:59 Handling Tough Questions 15:41 Books and Office Role 19:31 Delegation and Hiring 21:50 Culture and Worker Respect 23:09 Restaurant Origin Story 23:45 Local Meat Market Vision 24:29 Farm Story Branding 25:00 COVID Hug To Deal 26:46 Buying And Expanding 27:24 Naming The Break Room 27:46 Crystal Mess Challenge 28:33 Menu And Accommodations 29:29 Ownership And Creativity 30:19 Dreams And Travel 31:34 Meaning And Mission

  6. Sep 15

    379 | Join us for Showbox Stories Live at World Dairy Expo 2026!

    Peggy Coffeen is joined today by Tim Abbott of Showbox Sires and Jared Krull of CowManager on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast to announce that the popular Showbox Stories series will be recorded live at World Dairy Expo on Thursday, October 1, from about 8:00–10:30 a.m. on the Tanbark stage, with CowManager as premier sponsor. They recap the project’s purpose of preserving dairy history and authentic voices while highlighting lessons from mentors and industry icons. Tim and Jared discuss learning through conversations on show boxes and around the bulk tank, and preview guests including Dave Thorbahn, Dr. Sheila McGuirk, and many more. Listeners are invited to attend, subscribe to hear episodes later, and submit show box photos and stories for possible on-stage sharing. Submit your Showbox story here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc1l6qGl0D1JMEWtG48Y1QHvEAdwHzSpHEHIPaDPAEbUszEdA/viewform This series is brought to you by CowManager. CowManager delivers 24/7 real-time data to help producers enhance herd health, fertility and nutrition. To learn more, contact your CowManager Specialist at Select Sires or visit CowManager.com. Website: https://www.cowmanager.com/ Contact: https://www.cowmanager.com/contact/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CowManager Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cowmanagers/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cowmanager-bv/posts/?feedView=all YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/cowmanager 00:00 Showbox Stories Return 01:12 Why We Started Recording 02:35 Icons and Lessons Learned 04:47 Live Tanbark Announcement 05:28 Meet Jared Krull 06:53 Why CowManager Cares 08:53 Guest Lineup Sneak Peek 11:40 Submit Your Showbox Photo 12:49 Jared and Tim Share Stories 16:46 Peggy Trophy Trade Tale 21:36 Join Us at Expo

  7. Sep 11

    378 | Gear up for World Dairy Expo 2026 with Showbox Stories Ft. Jeff Butler, Butlerview Farm

    As we gear up for World Dairy Expo 2026, we’re bringing back a favorite from the Showbox Stories series recorded at World Dairy Expo. In this episode, Peggy Coffeen and Tim Abbott sit down with Jeff Butler of Butler View Farms to hear about his journey in the dairy industry—from his early days in 4-H to his success with show cattle and his continued commitment to the future of dairy. Jeff shares memorable experiences, the mentors who helped shape his career, and how technology like CowManager is influencing modern dairy practices. It’s a conversation about heritage, vision, innovation, and the importance of investing in the next generation of dairy farmers. If you’re heading to World Dairy Expo 2026, this is a great episode to revisit as we get ready for another week of celebrating the people, cattle, and stories that make the dairy industry so special.00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene00:39 The Humble Beginnings of Showbox Stories02:19 Showbox Stories Series and Cow Manager Partnership03:37 Guest Introduction: Jeff Butler from Butlerview Farms05:15 Jeff Butler's Early Days and Mentors09:49 First Experiences at World Dairy Expo13:11 Building a Successful Show String19:44 The Role of Technology in Modern Dairy Farming22:51 International Intrigue Sale and Industry Impact28:13 Final Thoughts and ReflectionsThis series is brought to you by CowManager.CowManager delivers 24/7 real-time data to help producers enhance herd health, fertility and nutrition. To learn more, contact your CowManager Specialist at Select Sires or visit CowManager.com.Website: https://www.cowmanager.com/Contact: https://www.cowmanager.com/contact/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CowManagerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cowmanagers/#LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cowmanager-bv/posts/?feedView=allYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/cowmanager

  8. Sep 8

    377 | The Future of Holstein Genetics and Efficient Dairy Management with Seagull Bay Dairy and WinStar Genetics

    What does the dairy cow of the future need to do better and what tools will help get her there? Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen visits Seagull Bay Dairy in Idaho with brothers Greg and John Andersen to discuss how decades of genetics work shaped their multi-site operations and global influence through Seagull Bay and WinStar Genetics. The Andersens share the story behind Seagull Bay Dairy, the foundation cows and influential genetics that shaped their program. They also discuss how genomics has accelerated genetic progress and helped improve traits such as production, fertility, longevity, and calving ability. Looking ahead, Greg and John discuss the future of dairy genetics, including their focus on polled genetics through Winstar Genetics and the traits they believe will become increasingly important: hoof health, calf health, mastitis resistance, longevity, and feed efficiency. The conversation also dives into using cloud-based technology and real-time data to manage multiple dairy locations, improve feeding and reproduction decisions, and give their teams the information they need to operate with greater precision. For them, building a successful dairy isn't just about producing more, it's about continually improving, developing great people, and creating a family business built to last. Milc Group is a dairy software company that brings real-time, actionable data to dairy farms across the world. They are dedicated to revolutionizing the dairy industry with their user-friendly cloud-based software. ONE™ by Milc Group is our all-in-one app that brings together all the important aspects of your dairy together in one place. With products such as feed and animal management software, people training, dairy facility monitoring, and scale management, Milc Group is committed to providing producers with tools they need to succeed. 02:09 Seagull Bay Day Origins 03:25 Growing Multi-Site Dairies 05:40 Holstein Versus Crossbreeding 13:27 Genomics Lessons Learned 15:49 Winstar Genetics Launch 17:22 Polled Breakthrough Mendel 22:53 Next Traits To Select 27:42 Cloud Feeding With ONEfeed 32:03 ONEanimal and Lely Integration 34:18 Robot Data Integration 35:56 Repro Reporting Upgrades 37:10 Tracking Repro Performance 37:49 New Repro KPI Goals 39:08 Breeding Strategy Mix 40:45 Staying Sustainable 43:38 People Over Technology 45:13 Culture And Expectations 46:44 Defining Success Metrics 50:18 Vision Mission Legacy 54:08 Passing On Values

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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
    380
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 868329
  • Show Website
    Uplevel Dairy Podcast

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