DAIRY ST R presents
EDUCATION & CAREER CONNECTIONS
May 24, 2025
Selling yourself in 30 seconds
Selz-Pralle shares resume writing advice
By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
BARABOO, Wis. — Resumes are a rite of passage for young adults nding their way in the world, and the process of standing out can be daunting.
Pam Selz-Pralle shared her thoughts on what makes a resume stand out amongst the pile, based on her years of experience sitting on boards and scholarship committees including the Monsanto Foundation, at the Wisconsin Holstein Association’s Cow Crossroads program Feb. 9 in Baraboo.
“You have about 30 seconds to capture my attention and make me want to read to the bottom of the page,” Selz-Pralle said. “The most important information needs to rise to the top.”
Selz-Pralle said that while all resumes are similar, they are also all unique in their purpose — to sell the applicant’s skills and abilities.
“A resume is about you; it’s a personal advertisement for you,” SelzPralle said. “You need to show people that you have what they want. A resume opens doors and creates opportunities — don’t cheat yourself by giving a standard, old, boring resume.”
Selz-Pralle likened the process of writing a resume to another rite of passage many dairy farm kids are familiar with — giving oral reasons in dairy judging.
“You want it to be easy to read, quick to your important information and attributes,” Selz-Pralle said. “Avoid using excessive bullet points, different fonts, italics and wide tabs.”
With a mere 30 seconds to capture her attention, Selz-Pralle was adamant that the most important information rise to the top of the page.
“I reviewed a resume a few weeks ago and in the list of activities, you know what was listed rst — their placings at World Dairy Expo,” Selz-Pralle said. “Who is the resume about? You, not about your cow, or where she stood at Expo. Your resume is about your, your inuences and experiences. Those are common mistakes youth make, ones that winners do not.”
Developing a good resume is not an easy task, Selz-Pralle said, adding that a resume is a working document that is always evolving.
“A good resume doesn’t just happen; you have to put work into it,” Selz-Pralle said. “When I’m sorting through dozens of applications for a few scholarships, I’m looking for action words, I’m looking for what you’ve done.”
Many resume templates are available on the internet, but Selz-Pralle suggests using simple templates that are clean and easy to follow, using the standard format. She recommends using a 10-12 point font, keeping the same font throughout the entire document. Proofreading to avoid spelling errors is essential.
“Choose your words carefully because each description needs to showcase your talents, skills and leadership. Using those words elevates you and your skills, they sell you to me in 30 seconds.”
PAM SELZ PRALLE
“What does it take to give a good set of reasons?” Selz-Pralle asked. “They need to be uent, organized and easy to follow. You start your reasons the same way, whether you’re giving them at a local contest or at the national contest. For a resume, you follow the same template.”
Leaning on the connection to oral reasons, Selz-Pralle advised against generalities.
“If you were giving reasons and you said, ‘She’s got a better mammary system,” what would your coach say?” Selz-Pralle said. “They would want you to give more specic details. Don’t tell me you went to the state fair and worked with your animal — that’s like saying mammary system, you want to be better than that. The winning is answer is that you lead, you mentor, you teach, you administrate, you coordinate.”
Avoiding distractions and wasted space is paramount, Selz-Pralle said.
A resume should list the applicant’s formal name, address and contact information. Having an objective is optional, Selz-Pralle said, depending on the usage of the resume.
“If you’re applying for a scholarship, you don’t always need to have it; it depends on how you want to utilize your space,” Selz-Pralle said. “If you’re applying for a job, it needs to be there and it needs to be specic, but it does not need to be a complete sentence. ‘I desire a herdsman position at a modern, progressive dairy farm where I can improve my skills and knowledge.’ You’ve told me you’re willing to learn, and that you want to associate with a successful operation. You’ve sold yourself, and you’re the kind of person I want on my team.”
When it comes to listing education, Selz-Pralle said to keep it relevant.
“I don’t care if you had a perfect attendance award in middle school,” Selz-Pralle said. “If you were on the honor roll or valedictorian, include that. If you’re in college, don’t put any high school stuff on — they know you graduated. Once in a while, when you’re younger, you might want to include relevant classwork. Completing an accredited class
while you’re in high school; that’s impressive. It tells me you’re doing more, working harder.”
The most important part of the resume is the work experience, Selz-Pralle said.
“Everybody has some type of job. It’s how you sell that job, more than just a list of jobs,” SelzPralle said. “A winner’s work experience tells me about the responsibilities they have had, their skills and abilities. The details matter. Don’t give me mammary system when I need to know the details.”
Many youth list feeding calves on their work experience, and that is not enough she said.
“Tell me what you do — you monitor the health and feed intakes, you administer treatments, supervise protocols, you’re responsible for proper sanitation, you ensure milk is delivered at the correct temperature,” Selz-Pralle said. “You went from ‘I feed calves’ to being a responsible member of the farm team. Use strong action words.”
Painting a detailed picture of your skills will make your resume rise to the top, Selz-Pralle said.
“Choose your words carefully because each description needs to showcase your talents, skills and leadership,” Selz-Pralle said. “Using those words elevates you and your skills, they sell you to me in 30 seconds. I don’t want to hire someone who will text me that there’s a problem. I want to hire a person with the ability to problem solve and think on their own.”
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
Pam Selz-Pralle shares ps on resume wri ng Feb. 9 at the Wisconsin Holstein Associa on’s Cow Crossroads workshop in Baraboo, Wisconsin. Selz-Pralle told youth their resume needed to grab the reader’s a en on in 30 seconds or less.
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Dairy Star celebrates graduating high school seniors
Bethany Wenger
Parents: Mark and Kelly Wenger
Brodhead, Wisconsin
Brodhead High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. My greatest high school accomplishment was getting my state FFA degree. I have been a member of the Brodhead FFA Chapter since seventh grade and worked on my family’s dairy farm for my dairy production Supervised Agricultural Experience project.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memory was riding along with my dad in the equipment we owned on our farm. This experience sparked my passion for learning how to drive the equipment and helping my family on the farm.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? One benet of being raised on a farm is working with family and being proud of your accomplishments and the farm built together. Benets of being raised on a farm include having responsibilities, building character, attaining knowledge in early life about the care of animals, driving heavy equipment and being smart with my money.
What do you plan to do after high school? Going into the workforce.
Tell us about your farm. My family farm is a third-generation farm. Wenger Farms LLC began when my grandpa (LaVern Wenger) bought it in 1960. The Wenger Farm LLC is a dairy and crop farm. We milk 350 Holstein dairy cows in a 40-cow rotary milking parlor, which we just moved into this February. We grow corn, soybeans, wheat, rye and alfalfa on about 1,700 acres in southern Green County.
Cecelia Dittrich
Parents: Don and Billie Dittrich
Waumandee, Wisconsin
Cochrane-Fountain City High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Breaking the long jump record in track.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? I live on a 100-head registered Holstein farm. My passion is showing dairy cattle. Even though we have Holsteins, I do own four of my own Jerseys. I have been participating in the Buffalo County Fair ever since I could walk; I was wearing white show pants, holding a halter and leading one of my show
Logan Harbaugh Parents: Lynn and Sara Harbaugh
Marion, Wisconsin
Clintonville High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. I enjoyed being active in my FFA chapter and serving as president this year. I am proud of being the state winner in the dairy cattle evaluation Career Development Event this year.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memories are working with my show heifers over the years. I have enjoyed competing at shows and learning more each year about how to prepare and present them at the most competitive shows in the country. However, even more than the animals, I value all the friendships I have made and the people I have met along the way.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? I have learned about responsibility and hard work. I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to work with animals. I enjoy seeing the progress made and that the amount of effort put into something is directly related to the results.
What do you plan to do after high school? I plan to attend the University of Minnesota Twin Cities in the fall, where I will double major in animal science and agriculture and food business management with a minor in nance.
Tell us about your farm. Bella-View Holsteins is a 20-acre farm where my family and I raise about 20 dairy heifers of all breeds to exhibit at shows of all levels throughout the year. I am involved in all aspects of the operation, and I truly enjoy working with our heifers every day and seeing progress made from young calves to yearlings and eventually to milking cows.
calves by my side. Showing dairy cattle is a tradition passed down in my family, along with being active in the Golden Hornets 4-H Club. The show ring became one of my rst classrooms, teaching me patience, presentation skills, and most importantly, keeping my eyes on the judge. Showing also has given me the opportunity to be a mentor and role model to others. Being from a larger family, I was constantly showing against my siblings. I wanted to do something different and bought our rst colored breed on our farm. I show at the county, district and state shows. At the district level, I show under Buffalo County Junior Holstein Association and at the state level I have competed under the Cochrane-Fountain City FFA. I love competing in showmanship contests and have placed in the top at the FFA contest held at World Dairy Expo.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Having a work ethic and not being afraid of working hard. What do you plan to do after high school? I look forward to attending Winona State University and competing in track and eld at a higher level of competition. I am planning on attending WSU to receive my teaching degree. I look forward to educating and mentoring our future youth on the importance of agriculture.
Tell us about your farm. Our farm is a third-generation dairy farm. We have registered Holsteins, and I introduced the Jersey breed to our farm. My other siblings also have Brown Swiss and Milking Shorthorns. We milk 100 head, twice a day, in a double-6 herringbone parlor. We also raise our own replacement heifers. We have 200 acres for crops.
Austin Mehrkens
Parents: Jon and Amber Mehrkens
Lake City, Minnesota Lincoln High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. One of my greatest high school accomplishments is receiving the crew work ethic scholarship/award.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? I don’t have one specic favorite memory of growing up on my family’s dairy farm. I just have had a lot of fun times farming with my parents, siblings, grandparents and uncles, while making many memories.
Charlotte Odden
Parents: Tyler and Becca Odden
Barronett, Wisconsin
Cumberland High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. My greatest high school accomplishment was when I qualied to speak at the Wisconsin State FFA convention for prepared speaking against only nine other students from the state.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? One of my favorite memories was when the silage pile was getting covered with plastic. My cousins and I would slide or roll down it. It was always a plus if it was sprinkling a little because the rain made it faster.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? One of the biggest benets I have noticed from being raised on the farm is my motivational
Madalyn Cisewski
Parents: Adam and Jenni Cisewski
Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Stevens Point Area Senior High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. My greatest high school achievement is getting into my dream college. Throughout high school, I participated in clubs such as FFA and 4-H, as well as having a youth apprenticeship at a dairy farm. I attribute these things to my success in getting into my dream college.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memory of working on a farm is all the fun times I have had in the milking parlor. My coworkers have all become my best friends, who have lled my memories of milking with a lot of laughs.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? There are many benets to growing up on a farm. Some of my favorites are always being outdoors and driving machinery.
What do you plan to do after high school? After high school, I plan to work for other local farmers when needed and continue to help out on my family’s dairy farm when needed. Also, I will be getting my commercial driver’s license to drive a semi-truck as well.
Tell us about your farm. Our farm is called Mehrkens Family Farms. I work with my parents, grandparents, three siblings, two uncles and some cousins. We milk 600-plus cows three times a day in a double-12 parlor. We grow corn, hay and soybeans.
drive. I notice that not all kids in school have the drive to get up and complete tasks with their full effort. Growing up on the farm, I had to take care of animals, and I was taught that the animals came rst, no matter what. Taking care of the animals allowed me to learn the importance of empathy and respect. Overall, being raised on the farm allowed me to learn important life and communication skills.
What do you plan to do after high school? Next year, I plan on attending South Dakota State University to major in exercise science and pre-med. I am looking forward to trying out for either the equestrian team, rodeo team or livestock team. My career goal is to become an orthopedic surgeon.
Tell us about your farm. I am a fourthgeneration dairy farmer. We currently milk over 700 head of cows and harvest 4,000 acres of corn, small grains, corn silage and alfalfa. We also raise our heifer calves and bull calves. At our family’s personal farm, we have sheep, goats, chickens, ducks, donkeys and horses.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? I believe that some benets of being raised on a farm include developing a good work ethic. Growing up on a farm has taught me many valuable life skills, some of which include a good work ethic, dedication and a passion for animals and farming. I believe that farming has been a big part of making me successful in my day-to-day life and will continue to help me succeed in life.
What do you plan to do after high school? After high school, I plan on attending the University of Minnesota Twin Cities for animal science on the pre-vet path. After that, I plan on going to vet school to achieve my goal of becoming a large animal veterinarian.
Tell us about your farm. I grew up on a small beef farm where we had about 20 head of black Angus. We had a small breeding program and raised steers to butcher. I also would take two of my family’s cows annually as my beef show cows, where I would work with them and show them for the year until selling them at the local fair auction at the end of the year. Now, I work on a dairy farm where we are milking about 300 head and have about 500 head total, including heifers and calves.
Blake Louwagie
Parents:
Janelle
Scott and
Louwagie
Cottonwood, Minnesota Lakeview High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Getting the opportunity to serve as a Minnesota 4-H state ambassador.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? All the time it takes to x things and learning how everything works on the farm.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Learning how machines and economics work while understanding the priorities of raising livestock.
What do you plan to do after high school? Major in computer engineering at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
Tell us about your farm. Our farm is currently a second-generation dairy and crop operation. We milk about 100 head and feed about 200 head while crop farming about 650 acres.
Jared Behn
Parents: Josh and Jodi Behn
Reedsburg, Wisconsin
Reedsburg Area High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. I was able to participate in the youth apprenticeship program during my junior and senior years. This program allowed me to spend more time working on my family’s dairy farm and also take an ag business management class through Southwest Wisconsin Technical College.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? I have always enjoyed working alongside my family and helping turn cattle out to pasture every spring.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? I have learned the value of hard work and dedication. These traits enable farmers to be successful.
What do you plan to do after high school? My plans after high school are to continue to work on our family dairy farm, an opportunity I am very thankful for.
Tell us about your farm. I am the sixth generation on both sides of my family’s dairy farms. I also have century-owned dairy farms on both sides of my family, and I am involved in both operations.
Deaver reects on time at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
By Tiffany Klaphake tiffany.k@dairystar.com
Choosing where to attend college is a major decision and involves many factors. Sometimes, the situation or environment changes, which changes the decision-making process.
Tianda Deaver is a hands-on learner. So when the in-person classes at the university she was attending were switched to online classes during the coronavirus pandemic, she decided to nd a different path to continue her education. Deaver transferred to Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, which was holding in-person classes.
“Every class period I felt was hands on whether we were doing dairy rations or an actual lab, everything was very hands on,” Deaver said. “I remember going out to a lot of farms and we were learning and evaluating what was working and what wasn’t working by talking with the farmer.”
Growing up on a small hobby farm in southern Wisconsin, Deaver knew agriculture was the eld for her, but was undecided in which niche of the industry she would nd a job.
“Being at Southwest Tech gave me a sense of belonging,” Deaver said. “There was a community feel there and
A sense of community
not just a teacher talking in front of the room. Even after I graduated, I reached out to my professors to ask questions and they helped me.”
Deaver’s family farm had many different types of animals and raised beef rather than dairy cattle.
“Being at Southwest really opened my eyes to the dairy industry,” Deaver said. “It is because of the connections that I made while there that I ended up in my career.”
Currently, Deaver is a senior livestock handler at the Dekorra Calf Care Facility for ABS Global. She works in the calf facility to monitor and take care of the calves daily.
“Having that hands-on experience, and not just learning from a textbook, not only prepared me for my own personal life — as I would like to have a herd of cows one day — but also prepared me for my career at ABS,” Deaver said.
While in school, Deaver participated in the National Professional Agricultural Student Organization and the dairy challenge.
“I really enjoyed those experiences,” Deaver said. “That was a really good learning opportunity. We got to see and learn how farmers do things in other states.”
Deaver said she encourages others to look into Southwest Wisconsin Technical College because not every student needs a 4-year degree to succeed in their career. Another reason Southwest Wisconsin Technical College was the right t for Deaver is that she was working while going to school.
“The workload was appropriate since I was working on a farm while
going to college,” Deaver said. “That allowed me to graduate debt free.”
The community at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College set Deaver up for success personally and professionally, she said.
“The friends that I made and pro-
fessors I had were all very supportive and encouraged me to do my best,” Deaver said. “College is good to make connections to start building a professional network. My experiences denitely impacted who I am today.”
Congratulations Class of 2025!
The future of tomorrow begins with today’s youth. Want to get involved?
FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative believes in the potential of our youth and is dedicated in promoting opportunities for our youth to learn more about dairy handling and showmanship as well as future agricultural careers.
The cooperative strives to share these opportunities with our membership, to help the next generation in dairy become more involved at a young age.
• Annual youth dairy camps are hosted by state universities including Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota.
• Kamp Kenwood is also a great youth learning event that is hosted by Wisconsin Farmer’s Union and available to youth of all ages throughout the summer, where camp attendees can learn more about the benefits that exist as a cooperative member and the value of a grassroots organization.
•PDPW hosts their annual Stride Youth Leadership Conference in the spring, focusing on exposing youth ages 15 – 18 years old to a variety of dairy-related careers.
Interested membership youth should contact the office for available sponsorship opportunities. Registrations are often limited so members are encouraged to contact the office early in the registration period.
Tianda Deaver
MEET BETTE EGGINK WITH MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Bette Eggink College: Michigan State University Degree: Animal science, dairy concentration
What was your background growing up?
Why did you choose a career in agriculture? I grew up on my family dairy in the thumb of Michigan and worked on the dairy farm since I was a young girl. I grew to love working with the cows and the people of the industry as well as working alongside my dad to make our dairy the best we could. I chose a career in agriculture because I plan to go back to my family farm or another dairy in the area to use my knowledge and schooling to help the owners grow and thrive. Eventually, I want to operate my own dairy.
Describe a class or classes that beneted you in your career. A class that beneted me was the dairy challenge class. In this class, we went to different dairies, analyzed them and gave suggestions on how to improve breeding, feeding, milking, etc. We then put it into a presentation along with a partial budget and presented it to the farmers. They could decide if they wanted to take our suggestions and implement them on their dairy.
What activities were you involved in during college? How did they benet you? I have been involved in the dairy club, Block and Bridle Club, dairy challenge and dairy judging. All of these activities, especially dairy judging, have
beneted me greatly in public speaking. They gave me the condence to speak up and make new connections inside and outside the dairy industry.
What advice would you give to a high school senior considering college? College is about time management. You do not need to have perfect grades or be super smart to be able to thrive in college. You just need to know how to manage your time right to get assignments and classes done, meet new people and participate in activities. Find whatever works for you and stick to that routine. Then, college will be great and fun.
What is your current career and the responsibilities it entail? I am currently on a dairy in New Mexico working a summer job to get more experience. This summer, I will be breeding cows, vaccinating animals, moving cows and calves to their pens, learning DairyComp herd management, putting together schedules and getting a rsthand look at how this dairy operates.
Why did you select this college to attend? I knew Michigan State University had a very good dairy program and I wanted to learn all about dairy farming. I also did not want to be too far from home so I could still go home on the weekends. This allowed me to work on the farm. Choosing to go to MSU was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I have met so many great people, experienced so many new and valuable things, while still being able to help out at home with the farm and implement some of the things I have learned.
McKenna Jakubek
Parents: Deb Jakubek and Tom Moos, Kent Jakubek and Jessica Stazak
New Auburn Wisconsin
New Auburn High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. My greatest high school accomplishments have been many small accomplishments strung together. I moved to New Auburn in my sophomore year. In New Auburn, I was allowed to take college classes and courses, so I have acquired many college credits and even my commercial driver’s license. This has been my greatest accomplishment because it has given me a head start on my college career and adult life.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memory of living on the farm has been being able to share what we do. During my time living on the farm, there have been a couple of occasions where my peers have come out or I have brought animals to school, and I have been able to teach about our farm. I specically say “our farm” because we do things a little differently than other farms. Our farm is grass-fed organic, and we are milking once a day and utilizing nurse cows. Being able to share what I love with others is my absolute favorite thing, so being able to share about our farm makes it even better.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Some benets of being raised on the farm are developing a work ethic, understanding where your food comes from, and being able to appreciate what it takes to feed others and ourselves. My work ethic has helped me a lot through high school. I was able to obtain an excellent job because my employers knew I was raised on a farm. I have also been trusted by many to help them on their farms. Understanding where your food comes from is benecial because so many people don’t know where their food comes from or how it gets to their table. Being raised on a farm allows me to see the process of it, which ties into being able to appreciate what it takes to feed others and ourselves. Also, I put in long days and understood the hard work it takes. So, I appreciate everything farmers do.
What do you plan to do after high school? My plan after high school is to attend the University of WisconsinRiver Falls for agriculture education with a minor in ag business.
Tell us about your farm. Our farm is a 40-head, grass-fed organic dairy farm located in northwestern Wisconsin. On the farm, we practice sustainability by utilizing what the environment provides for us, and we give back to our environment. We also milk once a day to maintain animal health, and we utilize nurse cows to provide calves with quality nutrients.
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Jaiden Smith
Parents: Jeremey and Emily Smith
Melrose, Minnesota
Melrose
High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Throughout my high school career, I’ve been involved in various sports and activities. I competed at the state level in swimming and FFA, while helping my family on our farm and working at the nursing home. While doing all this, I maintained a high grade point average with a heavy course load through school. I am scheduled to graduate with 47 college credits this May. So just surviving all that has been on my plate has been an accomplishment.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memory is moving weaned calves from individual pens to group pens in the calf shed. We halter them, but they are so excited to be outside. It’s often impossible to hold on to them. There’s lots of running, kicking of their feet in the air, sudden stops and abrupt turns. It’s quite the spectacle, but my siblings and I always get a laugh out of it.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Living on a farm has taught me many different life lessons that I could not get from many other places. As a farm kid, I’ve seen the full circle of life. Each new life, both plant and animal, is a hope for the future. Being raised on a farm taught me hard work, determination, dedication, responsibility, and a lot of patience and respect. Plus, there’s lots of fresh air and tractor driving, and that’s always great.
What do you plan to do after high school? I plan to attend the University of North Dakota to major in nursing and minor in human nutrition. I then plan to further my education and hope to specialize in anesthesia in hopes of becoming a nurse anesthetist and working in a rural hospital close to home.
Tell us about your farm. My family milks 40 organic cows in a tiestall barn near Melrose. We also nish out 40-50 head of dairy steers annually.
Claytin Wingert
Parents: Jim and Randi Wingert
Harmony, Minnesota
Fillmore Central High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Earning my state FFA degree in April was my greatest accomplishment.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? I loved playing and working with my siblings on the farm. We always had fun driving the tractor. As I got older, I loved teasing my little sister, Martina, about her donkeys (aka the Brown Swiss) and renaming them for her. I also got to grow up next to Grandma and Grandpa’s farm. Grandpa loves to talk tractors with me.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? There are so many. I love the farm, I got to learn from my older siblings, and they helped make me tough. We got to get dirty, to learn and to explore. There were so many lessons learned, some good, some really hard. We have a work ethic that people envy. I know that the things I have learned from my family and other farmers have provided me with a strong foundation to build on.
What do you plan to do after high school? I plan to attend Northeast Iowa Community College for farm business management and, hopefully, to come back to the farm.
Tell us about your farm. My mom and dad along with my siblings and I milk 110 head of registered Holsteins, Brown Swiss, Ayrshires and crossbreds in a double-6, double-step-up parlor. Our heifers are farmed out about 10 miles down the road. My dad also hauls milk for Caledonia Haulers. We farm around 100 acres, raising mostly corn for silage. We also grow Sorghum-sudangrass as well. I am the mechanic on our farm. If machinery is broken, needs to be xed or something needs to be made, they all come to me. I also like to try and restore older tractors when time allows.
Gavin Puhrmann
Parents: Daniel and Jessica
Puhrmann
Ellsworth, Wisconsin
Ellsworth High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. My proudest accomplishment during high school was earning allconference honors in football during my senior year. It was the result of years of hard work, dedication and support from my coaches and teammates.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? One of my favorite memories from the farm is waking up early to do chores with my dad, just the two of us. Whether we were milking or working through morning tasks, those quiet hours taught me a lot and brought us closer.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Growing up on a farm has given me a strong work ethic and the condence to speak with anyone. I have gained valuable hands-on skills like woodworking, welding and repairing equipment — all things that I know will serve me well in life and in the agricultural eld.
What do you plan to do after high school? Next fall I’ll be attending the University of Wisconsin-River Falls to major in agricultural science with a minor in agricultural business. My goal is to build on what I have learned at home and gain a deeper understanding of the agriculture industry so I can grow beyond the farm while still staying connected to my roots.
Tell us about your farm. Our family farm, located just outside Ellsworth, is a third-generation operation on my dad’s side. It will become a century farm in 2027. We farm nearly 200 acres of tillable land and have about 100 head of cattle. We milk 40 cows in our stanchion barn, sometimes switching cows to make it up to 50 cows. Along with the cattle, we also raise around 30 pigs and keep chickens, ducks, dogs, and cats — making it a true family farm in every sense.
Seizing opportunities
Gries involved in, out of classroom at University of Wisconsin-Madison
By Tiffany Klaphake tiffany.k@dairystar.com
Staying involved is the name of the game for University of WisconsinMadison student Jenna Gries.
“My favorite part of being a Badger is the connections I made, both in and out of the classroom,” Gries said.
Gries just nished her junior year at UW-Madison majoring in dairy science and obtaining certicates in agriculture business management and communication management. For Gries, attending UW-Madison meant following in her family’s footsteps, as both of her sisters obtained their degrees from
UW-Madison.
“I grew up coming here and hearing about the experiences my sisters had,” Gries said. “Towards the end of high school, while looking at my options, I visited the campus and opportunities in and out of the classroom drew me here.”
Gries grew up on her family’s dairy farm near Manitowoc, Wisconsin, where they recently expanded their farm to milk 400 cows with seven Lely milking robots.
“I really enjoyed being a part of the decision-making process and watching that transition unfold,” Gries said.
Currently on the farm, her sister and brother-in-law are in ownership with their dad. Gries and her sister showed and judged dairy cows in 4-H and FFA, and together they own a few registered cow families on the farm.
“I hope to get a job in the dairy industry close to home so I can be an active part of the farm as well,” Gries said.
Since Gries has been a student, she
“The opportunities and connections I have gotten so far have been amazing, and I know I will be able to use those in the future.”
JENNA GRIES, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MADISON
has been active on campus, participating in the Association of Women in Agriculture, Badger Dairy Club and Collegiate Farm Bureau and being a member of the dairy judging team. Next year, she will also be on the dairy challenge team. These organizations host eld trips and industry professionals as speakers to learn more about current trends in the industry.
“Through all of those clubs, the opportunities and connection that I have had have been so amazing,” Gries said.
“We are super proud to have winning (dairy challenge) teams from Madison the last two years. It is a testament to the strength of our academics of our dairy science program to continue to have winning teams.”
Research professors and students do at UW-Madison and the information they learn is implemented in the classroom, Gries said.
“(Professors) are on the cutting edge of the industry and they are teaching that in the classroom,” she said. “We get to hear about it rst-hand.”
Gries will be participating in research herself this summer during her 6-week study internship in Greece.
“We have some pretty amazing study abroad programs that go hand-inhand with the dairy science program,” Gries said.
Once Gries graduates from UWMadison, she plans on getting a career in consulting near her hometown. Her ancé has been working at her family’s
farm for the past ve years and plans on continuing to work there after graduation as well.
“The opportunities and connections I have gotten so far have been amazing, and I know I will be able to use those in the future,” Gries said. “We have such an amazing alumni base with the university and within the clubs in the agriculture department. Having those connections, I’m sure, will be benecial as I navigate my career.”
Jenna Gries
Going full circle
Salfer
returns to University of Minnesota as faculty
By Tiffany Klaphake tiffany.k@dairystar.com
University of Minnesota alumnus Isaac Salfer’s journey in life has come full circle as he has returned to St. Paul, this time as a faculty member.
Currently, Salfer is teaching dairy science classes, oversees a research lab and serves as the Gopher Dairy Club advisor.
“A lot of my colleagues were my professors when I was a student, which is fun,” Salfer said.
Salfer grew up on a small hobby farm, and his dad, Jim, was involved in the dairy industry. He encouraged him to get involved with 4-H, FFA and dairy cattle breed associations by participating in dairy judging, quiz bowl and other events through those organizations. Starting when he was in elementary school, Salfer’s dad purchased him and his brother a few registered dairy animals as 4-H projects. Salfer also worked on several dairy farms throughout middle school and high school.
“All of that cultivated and increased my love of the dairy industry,” Salfer said. “That’s how I knew I wanted a career related to dairy cows after high school.”
When selecting colleges to continue his education, Salfer said the U of M was always at the top of his list.
“Growing up in Minnesota, the University of Minnesota really stood out to me as the premier dairy science and animal science school that you
could go to,” Salfer said. “I was also debating on several different career options after high school (career-wise) and one thing that stood out to me about the University of Minnesota was, whether I ended up deciding to focus on pre-vet dairy science, agricultural business or something in the medical eld, the University of Minnesota has a broad area of top-notch program areas.”
While attending the U of M for animal science, Salfer participated in many on-campus clubs and extracurricular activities. He was active with the Gopher Dairy Club, FarmHouse Fraternity and the executive team of U of M’s annual MN Royal event, was a member of the dairy challenge and dairy judging teams and worked in undergraduate research in a dairy nutrition lab.
“To me, the cocurricular experience you can have at the University of Minnesota, by combining classroom learning with the development of leadership skills from involvement in the tremendous number of extra-curricular clubs and activities, is the ideal environment for personal growth,” Salfer said. “That was the most impactful experience of my life. I see tremendous value in students getting involved with campus clubs and organizations.”
Salfer continued his education and research at the U of M by pursuing his master’s degree in ruminant nutrition. From there, he went on to Pennsylvania State University to get his Ph.D. in dairy nutritional physiology.
When Salfer entered the workforce, he spent one year on faculty at South Dakota State University before being hired by the U of M.
The University of Minnesota helped develop me professionally, Salfer said.
“Because of its location in the Twin Cities, with the large number of agribusinesses, the number of networking opportunities the U of M has available is incredible.”
Salfer said that his positive experiences at the U of M were the reason he wanted to become a professor.
“A huge part of my life’s mission that led me to where I am today, really goes back to that amazing undergraduate experience I had at the U of M and a desire to become a faculty member so I can help current and future students have that same educational experience I did,” Salfer said. “To me, the university experience is crucial in how students transition to being independent working professionals in the world. I feel a strong sense of responsibility to do what I can to help guide students during this transition, which I owe very much to the outstanding mentorship I had as a U of M student.”
Isaac Salfer
Department of Animal Science
Dairy Judging & Dairy Challenge
Our Dairy Judging and Dairy Challenge teams consistenly rank near the top at national competitions, with the Dairy Judging team winning the World Dairy Expo judging contest for the past two years.
Gopher Dairy Club
The Gopher Dairy Club is one of the largest and most active clubs on campus. GDC offers students hands-on, real-world training, leadership development opportunities, and access to an extensive network of alumni with successful dairy careers.
Caden Johnson
Parents: Trinity and Emily Johnson
Rushford, Minnesota
Rushford-Peterson High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. My greatest accomplishment was playing these sports: football, basketball and baseball.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? When my cousin, my friend and I were taking out an old fence line, we came upon a hornet’s nest. We ran like a bunch of school girls away from it as the hornets were trying to get us.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? You learn new things every day.
What do you plan to do after high school? Attend Michigan State University for their dairy program.
Tell us about your farm. Johnson’s Rolling Acres is a family-owned farm outside of Peterson, Minnesota. We milk about 1,200 cows and sell 10,000 hogs yearly. In total, we farm about 3,500 acres of land for corn silage, eld corn, soybeans and alfalfa. There are currently four owners of the farm. Richard (second generation) Trinity, Zac, and Lee (all third generation). Together, they all strive to put the farm in the best position to succeed while also being stewards of the land and good neighbors.
Alaina Dinderman
Parents: Brian and Kristi Dinderman
Orangeville, Illinois
Orangeville High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Winning grand champion of the junior show at World Dairy Expo in 2022 with my homebred cow, Hi-Guern-View Asias Africa.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? Watching the little calves grow up to be productive members of the herd or good show cows.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? I learned about work ethic, responsibility, time management and the value of hard work.
What do you plan to do after high school? I plan to attend the University of Wisconsin-Platteville to major in animal science on the pre-vet track.
Tell us about your farm. Hi-View Farm milks 50 cows of all breeds and we raise all our own replacement heifers. We also farm around 150 acres of corn, hay and alfalfa. We focus on highquality genetics that can compete well in the show ring and milk well at home
Natalie Rickert
Parents: Dennis and Heidi Rickert
Bowler, Wisconsin Bowler High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. My greatest high school accomplishment is being elected as the FFA chapter president in my senior year.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memory on the farm was when a co-worker and I had to feed calves for what seemed like the rst time in the new calf barn. The calves were full of energy and had lots of room to run, which they took advantage of. It was very chaotic trying to get the calves adapted to the new robot feeders, but they soon got used to it. It is something I will never forget.
Olivia Enter
Parents: Jacob and Sarah Enter Nicollet, Minnesota Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Being in the top 15% of my class while also having success in soccer.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? I always enjoy the late summer nights when we are making hay and there is the fresh smell of alfalfa. I also like feeding newborn calves.
Kayla Visser
Parents: Barry and Shannon Visser Hutchinson, Minnesota Hutchinson High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Serving as the Hutchinson FFA Chapter president.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? Working alongside my sisters.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? The lessons and values you are instilled with, you take with you into your future.
Josi Smude
Parents: David and Joni Smude Pierz, Minnesota Pierz Healy High School
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? One of the benets of being raised on a farm is that you learn the value of hard work. I grew up on my grandparents’ small dairy farm, which gave me the opportunity to connect with animals and spend more time with my family. I’ve also witnessed the hardships of owning a farm and how it can impact your mental health. A goal of mine is to advocate for farmers’ mental health in the near future.
What do you plan to do after high school? After high school, I will be attending Northcentral Technical College to attain an associate’s degree in business management.
Tell us about your farm. I have been working at Strassburg Creek Dairy for two and a half years. My roles include robot maintenance, treating cows for ketosis and mastitis and feeding calves.
Rylee Matsche
Parents: Sid Matsche, Tammy Matsche, Steve Onesti Wittenberg, Wisconsin Bowler High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. One of my greatest high school accomplishments is being on the honor roll every year.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memory of working at the farm would be covering the corn silage pile and my coworker getting the skid loader stuck sideways on the pile.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? The benet of working on a farm would be not working regular hours, being outside, learning hard work and doing what I love every day.
What do you plan to do after high school? My plans after high school include getting my commercial driver’s license and continuing to do what I love on the farm.
Tell us about your farm. I work at Matsche Farms Inc., where we milk close to 6,700 dairy cows and work 10,000 acres of land. My role on the farm is a mix of everything; from working in elds to working with animals, I always stay busy. My favorite job would be running the forage harvester, which chops the crops to make corn silage and haylage for the cows.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? I have learned the meaning of hard work and getting dirty, while I have also learned that things don’t always go as planned. Sometimes, you need to adjust or even go with the ow.
What do you plan to do after high school? I plan to study animal science at Texas A&M University.
Tell us about your farm. We have a small family dairy farm. We milk about 50 cows in Nicollet County. We raise our own heifers and feed out our steers.
Brandon Slater Parents: Laura and Lee Slater Bowler, Wisconsin Bowler High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. My greatest high school accomplishment was winning the most valuable player in football for two years in a row.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? One of my favorite things about the farm is all the animals and being able to interact with them every day.
Jenna O’Reilly
What do you plan to do after high school? I plan on attending the University of Minnesota Twin Cities to major in animal science and agriculture communications and marketing in hopes of working in the agriculture industry following college.
Tell us about your farm. Although I did not grow up on a dairy farm, I have had the privilege to work at Stadview, a dairy farm located near Litcheld, for the past nine years. They milk registered Jerseys and board show heifers. On the farm, I complete daily chores, take care of our show heifers and have the opportunity to learn more about their dairy operation every day.
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Graduating with 60-plus credits and with my associate of arts degree.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memory is being able to work with my animals.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Some benets are learning a good work ethic and responsibilities.
What do you plan to do after high school? I plan on attending Ridgewater College in Willmar, Minnesota, for my associate applied science degree and diploma.
Tell us about your farm. Our farm is a century-old farm, we raise dairy and beef cattle and crops. I milk cows, feed calves and help move bales in the summer.
Parents: Chris O’Reilly and Abbey O’Reilly Goodhue, Minnesota Goodhue High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Serving as the Goodhue FFA president.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memories from living on a farm would have to be all of the nights I got to stay up late while we were chopping corn or baling hay.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Some of the benets of being raised on a farm include the experiences you have. You learn to
Dan Frericks
Parents: Glen and Sadie Frericks Melrose, Minnesota Melrose Area High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. My greatest accomplishment is tying for rst in the nation in oral reasons and taking fourth overall at the North American International Livestock Exposition 4-H Dairy Judging Contest in Louisville, Kentucky.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Being raised on the farm, I have learned strong values such as hard work, dedication, treating animals with respect and helping anyone in need to make my community better.
What do you plan to do after high school? After high school, I plan to attend the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point to obtain a degree in physical education.
Tell us about your farm. I grew up living on a 70-cow dairy farm. It is a family-owned dairy farm in Bowler, Wisconsin, owned by my mom; my uncle, Ralph Smith; and my cousin, Nathan Smith.
have a certain work ethic that not many people have, since your responsibilities start at a younger age. Another benet is the things you learn. I have been taught so many skills I can apply to my daily life.
What do you plan to do after high school? After high school, I am going to basic combat training with the Minnesota National Guard as an aircraft pneudraulics repairer.
Tell us about your farm. My family’s farm, Green Acres Organic Dairy, started back in 2009 after branching off from the home farm, which has been operating since 1894. We currently milk about 130 cows and work about 700 acres of land. I farm alongside my dad, Chris; my uncle, Tony; and my brother, JJ. We produce for Organic Valley, based in La Farge, Wisconsin.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? Being in the pasture with the cows during sunset.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? You learn about the importance of caring for every animal.
What do you plan to do after high school? I plan to attend the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, majoring in animal science and minoring in ag business.
Tell us about your farm. My family lives on our rst-generation farm, Blue Diamond Dairy. Here, we milk 100 cows in tie stalls and graze our cattle on pasture in the summer.
Becca Murphy Alan and Brenda Murphy Poynette, Wisconsin
Poynette High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. My greatest accomplishment in high school was winning master showmanship at the Columbia County Fair, my rst year being eligible to compete, after placing rst in both dairy and rabbit showmanship. I have competed in beef, poultry and sheep showmanship.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memory was winning dairy showmanship my rst year in the advanced category, qualifying for the master showman contest and winning it the rst year I was eligible to compete.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Developing a strong work ethic, learning to care for animals and understanding how to be competitive in the show ring while still maintaining friendships with your competitors are valuable skills I have learned. From a young age, I learned that, if something needed to be done and I was
Mariah Michels
Parents: David and Heidi Michels Stacyville, Iowa St. Ansgar High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. My biggest accomplishment is making it to state in all three of my sports for a total of 10 times. I have placed four times at state wrestling, and we were the 2024 state track champions for Class 1A. We also made it to the state tournament twice in volleyball.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memory of living on a farm is being able to show my dairy cows at the fair. I am also the Mitchell County Dairy Princess and enjoy being able to share stories and facts about dairy with kids.
Logan Schmidt
Parents: Corey and Kathy Schmidt Brillion, Wisconsin Brillion High School
24, 2025 capable of doing it, then it was my responsibility. I remember learning this lesson clearly during the hot summer months, when my brother and I would pick rocks in the eld or plant pumpkins to sell in the fall.
What do you plan to do after high school? I plan to attend South Dakota State University, majoring in dairy production with a potential secondary major in dairy or food manufacturing. Both of these elds are research-driven, and my goal is to contribute to the agricultural community in which I was raised. I also plan to have two minors, one for certain in agribusiness management. These areas provide opportunities to specialize in areas such as nutrition, genetics and reproduction.
Tell us about your farm. We raise show heifers on our small farm, BigTen Acres Farm, where we have raised heifers from my grandparents’ farm since 2016. I am responsible for chores before and after school. During the show season, we walk and rinse calves every day. We keep almost all heifers until after they are bred, and then they return to my family’s Bur-Wall Holsteins farm, where my grandparents and uncle milk them after calving. We bring the calves back to our farm when they are a few days old.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? I think being raised on a farm comes with a lot of benets. Kids who are raised on a farm learn to work hard at a young age. I think the work ethic of farm kids is different than anyone else. Living on a farm also teaches you responsibility. You learn young how to be responsible for yourself, your equipment and your animals.
What do you plan to do after high school? I plan to attend the University of Iowa for radiation sciences.
Tell us about your farm. I live on a third-generation dairy farm with my parents and my three brothers. We milk around 140 cows in a freestall parlor setup; the parlor was put into an existing tiestall barn in 2007. We farm ground with the majority of it being alfalfa and corn to use as feed.
Devon Roehl Parents: Dennis and Suzanne Roehl Loyal, Wisconsin Loyal High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. I would say my greatest high school achievement is being elected as my FFA chapter’s president for two years in a row. I believe this is a huge accomplishment, as not many people can achieve this position once, let alone twice.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memory from living on a dairy farm is that, back in 2022, my family had the wonderful opportunity to host the farm technology days event. This is an event that spans three days, and it was a wonderful experience, meeting new people and showing off our farm and our robotic milkers.
Kaitlyn Schaap
Parents: Jeff and Jody Schaap Woodstock, Minnesota Southwest Minnesota Christian
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Maintaining a job while in high school as a certied nursing assistant.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? I loved going out for calf chores every day with my grandma before she retired
Eliza McKenna
Parents: Erin and Abbie McKenna Roberts, Wisconsin St. Croix Central High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. My greatest high school accomplishment was being able to be my Brillion FFA Chapter’s president. This is because I was able to guide my fellow members to become hardworking, dedicated and learn to persevere toward their goals.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memory of living on a dairy farm was when my grandpa, who was too old to teach me how to drive equipment like my brothers, rode along with me in our swather. The reason this is my favorite memory is because my grandpa meant a lot to me growing up, and I spent a lot of time with him when
I was younger. So, when I was able to have my grandpa ride along with me, it meant the world to me.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Some benets of being raised on a dairy farm are that you learn the importance of hard work and dedication. Although the work may be hard and take a long time, you learn to appreciate the work you put in and the satisfaction of nishing the job.
What do you plan to do after high school? After high school, I plan on studying agricultural business at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
Tell us about your farm. Our farm, Grand View Dairy Farm Inc., is a thirdgeneration family-owned and operated dairy farm that milks 1,200 head of dairy cows three times a day. The dairy farm also owns and operates an agricultural business, GVD Feed Covers LLC, that sells bunker covers, feed bags and other products.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Some benets of living on a farm are the development of work ethics, responsibility and commitment, as these skills can be used later in life for any job and your everyday life.
What do you plan to do after high school? I plan on attending the University of Wisconsin-River Falls to major in ag business. I chose this path as I already have some background knowledge about agriculture and hope to use that degree to better my community.
Tell us about your farm. I live on a dairy farm just outside of Loyal, Wisconsin, with my parents, Dennis and Suzanne Roehl, and my two siblings, Jackson and Kathryn Roehl. We started as a tiestall barn, milking all our cows using milking machines. In 2020-2021, our family decided to upgrade to four DeLaval milking robots. With these robots, we have seen an increase in production and efciency. I am eternally grateful for the opportunities my farm has given me and the skills I have learned and will continue to use throughout my life.
and moved into town. I loved holding the bottles for the calves and trying to teach them to eat the calf feed.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Learning hard work, problem-solving skills, common sense and life skills.
What do you plan to do after high school? Attend Southeast Technical College for nursing.
Tell us about your farm. We live on a farm that includes 400 dairy cows, 70 stock cow-calf pairs and custom-fed pigs. We also farm about 2,500 acres.
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. My greatest high school accomplishment was winning the conference in volleyball in my junior and senior years.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memory growing up on the
Kalli Tveten
Parents: Paul and Raeanna Tveten Winona, Minnesota Hope Lutheran High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. My greatest accomplishment in high school was to have the opportunity to start an FFA chapter at Hope Lutheran High School.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? Dancing in the parlor while milking cows, whether that was milking with my grandma and grandpa or at Nelson’s Organic Dairy. We would often be
farm is being able to work alongside my family and make memories with them.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? A benet of being raised on a dairy farm is that I was taught to have a good work ethic.
What do you plan to do after high school? I plan to attend the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and study animal science.
Tell us about your farm. I live on a dairy farm where we also raise Angus beef cattle.
dancing to whatever was playing on the barn radio and laughing the whole time.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Learning the value of hard work at a young age, spending time with family and being in God’s creation every day.
What do you plan to do after high school? In the fall of 2025, I plan to attend Northeast Iowa Community College to double major in ag business and beef science.
Tell us about your farm. I live on a beef cow-calf and crop farm, of which I own some of my own black Angus and Herefords. I also milk about 100 cows every day after school for Nelson’s Organic Dairy in a double-8, step-up parlor.
MEET AUBREY ARNESON WITH NORTHCENTRAL TECHNICAL COLLEGE
Aubrey Arneson College: Northcentral Technical College Degree: Obtain dairy science and currently pursuing agronomy and ag business
What was your background growing up? Why did you choose a career in agriculture? My childhood background was not growing up on a farm. I was always interested in things related to agriculture, but I never experienced them rsthand. I grew up in downtown Wausau, Wisconsin, for the rst 15 years of my life. I found a deeper love for agriculture through FFA, and this is how I started my rst milking job as soon as I got my license. I also got into agriculture through close friends who helped me start showing pigs at our local county fair. I chose agriculture because I wanted to do something I was passionate about, and as soon as I started milking cows, showing pigs and learning more about the ag community, I knew that it was something I wanted to be involved in for the rest of my life.
Describe a class or classes that beneted you in your career. A class that has majorly beneted me in my future career is ag sales and promotion because it shows how, in different situations, you are going to deal with many different people. Not all people in agriculture have the same mindset and not all run their businesses the same, making it very important that you know how to work with different personalities and mindsets. This class greatly helps you learn more about that. Other super helpful classes are all bovine care classes,
like calf care management, heifer care management and lactating cow management. These all help you learn deeper into what it takes to properly care for and manage bovines. Along with these classes, my current soil classes are helping me understand the crop science side of agriculture. Some people forget how important this is.
What activities were you involved in during college? How did they benet you? I have been involved in Professional Agriculture Students the three years I have been enrolled at NTC. It has beneted me as I have developed stronger leadership skills and organizational skills. It has also allowed me to travel and connect with students from around the U.S. It is something that has helped shape my college career, and it is just a fun experience all in all.
What advice would you give to a high school senior considering college? I would say if you are considering college, do it. Go to college and get that degree. It might be scary not to know how it will turn out, but at least take that rst semester by the horns and try it out. It could be the best thing that you do. I have never gone to a 4-year college. It is not always everyone’s desire, and that is OK. But I would still recommend checking out your local technical college.
Why did you select this college to attend? I selected NTC because, when I graduated from high school, I wasn’t sure if a 4-year college was for me. So I decided to try out two years rst. I then found that NTC was what I was looking for, got my rst degree, and decided to go back for two more years.
Jenelle Ertl
Parents: Todd and Jessica Ertl
Unity, Wisconsin Colby High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment: My greatest high school accomplishment is winning the state FFA dairy cattle evaluation and management Career Development Event in the spring of 2024, as a team my junior year, and representing the state of Wisconsin when competing in this event at the National FFA Convention the fall of 2024 my senior year.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? I have many great memories from growing up on a dairy farm, but one that sticks out most for me would be riding our bikes in the barn. When my siblings and I would nish chores before our parents, we would bring our bikes to the barn to ride
Ariana Menne
Parents: Sara and Jason Menne
Postville, Iowa
Postville High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. I went to state in girls wrestling. I nished my senior year with a 28-5 overall record and was the Upper Iowa Conference champion in my weight class.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memory is being able to share the experience of cattle with other people who do not get a chance to own any cat-
up and down the mangers and alleyway until they were done.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? The two biggest benets that come from being raised on a farm include learning about and having responsibilities and understanding the importance of caring for and being around animals. Being raised on a farm, I was never bored and always learning. Because of this, I feel like there is no better place to raise a family.
What do you plan to do after high school? I plan to take over our family farm, Harmony Holsteins.
Tell us about your farm. Harmony Holsteins is a family-owned and operated Holstein dairy farm located in Unity, where we milk roughly 100 head in a 100-stall tiestall barn. Along with milking, we also farm over 1,000 acres for feed and our cash crops include oats, rye, soybeans and corn.
tle. We worked with a share calf program through 4-H.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Being raised on the farm really created a work ethic in me. The work ethic I learned on the farm really helped me out in school and athletics.
What do you plan to do after high school? After high school, I plan on going to Northeast Iowa Community College for dairy science and management. I want to come back home and work on my family farm after completing my degree.
Tell us about your farm. We milk 150 milk cows, mostly Holsteins with a handful of Jerseys. We milk in a double-8 parallel parlor. My mom and dad and my twin brother, Kalvin, all work together.
Aiden Veronen
Parents: Kendra and Brian Veronen Lake City, Minnesota Lake City High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Getting on the A honor roll in my senior year is my greatest accomplishment.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? Working with the cows and running equipment are my favorite things on the farm.
Campbell Booth
Parents: Chris and Courtney Booth Plymouth, Wisconsin Plymouth High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Winning back-to-back state championships in soccer in 2023 and 2024.
What is your favorite memory of living on your dairy farm? My favorite memories on the farm are made working alongside my siblings — Cole, Ava and Royce — each day to prepare our animals for local, district, state and national shows. It is a team effort and each of my siblings’ contributions makes a difference.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Being able to be outside.
What do you plan to do after high school? Going into the workforce.
Tell us about your farm. I work on Leonhardt Dairy Farm owned by Casey and Ann Leonhardt in Millville, Minnesota. They milk 550 Holstein cows in a double-16 parlor that was built in 2023. They also raise all the replacement heifers and nished steers on the farm. They farm 1,300 owned and rented acres and raise and harvest all their crops. It is a fth-generation farm. On the farm, my duties include milking, scraping the freestall barn, eldwork, working cattle and working on equipment.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Growing up on our farm has taught me the value of hard work and the importance of being consistent. These skills have impacted many aspects of my life and I am thankful for the opportunities that agriculture has given me.
What do you plan to do after high school? This fall I am attending the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, where I will double major in agriculture, food and business management along with animal science.
Tell us about your farm. Booth-Haven Holsteins is located north of Plymouth, where we focus on raising high-quality, show-type animals along with our livestock projects. One of our highlights includes winning junior champion of both the open and junior shows at the 50th World Dairy Expo in 2016.
Levi Nelson Parents: Tracy Mitchell, Marc Nelson Ellsworth, Wisconsin Ellsworth High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. My greatest accomplishment has been making it to state each year in track and eld. Although track is a very challenging sport with lots of competition, each year myself and our relay teams have found a way to persevere and accomplish our goal of making it to state.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? It is hard to choose just one favorite memory from living on a dairy farm, because each day there are more and more memories being made. My favorite thing to do on the farm is feeding the calves. I really enjoy this because I get to watch them grow into amazing dairy cows. In addition, each calf is a little bit different, whether that be their attitude or their markings. I personally
Cole Remiger
Parents: Pat and Becky Remiger Wood Lake, Minnesota Lakeview High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Being announced as valedictorian.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? Being outside all the time and working on 4-H projects.
think there isn’t any better thing to do on the farm than feed the calves and watch them grow.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? One benet to being raised on a farm is learning a good work ethic from a young age. When it is fun, it doesn’t even seem like work. It is also kind of nice that, when I have practice or an event that conicts with work or chores, someone is always there to help me out, and I help out when extra help is needed too.
What do you plan to do after high school? After high school, I plan to complete my welding certicate at Chippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Claire and then continue my education and football career at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
Tell us about your farm. We raise dairy heifers, meat chickens and hogs. My mom also custom raises wet crossbred calves to weaning. I grew up helping on my grandpa’s dairy and crop farm. The cows left in August 2023, but they continue to raise cash crops on several thousand acres.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Waking up early and working until everything’s done has given me a good work ethic to carry me through my life.
What do you plan to do after high school? Major in mechanical engineering and compete in cross country and track at the University of WisconsinStout.
Tell us about your farm. My family milks around 100 Holstein cows. We also raise calves and steers.
Mechanics for the future
Midwest Machinery Co. offers internships
By Sarah Middendorf sarah.m@star-pub.com
Midwest Machinery Co. wants to help young mechanics enter the industry. They offer paid internships to two separate age groups of young adults.
“We know that by getting kids interested younger and getting them into a company, hopefully we can have them enjoy working with us and get to know our culture,” said Heather VanZee, human resources director with Midwest Machinery. “It gives them a head start on their career.”
VanZee has been working for Midwest Machinery for a decade.
Midwest Machinery has an internship for students 18 years and older. Through this internship, a student receives a sponsorship for the John Deere Tech Program. They also have an internship for students ages 16-18 that is designed to expose young adults to the industry.
“They can come in and get experience and see what it would be like,” VanZee said. “Would they want to do this for a job and what every day would look like for them.”
Students may hear about the internships from schools while others stop in at a dealership and speak to a manager. They are also able to apply on the company’s website and a corporate service manager will reach out.
The corporate service managers will give them the details and make sure it is a mutual t.
“If they are interested, then we get the paperwork signed,” VanZee said.
During the beginning of an internship, interns ob-
serve until they are comfortable with being hands-on.
“You’re going to get your hands dirty as soon as you can possibly get your hands dirty,” VanZee said. “We encourage throwing on that uniform and getting dirty.”
VanZee said there are several colleges John Deere partners with to offer advanced technician training. In order to get into the program, a student has to be sponsored by one of Midwest Machinery’s 30 dealership locations.
As students go through college, they learn handson skills at Midwest Machinery on their days off from school.
“We try to give them as many different types of machinery as much as possible, so if we can show them everything from a small utility tractor to a combine and bigger,” VanZee said.
Throughout the internships, students are exposed to different aspects of diesel engines, hydraulics and more. They also have interns who focus on small engines in school and at a dealership.
Midwest Machinery does not have a set limit of interns for each dealership.
“We don’t think we can have too many interns,” VanZee said.
They gauge the number of interns by the location and what they can handle depending on available managers.
They also have a dedicated aftermarket support specialist who answers questions.
“We make sure they are getting the attention that they deserve,” VanZee said.
The aftermarket support specialist also serves as a connection between the school and the business.
After the students complete college, they may have the opportunity to become a Midwest Machinery employee. If they are hired full time, they are eligible for tuition reimbursement, including books and oncampus housing.
“We hire on at least 98% of them to become fulltime employees,” VanZee said. “The longevity of those employees really pays off in the end for both us and the student.”
PHOTO SUBMITTED
A Midwest Machinery Co. employee looks through his toolbox to gather the correct tools needed to x the machine. Midwest Machinery offers a paid internship for high school and college students.
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Ava Kolodzienski
Parents: Jacob and Kristen Kolodzienski
Ellsworth, Wisconsin
Ellsworth High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Throughout high school, my greatest accomplishment was competing as a member of the 4-H dairy judging team in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and winning the judging contest as a team.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memory of living and working on a dairy farm is being able to work and care for animals while also spending time with my family.
Landon Guese
Parents: Brandon and Nikki Guese
Postville, Iowa
Postville High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Athletically, I would say that earning rst team all-district in football as an offensive lineman was one of my greatest accomplishments. Also, I nished as a state runner-up in dairy production placement prociency in our FFA competition.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memory is spending time in the parlor with the cows. It’s a very relaxing time. Many times, I milk with my brothers, and spending time with them is always great.
Stella Kamm
Parents: Lance and Shannon Kamm
New Richmond, Wisconsin
Baldwin-Woodville High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Recently, our FFA team made it to the national competition. We won the state contest, and now we are headed to Indianapolis, Indiana.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? I have a passion for showing dairy cattle. It’s an incredible experience to work with the animals and showcase the results of all the time and effort we put into them. A couple of years ago, I was fortunate enough to bring one of my Jerseys, Vineyard Chrome Velour, to World Dairy Expo. There, I placed seventh overall in my class and was the second-placing junior, a moment I will never forget. Showing cattle has taught me responsibility, patience and a true appreciation for the dairy industry.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Growing up on the farm has given me more than just a lifestyle — it has shaped who I am. Some of my favorite memories are the hours spent outside with my cousin, Gatlin, and my sister, Phia, whether we were laughing until our sides hurt or crying tears of joy. The farm teaches me what it means to work hard, whether that be early mornings or late nights. They al-
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? There are many benets to living on the farm. One of the most benecial life skills gained while working on the farm is the hard-working, neverending days. Another benet is that there is a real sense of accomplishment from the results of hard work.
What do you plan to do after high school? I plan to attend the University of Wisconsin-River Falls to double major in dairy science and agricultural business.
Tell us about your farm. I was raised on my family’s dairy farm, where we milked 60 Jerseys and Holsteins. I worked on the farm for as long as I can remember up until this last summer when my dad made the decision to sell the cows. Right now, I currently work at Discovery Genetics, where I get to work with a show herd of registered Jerseys.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? It made me stronger, physically and mentally. I learned that I don’t get results right away. It takes time to get what I want, and I have to put in the work to get the things I want.
What do you plan to do after high school? After high school, I plan on returning to our family dairy farm. I’m open to pursuing a degree in dairy science, but I am undecided about where I’d like to go to school.
Tell us about your farm. We milk 500 head of purebred Holstein cows. We have 1,500 acres of land for crop farming. We milk in a double-12 parallel parlor. My dad and his two brothers own the farm called Crossroads Dairy LLC. Two of my three brothers work on the farm. We also do custom foraging.
Grace Herdering Parents: Steve and Pam Herdering Melrose, Minnesota Melrose Area High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Placing third individually at the Minnesota FFA Convention for dairy cattle evaluation and management Career Development Event.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? When my dad taught me how to drive the combine and the barn talks that I would have with my aunt and uncle.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Becoming close with family, understanding the importance of a good work ethic, being involved in an industry that is a community, working with animals and the land and many more.
Josh Gillespie Parents: Kim Behounek and Brian Gillespie Hayeld, Minnesota Hayeld High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Being able to participate in high school sports and B honor roll.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? I learned to milk cows and how to be dependable and self-disciplined.
What do you plan to do after high school? Attend the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities to double major in animal science and agricultural communications and marketing.
Tell us about your farm. I grew up on a 120-cow dairy farm near Freeport, Minnesota. We milked cows in a double-8 parallel parlor and had a freestall barn. I grew up working with my siblings, parents, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles. My responsibilities included (but were not limited to) feeding cows and calves, milking cows, eldwork, equipment maintenance and any other tasks that might be thrown my way. We sold our farm in my sophomore year, and now I work on my aunt and uncle on their 80-cow dairy farm Some of my responsibilities are feeding cows and calves, milking cows, herd care and making sure to have an occasional board meeting with the bosses (aunt and uncle), boots on, units out, and cows in attendance.
ways put the animals rst. Growing up, we always said, “The cows eat before we do.” Farming builds a strong work ethic, sharpens problem-solving skills and teaches independence at a young age. Each day brings something new to the table. Every challenge and small victory have prepared me for life beyond the farm, but it’s the bond with family and the lessons learned side-byside that mean the most.
What do you plan to do after high school? I plan to attend the University of Wisconsin-River Falls to pursue a degree in agricultural business with a minor in marketing and communications.
Tell us about your farm. Nova Holsteins and Vineyard Jerseys is a familyrun dairy farm located in New Richmond, Wisconsin. This is where the Kamm brothers, Lance and Ryan, continue to develop a well-balanced herd of cattle. However, if it were not for all the others who help out on the farm, we truly would not survive. The farm started to turn heads when the Fab Five Goldwyn daughters ourished from our humble beginnings. To this day, lots of our cows date back to our brood cow, UFM Dubs-Eroy. The majority of our herd consists of Holsteins, with a sprinkling of Jerseys, too. In combination, we milk about 170 cows in our 63 tiestall barn, with an additional 32-stall wing for fresh cows. We also run 15 units at a time. In addition to this, Nova farms around 1,100 acres of land. This land is used for growing feed crops and maintaining pastures, ensuring nothing but the best for our girls.
CULTIVATE
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Working on the farm has taught me a good work ethic and reliability, which will help me with my future plans.
What do you plan to do after high school? Joining the United States Marine Corps.
Tell us about your farm. I live and work on the dairy farm of my grandparents, Ron and Rhonda Behounek. The dairy has a milking parlor and a freestall barn. We raise our own Holstein calves and replacement heifers on the farm. We also raise our own cover crops, corn and alfalfa.
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Page 20
Elliot Sala
Parents: Grant and Paula Sala
Monticello, Minnesota
Monticello High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Getting to be the rst secretary for the Monticello FFA and helping start up the program.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? Working with the calves and taking them on walks.
Lexi Yust
Parents: Andy and Brandi Yust
Plainview, Minnesota Plainview-ElginMillville High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. My greatest high school accomplishment is maintaining good grades while also being actively involved in numerous extracurricular activities.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memory growing up on the dairy farm is getting to help feed and move calves from a very young age, especially when the calves sucked on my hands as a little kid.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? I feel as though one of the greatest benets of growing up
May 24, 2025
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Taught me to have a good work ethic.
What do you plan to do after high school? Going to South Dakota State University for animal science.
Tell us about your farm. I work at New-Vue Ayrshires in Maple Lake, Minnesota, where I milk roughly 30 cows and help take care of around 60 cows. I mainly work in the morning, but will sometimes come out and milk at night. We milk in a double-6 herringbone parlor.
Faith Traynor
Parent: John Traynor Milton, Wisconsin Milton High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Competing in the national milk quality competition for FFA after winning state, then receiving a silver team placing as well as second place in the nation for the team activity portion of the competition.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? Growing up following my dad around
the farm and helping feed cows.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Learning a lot life lessons that many people don’t understand or don’t get the chance to learn in their lifetime.
What do you plan to do after high school? Go to Blackhawk Technical College to receive a degree in agribusiness.
Tell us about your farm. We are a small family farm in Milton, Wisconsin. I am the seventh generation on the farm. We have around 170 head of cattle, 300 acres and two farm locations. At our farm site, we have heifers, steers and dry cows. At our other farm, we have milk calves.
on a dairy farm is getting a whole new perspective on the game of life. You understand life and death in a whole new way, as well as how valuable the little things or the smallest moments can be.
What do you plan to do after high school? I plan to attend the University of Minnesota Crookston to major in animal science and eventually pursue my doctorate in veterinary medicine.
Tell us about your farm. I grew up on a small dairy farm outside of Plainview. However, it has since grown much larger. We now milk roughly 400 cows between two different parlors. Lehnertz Dairy is also home to the TLJ Jerseys, where we house not just Holsteins but Jerseys, Brown Swiss, and even some Ayrshire cows. We are a family-owned and run operation that has been passed down from generation to generation, with the love of dairy farming growing in the hearts of the young kids who now run the farm.
Jellie Waterlander
Parents: Harmen and Edna Waterlander Waupaca, Wisconsin
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Making it to World Dairy Expo in dairy judging my junior year or becoming my chapter’s FFA president.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? Denitely the family bonding when chasing/sorting cows (if you know, you know) and feeding calves.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? When you’re raised
on a farm, not only do you learn about where your food comes from, but you learn about the amount of time and dedication that goes into it. Growing up on a dairy has given me an insight into food production and I have learned many valuable life lessons.
What do you plan to do after high school? I am attending South Dakota State University in the fall for animal science, pre-veterinary medicine. I want to become a large animal veterinarian. I either want to specialize as a surgeon or have my own mobile practice that serves rural communities.
Tell us about your farm. My family recently moved from Texas to Wisconsin. We milked 600 cows in Texas and now milk 400 cows in Wisconsin.
Where it all came together
Mark reviews time
at University of Wisconsin-River Falls
By Tiffany Klaphake tiffany.k@dairystar.com
Cole Mark has always had a clear vision for his future.
Having grown up on a dairy farm in western Wisconsin, Mark knew that the dairy industry was where he belonged. His parents still milk 120 cows at the family farm and Mark owns a few cows within the herd.
“Dairy was all I ever knew, and I never even considered going into another industry outside of dairy,” Mark said.
Today, Mark is director of consulting and prot strategies with CentralStar Cooperative Inc., where he oversees the consulting team in Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana and is a consultant for several dairies in Wisconsin.
in dairy science and minored in ag-business from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
“UW-River Falls has a great dairy science program and was close to home,” he said. “River Falls has access to lots of resources, and yet it is small enough to get that individual learning.”
While Mark was a student, he participated in the dairy club and was a campus ambassador. Through these programs, Mark got to know fellow dairy enthusiasts.
“I would say, of the dozen of herds I work with now, eight of them have a strong connection to UW-River Falls,” Mark said. “Either the owner or herd manager was a classmate of mine or a few years ahead or behind me.”
“UW-River Falls has a great dairy science program and was close to home. River Falls has access to lots of resources, and yet it is small enough to get that individual learning.”
COLE MARK
When Mark was a senior in high school, he said the decision of where to continue his education was an easy choice. He received his bachelor’s degree
Mark said the faculty and staff at UW-River Falls prepared him for his career.
“The faculty and staff are really good in the classroom and just phenomenal with on-farm expertise,” Mark said. “I still have a stack of notes in the top drawer of my desk that I refer back to, and the notes are almost 10 years old.”
UW-River Falls is a well-respected university within the dairy community because of its program areas, Mark said.
“At CentalStar, we have since hired more graduates from UW-River Falls, and they are every bit as prepared for their career as I was when I graduated,” he said.
Mark’s advice to high school seniors is to consider long-term goals.
“Seek out a program that you are going to benet from and be able to carry into the future,” Mark said. “River Falls was an obvious choice for me. In hindsight, the university was large enough as well as being dairy science and ag focused. They had lots of resources and were a well-respected program on campus and within the industry.”
Cole Mark
Lucas Erickson
Parents: Will and Beth Erickson
Goodhue, Minnesota Goodhue High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Making it to state in wrestling during my senior year.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memory from working on the Dicke Farm is chopping. It always is a fun time. My favorite part of chopping is running wagons. Another one of my favorite memories is sitting around the
Hailey
Lundgren
Parents: Rayannon and Ben Lundgren Cushing, Wisconsin Grantsburg High School
CALF CONDO POLY CALF STALLS
table at lunchtime, talking and learning about things that take place on the farm.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Learning to have a great work ethic. I learned how to care of animals and pay attention to detail.
What do you plan to do after high school? Attend Dakota County Technical College for construction management.
Tell us about your farm. On the farm where I live, my dad and I own sheep. We have around 15 ewes. Throughout the summer, my sister and I show around ve sheep that we buy from my uncle and also show some of our own. We show throughout the state and the country.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? One of my favorite memories of living on a dairy farm is when I had this big white cow, and I could go and see her and cuddle her whenever I wanted to. She was this beast of a cow, and she would just follow after you without a halter, and people thought it was really funny.
Hybrid Flex
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Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. During my freshman year of high school, I switched to a different school. Once I started at my new school, I had to adapt to the change and learn how to accept different people I had never seen before. At rst, it was tough, but I got through it. Adapting and changing have led to one of my greatest accomplishments, which was making it to World Dairy Expo in 2022. I took seventh out of around 25 in the 4-year-old cow class. Not only did I learn to adapt to bigger shows, but my cow did too. It was a big change for both of us, and I’m really proud of how we did in every show that year. We went from winning supreme champion at the county fair, to taking grand champion of the junior show at the Minnesota State Fair and taking seventh at World Dairy Expo. In 2022, I had to learn to deal with her in general. It was my rst year ever showing her, and let me tell you, she was a handful. Luckily for me, I pushed through and got her to be an excellent show animal. My 2022 show season was most denitely my greatest accomplishment in high school.
Tessa Schmocker
Parents: Dave and Nina Schmocker Whitewater, Wisconsin Lakeside Lutheran High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Being valedictorian of the class of 2025.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memory of living on a dairy farm came this past week, our cow, Luck-E Merjack Asalia, went Excellent 96 with a 97-point mammary system. It was an emotional, exciting day, and I am so grateful to have been able to develop, own and show this fantastic creature.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? I get to live a life that not many people get to do. I also get to have built-in best friends who I can see any day I want to. (Which, of course, are the cows.)
What do you plan to do after high school? I am planning to attend the University of Wisconsin-River Falls starting in the 2025-2026 school year. I will be attending for four years. I want to major in either animal biology or dairy science.
Tell us about your farm. I live on a dairy farm in northwestern Wisconsin. We farm about 700 acres of land. We milk around 100 cows in a freestall barn. Our cows are registered Holsteins. Aside from the dairy, we also own crossbred beef. We live on a highway, so you can see our farm from the road. During the summer, you most likely see a bunch of kids leading our dairy cattle around to get ready for the Polk County Fair.
ing in the wind, cows grazing or eating at the feed bunk, and a snowy pasture with cows covered in snow. It is true beauty. Without that background on the farm, people can miss it or not understand. It has also taught me about authentic hard work and humility, working hard to be the best you can be, but staying humble when you are recognized for it.
What do you plan to do after high school? I plan to go to Iowa State University to major in actuarial science with an agricultural focus so I can help farmers out on their insurance policies in the future. I also plan to raise my own dairy show animals in the future.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? There are so many benets to growing up on a farm. You learn so much about animals, taking care of them and appreciating them. You truly admire your animals or land in any setting: the grass and crops mov-
Tell us about your farm. We own and operate Go-Sho Cattle Co., a 35-head registered Holstein farmette with one Jersey. We currently milk ve cows and raise numerous heifers. All of the animals on the farm are bred and raised to be show animals, and my family works daily to get them ready for the show ring. Around 80% of our herd is bred and owned, which we are very proud of. I work daily on the farm, feeding heifers and focusing on the care and development of the show animals.
Hybrid Flex Stalls
Macy Mueller
Parents: Nicole and Bill Mueller
Northeld, Minnesota
Northeld High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Earning a grade point average above 3.5.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memory of working on a dairy farm is learning more about the animals every day and the process it takes to run smoothly.
Tyler Hoscheit
Parents: Brad and Amy Hoscheit
Eitzen, Minnesota
Caledonia High School
Tell us your greatest high school a ccomplishment.
Competing in the national milk quality competition for FFA after winning state, then receiving a silver team placing as well as second place in the nation for the team activity portion of the competition.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memory while living on the farm is driving a tractor by myself for the very rst time, hauling hay.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? I believe growing up on a farm teaches you how to re-
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Some benets of being raised on a farm are learning responsibility, hard work and enjoying the outside.
What do you plan to do after high school? A degree in horticulture.
Tell us about your farm. I work at Zweber Farms in Elko New Market. They are an organic valley farm, and they milk about 90 cows. Feeding and caring for calves is also part of my job. Besides dairy, they also raise grass-fed beef, natural pork and pasture-raised chickens and eggs.
Diego Espinoza
Parents: MaryBeth and Ramon Espinoza Kasson, Minnesota Kasson-Mantorville High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. I received my state FFA degree this past April, which was important to me as I am very involved and have put a lot of work into FFA. I also am proud of the work I put in and the improvement I saw in football. Throughout school, I have been involved in FFA, 4-H, football, track, band and youth group.
passion, determination, organization, money management and time management skills my dad and others put in at the farm(s). Having watched this my whole life. I feel like I have learned from them what it takes to be a good farmer, employee and overall person.
What do you plan to do after high school? I plan to attend Rochester Community and Technical College and enroll in the welding certication program. I hope then to nd a job in the eld and possibly still milk at the farm someday. My long-term goal is to someday have a small dairy farm with my brother and family.
spect your elders and the people around you in the farming community. It also teaches you how to utilize caretaking skills when dealing with animals of all ages. Lastly, it has taught me patience and to do something right the rst time.
What do you plan to do after high school? I plan to attend Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar to major in agricultural business and minor in animal science. I will also be working on my family farm as much as I can outside of college.
Tell us about your farm. Our farm is Dev-Lin Holsteins and has around 220 milking dairy cows. We also farm around 500-600 acres of corn, hay and soybeans. We have been family owned and operated for around 50 years. The farm is located in the southeast corner of Minnesota in Houston County. We operate John Deere and Case equipment and do all our own harvesting, planting and tilling as well.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memories of the dairy farm are going with my dad to work and helping feed the calves. He also taught me how to milk a cow at a young age, and I did my third-grade passion project, “How to Milk a Cow,” to show others how to do it. I have also shown dairy cattle since I was 3 years old and have won overall champion a few times at shows. That is a pretty cool memory too.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? I technically live in town and was not raised on a farm. My dad has worked for a few dairy farms and I have spent a lot of time with him there. My brother bought his own cow and heifer at a sale in 2015. As a family, we now own over 60 head of dairy cattle that are housed at the farm my dad works at. I began working (for pay) on a dairy farm when I turned 13. I have seen the hard work, work ethic, energy,
Tell us about your farm. My family owns over 60 head of dairy cattle, but we do not live on a farm. They are housed at the farm my dad works at, which also happens to be my great-uncle’s and his family’s farm. My dad has worked at a couple of different farms over the last 10 years that were also very kind, helpful and allowed us to house our cows there when he worked there. I currently work at Behounek Dairy near Hayeld, Minnesota, where I milk, scrape and clean after chores. I have worked there for three years. I have also worked for two other farms. I help with our own cattle when I am able. My brother works for ABS Global and he, along with my dad and I, choose the bulls and breeding for our cattle. I show our cattle at the county fair and other shows and work very hard to get them prepared and ready for show. While I did not grow up or live on a farm, between my dad working on farms, my grandpa working and knowing many farmers, and other family and friends who farm, I feel like I pretty much did grow up on a farm.
Blake Groetsch
Parents: Josh and Stacy Groetsch
Sauk Centre, Minnesota Sauk Centre High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. My greatest high school accomplishment is graduating with good grades while also helping on our farm and having an off-thefarm job.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memories would be helping with eldwork, helping in the shop, and working with the cattle. Our farm is run by our family (my dad, my brother, my uncle and three cousins), which has given me a lot of fun memories over the years. Besides doing farm work with them, we have also had a lot of fun times around the farm.
Josie Sauder
Parents: Stan and Amy Sauder Pine Island, Minnesota Pine Island High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. I would say one of my biggest accomplishments is working daily on my family farm and showing dairy cows at the state fair.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? I would have to say my favorite memory on the farm is showing dairy cows and working on the farm with family.
Kaitlyn Klug
Parents: Darrel and Krista Klug Spring Grove, Minnesota Spring Grove High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Being in the honor society as a junior and a senior and also receiving the Greenhand Award and Star Chapter Award for FFA.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? Helping feed baby calves with my
Mason Byrnes
Parents: Matt and Michelle Byrnes Dorchester Iowa Waukon High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Being in the top 15% of my class.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm?
Watching our robots milk our cows for the rst time and seeing how well our cows have excelled since the addition of robotic milkers.
What are some benets of being raised on the farm? Being raised on a farm has taught me a lot of life skills. I have learned about dairy health, carpentry skills, welding and mechanical skills. A benet of farm life would also be living in the country. This has provided me the space to ride my fourwheelers and snowmobile, as well as to sh and hunt.
What do you plan to do after high school? I will be attending Lake Area Technical College in Watertown, South Dakota, for heavy equipment operators this fall. After graduating, I will be staying in that area, and I will be working for a large company.
Tell us about your farm. We have 120 milking cows, raise breeding bulls and farm 900 acres of land. We updated our barn about 13 years ago to robotic milkers and an automatic calf feeder. My dad, Josh, and uncle, Joel, took over the family farm from my grandpa and have done many advancements and expansions since then.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Being raised on a farm has taught me to have a good work ethic, be responsible for my actions and to be responsible.
What do you plan to do after high school? After high school, I plan to keep working on the farm and will be starting a construction job.
Tell us about your farm. Our farm is a seventh-generation dairy farm where we milk 600 cows. We milk three times a day, and also milk in a tie stall barn twice a day. I work alongside my three uncles, my mom and several cousins.
Directional Drilling & Land Improvement ent
grandpa when I was younger.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Having the privilege to know where your food comes from and also learning to appreciate the hard work and dedication it takes to farm.
What do you plan to do after high school? Attend Minnesota State College Southeast in the radiography program.
Tell us about your farm. My dad farms with my uncle and grandpa. We milk Brown Swiss and have a few Holsteins and a Milking Shorthorn. My parents also raise beef cattle and dairy steers.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Because of living on a farm, I have a very strong work ethic and am not afraid to pitch in and help. Knowing that sometimes things do not always go the way you want them to, but everything happens for a reason.
What do you plan to do after high school? Attend Kirkwood Community College to major in ag business with the hopes of returning home to the farm.
Tell us about your farm. We milk 200 Holsteins with three Lely robots. We crop about 400 acres of corn and alfalfa. I’m actively involved in our operation. I mix all the feed and am very involved with the cows and eldwork. In the future, I hope we can expand our operation and milk more cows.
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of Driveway, Roadways, Buildings, and Natural Features
• Little to No Disturbance to Wetlands or Other Sensitives Areas
• Many Unique Installation Capabilities vs. Open Cutting/Digging (Entering under Buildings or Tanks)
• Minimal Site Restoration
Land
DRAIN
Improvements
Changing weather and higher inputs got you down?
Using Drain Tile to manage excess moisture in the soil profile is the foundation for increasing profitability per acre.
- Less compaction
- Better soil Structure
- Allows more days per year for field operations
- More Yields with same or less inputs
Kyla Heise
Parents: Christine Heise and the late Larry Heise Marathon, Wisconsin Marathon High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. My greatest high school accomplishment is being on the high honor roll while also keeping up with varsity-level sports, FFA, Tech Ed Club and multiple jobs.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memory of working on the dairy farm is having fun with my co-workers and all the conversations during milking. I really enjoy working with the animals and improving my animal husbandry skills.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Watching the intense time management skills of the Zernicke family has opened my eyes to the many hats that a dairy farmer wears. They have also taught me many animal management skills, such as heat and mastitis detection.
What do you plan to do after high school? After high school, I plan to get a job as an A.I. technician to breed beef and dairy animals. I also plan to continue farrowing in and raising out pigs on my family farm.
Tell us about your farm. I work for the Zernicke family. They milk roughly 300 dairy cows in a freestall and parlor operation. They also grow ginseng, which I help out with as well.
Mykala L. Mulderink
Parents: Matt and Ashley Mulderink Morrison, Illinois Newman Central Catholic High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Joining the National Honor Society.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? Working and showing dairy cattle, as well as buying my rst cow.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Strong work ethic, understanding of where my food comes from, and, most importantly, patience.
What do you plan to do after high school? I plan on attending Southwest Technical College in Fennimore, Wisconsin, for animal science and herd management, then continuing my education from there.
Tell us about your farm. We run a small 40-cow dairy where my daily chores are helping to milk, feed and care for our cows.
Ella Raatz
Parents: Al and Teri Raatz Colby, Wisconsin Colby High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. My greatest high school accomplishment was making it to state my freshman, sophomore and junior years for the dairy cattle evaluation and management Career Development Event competition through FFA with the same team. Last year, we won the competition and then placed 10th at the national competition last fall.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memory of working on a dairy farm is being able to work around my family and friends. I enjoy doing things with family and friends, and this allowed me to do that along with something else that I love.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Some benets of growing up on different farms are the valuable life lessons I have learned. Some of these lessons include integrity, hard work and respect. These lessons have shaped me into the person I am today and greatly inuence me as I navigate the world around me. By upholding these lessons, I feel I can make a positive difference in my life and the lives of others around me.
What do you plan to do after high school? I am attending the University of Minnesota Twin Cities in the fall, majoring in animal science with a production emphasis and minoring in ag communications and ag sustainability.
Katelyn Matzke
Parents: Joel and Lynn Matzke Hixton, Wisconsin Wisconsin Connections Academy
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Earning straight A’s.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? Raising baby calves.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Enjoying the outdoors and nature and not having to live in a busy or crowded city.
What do you plan to do after high school? I will be attending San Juan University in New Mexico where I am enrolled in their veterinarian technician program.
Tell us about your farm. My family is proud to raise both beef and dairy cows. We moved to Wisconsin, from Minnesota, in 2022 to continue raising beef cattle. We also decided to give dairy a try for the very rst time as well. Our family is proud to support the dairy industry.
Mallory Olson
Parents: Andy and Kim Olson
Utica, Minnesota Hope Lutheran High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Helping to start an FFA chapter at our school. I was the rst secretary of our chapter. This year, we were ofcially recognized as a chapter at the Minnesota State FFA Convention in April. While we were there, I also received my FFA state degree.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? Ever since I was little, we would have “eld picnics” during planting, haying and harvesting. We would take a break from chores or farm work, and whoever was out in the tractor would stop and we’d have a picnic in the back of the truck out
Tell us about your farm. I have been involved in my grandpa’s farm, farms that I have shown cattle with, and the farms that my animals are currently housed at. I own a small herd of registered Holsteins and Jerseys and a Guernsey with my brother that we show at local, state and national levels. We also raise market lambs at our house for our county fair every year. in the eld. I also enjoyed playing basketball with my grandpa and siblings in the barn while we were waiting for milk to heat so we could feed calves.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Good work ethic, learning responsibility and learning to go with the ow (like from plan A to plan B to plan C, etc., all in the same day).
What do you plan to do after high school? I’m planning to attend a local college so I can live at home and still help out on the farm.
Tell us about your farm. We have an organic dairy near Lewiston, Minnesota. My grandparents (Dale and Carmene Pangrac), my parents (Andy and Kim), my siblings (Gavin and Amelia) and I use robots to milk 160 cows. We also raise organic pasture, hay, corn and soybeans. Additionally, we raise pigs and chickens to show for 4-H.
Crop Scout INTERNSHIP
At Farmers Win Cooperative, Crop Scout Interns are given an opportunity to connect classroom agronomic knowledge to the field first-hand. Throughout the season, you will learn to identify weeds, diseases, and insects affecting crop growth and development. You will gain experience testing soil and plant nutrients, and analyze reports used to make crop input recommendations with an experienced Agronomist.
The crop scout interns will be based out of Fredericksburg, IA, Waucoma, IA, Cresco, IA, Jackson Junction, IA, Burr Oak IA, Ridgeway, IA, Mabel, MN, and Spring Grove, MN.
Position Duties:
• Inspect assigned grower fields to identify weeds, insects, diseases, pest and crop population counts, crop and weed staging and other crop diagnostic issues.
Internship opportunities available for 2026!
• Utilize crop scouting software/weekly reports to document and share observations with partnered field Agronomist.
• Keep current on agronomic products, trends, and precision ag technologies.
• Provide support for operations and warehouse staff as needed.
Please contact Courtney Hageman, Human Resources chageman@farmerswin.com / 563-237-5324
Amelia Miller
Parents: Amy and Jarrett Bjork Hastings, Minnesota Hastings High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Excelling in athletics and academics throughout all four years of high school. From being a four-time academic letter and four-time varsity letter in wrestling, as well as being a three-time girls wrestling captain.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? Helping to birth a newborn calf.
Cylie Marshik
Parents: Brandon and Jill Marshik Rice, Minnesota Foley High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Graduating with a 3.5 grade point average and completing two years of college while being in high school.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? I don’t have a favorite memory, but my favorite thing to do on the farm is to wake up bright and early in the fall and
Melody McBroom
Parents: Susan Holcomb, Carl McBroom Vulcan, Michigan Holy Name High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. I made lifelong friends and happy and exciting memories I will cherish forever.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? Getting to work alongside my family and spending a lot of time with them. I especially love staying up really late out in the eld, planting corn and getting up early and watching the sunrise. Page
Daizy Dickmann
Parents: Josh and Linda Dickmann
Pierz, Minnesota Pierz Healy High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Graduating with 50-plus college credits.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? Milking cows with my siblings. We were always singing and dancing along to the songs on the radio.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Living on the farm, I always had at least one of my parents at home, and I had other family members who lived close by.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Learning hard work, discipline and being able to learn rsthand where our food comes from.
What do you plan to do after high school? Attend the University of Minnesota-Crookston for animal science with a pre-vet emphasis.
Tell us about your farm. I have been working on Bremer Farms for almost a year now. Bremer Farms is a familyowned and operated dairy farm that is run by three generations. I help with everything from feeding the calves, cleaning the facilities, and helping milk around 200 cows in a 16-cow parlor. Bremer Farms was purchased in 1952 by Roy and Karen Bremer and is now run by John and Janet Bremer. They work side by side with their family and friends every day.
chop corn all day long. I love hauling chopper boxes and packing the silage pile.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Strong work ethic, responsibility, time management, practical life skills, independence and problem-solving.
What do you plan to do after high school? I plan to attend Central Lakes College to become a registered nurse or get an undergraduate degree in nursing.
Tell us about your farm. I live on a 200-cow Holstein dairy farm where we grow crops, milk cows and raise lots of calves.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? You learn how to work hard, be disciplined and be responsible.
What do you plan to do after high school? Get a certicate in welding and continue to work on the farm. I dream to marry and raise children on the farm one day as well.
Tell us about your farm. We have a small farm and milk about 120 cows. Our herd totals 317 head of cows and calves. We grow most of their feed, including alfalfa and high-moisture corn. We also grow wheat and sell it. The farm has been in operation since my great-grandparents bought it in 1917 and named it MelodyDell Dairy.
What do you plan to do after high school? Attend Ridgewater College to pursue a degree in agribusiness or dairy management.
Tell us about your farm. My family runs a small dairy farm where we mainly raise and milk cows. Over the years, we’ve also had chickens, ducks, goats, llamas and pigs. Even now, there are always some chickens around. Most of our cows are Holsteins, but we also raise Jerseys, Brown Swiss and Ayrshires. Each day starts early with chores like feeding animals and milking cows. Some of my favorite memories include funny moments, like bringing calves into the house. Life on the farm can be hard work, but it’s rewarding and teaches responsibility and patience. Our farm has been in the family for four generations before me, and I hope to continue the tradition.
Brooklyn Busse Parents: Jeff and Lori Busse Welch, Minnesota Randolph High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Exploring and getting out of my comfort zone is my biggest accomplishment, taking a step into the unknown.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite activity is feeding the calves.
Claudia Frenchick Parents: Amanda Frenchick St. Martin, Minnesota Albany High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Going to the national dairy bowl contest in Louisville, Kentucky, and placing fourth overall with my team.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memory on the farm is when I went out to the farm to take my senior photos. The memories with the cows will forever be ones that I cherish. I am very glad to have taken the photos that I did, especially with what was my heifer, Sweet Pea. She was supposed to be my graduation gift, but unfortunately, she passed a week after the photos were taken. I will forever cherish those photos. I was also able to get photos with my rst Holstein, Anna, and a descendant of my rst cow, Cosmo.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? It has allowed me
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Teamwork, being held accountable for the farm, gaining an understanding of agriculture and learning responsibilities.
What do you plan to do after high school? I plan to attend Inver Hills Community College for their health sciences program and general electives.
Tell us about your farm. I work at Bremer’s Dairy Farm in Hastings. They milk 90 cows in a parlor. I really enjoy the Bremer light display at Christmas time. It’s fun experiencing people coming out to the farm.
Raigen Cleven
Parents: Darci Gerard
Spring Grove, Minnesota Spring Grove Public Schools
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. One of the biggest accomplishments I’ve experienced in high school was overcoming my fear of public speaking. I’d avoid it whenever possible, letting others present and staying quiet during group discussions. Looking back from when I rst started high school to today, I have started to overcome this. Having teachers who always pushed me to do my best has made a big impact on who I am today.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memory of living on the farm is that every four weeks we had herd health checks with the vet. I always wanted to stay home on those days to read the cows’ ear tags for my grandpa, who would write stuff down or say what happened last time with the cow.
numerous opportunities and learning experiences. From giving me more general knowledge to being more time efcient and, overall, just more equipped to deal with numerous situations. Without my involvement with animals, I would be in a very different place. It has allowed me to be more disciplined in everything I am involved in. It has allowed me to realize that the outcome you want doesn’t come without hard work and dedication.
What do you plan to do after high school? I plan to attend the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities for animal science.
Tell us about your farm. I have had my herd of cows, Prairie Rose Dairy, since 2011, and since then, they’ve moved around a bit. The farm where my cows are now managed is a partnership between Manannah-Valley Farms and Rown. All together, we milk 25 cows in a tiestall barn and have around 35 young stock and dry cows. The herd is both Holsteins and Jerseys, along with a Brown Swiss and a few Ayrshires from the others who work there. The cows, unless it’s cold or poor weather, go outside after each milking.
This gave me the opportunity to spend time with the cows and, of course, my grandpa.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? I live on my family farm, Gerard Dairy. It gave me the opportunity to develop a good work ethic that I’ll utilize in the future. Ever since I was little, I have always enjoyed feeding the calves and milking the cows. Being raised on a dairy farm gave me a strong sense of determination and responsibility. I have also developed a strong connection with animals that I’m forever grateful for.
What do you plan to do after high school? I plan on taking a gap year and then going into a cosmetology program.
Tell us about your farm. Gerard Dairy was rst started in 1978 by my grandparents, Mark and Dianne Gerard, with a small herd of Ayrshires. Later, they decided to expand the dairy and bought Holsteins. In 2025, my grandparents retired, and my mom and her boyfriend, Darci Gerard, and Steven Soland decided to take it over. We are milking around 220 cows in a double-9 parallel parlor.
Jillian Snook Parents: Jenny and Seth Snook Luck, Wisconsin Luck High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. One of my greatest accomplishments in high school has been mastering time management. I’ve successfully balanced academics, athletics, a part-time job and extracurricular activities throughout my high school years.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? I was raised on a dairy farm in Washington state, which fostered my early love for cows and agriculture. In 2021, my family moved to Wisconsin and I began working at Creekside Dairy for Ryan and Abby Johnson. This experience has been incredibly meaningful to me. I’ve learned far more about dairy farming than I ever imagined, and I am grateful to Ryan and Abby — two of the best employers I’ve ever had — for their mentorship and support.
Audrey Anding
Parents: Chris and Jeff Neumann
Spring Green, Wisconsin
Sauk Prairie High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. My greatest high school accomplishment was becoming an FFA ofcer and being recognized at our yearly banquet by our FFA alumni.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Growing up on a dairy farm instilled in me values that extend far beyond agriculture. From a young age, I learned the importance of responsibility, dedication and hard work. Life on the farm requires stamina and commitment, but it also offers a strong sense of community. Working closely with family and neighbors taught me the value of relationships and cooperation. I believe farm life also helps children understand where their food comes from and the effort it takes to produce it — knowledge that is essential in today’s world.
What do you plan to do after high school? After graduation, I plan to attend the University of Wisconsin-River Falls to study agricultural studies and dairy science. My goal is to continue growing within the dairy industry and one day start my own farm. Agriculture is a passion of mine and I believe it is the backbone of our country. Without farmers there is no future, and I am committed to being part of this vital industry for years to come.
Tell us about your farm. I work at Ryan and Abby Johnson’s Creekside Dairy in Luck, Wisconsin.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memories are everything that’s involved with getting ready for our county fair. Picking out heifers to take, becoming close to them so that they enjoy being around me, washing and clipping them so they are ready to go, are some of my favorite memories. While at the fair, I became close friends with everyone who showed from my county and created life-lasting relationships.
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? There are many ben-
Isabelle van Doorn Parents: Jess and Garrett van Doorn Tony, Wisconsin Flambeau High School
Tell us your greatest high school accomplishment. Creating an FFA dairy cattle evaluation team just two weeks before the regional competition. I was able to help them learn about everything they needed to know within those two weeks, and then we placed high enough to be able to move on to the state competition.
What is your favorite memory of living or working on a dairy farm? My favorite memory of working on the farm would have to be when my rst homebred Ayrshire calf, Flambeau Manor King Bacardi, was born. She was the one who started my winning streak at World Dairy Expo. I was able to keep her in a separate pen and give her special treatment. She was a little spitre.
ets I have gotten from being raised on a farm that I will take with me for the rest of my life. One of the most important is the value of hard work. Waking up early, working long hours in horrible weather conditions has set me up for success in the future. My other jobs are much more bearable because I have gotten used to working in worse conditions.
What do you plan to do after high school? After high school, I plan to go University of Stevens Point to pursue a career in nursing, with the dream of
What are some benets of being raised on a farm? Some benets from being raised on a farm that I have learned are hard work, responsibility and pride. I have learned these on the farm and they have been great benets to my everyday life.
What do you plan to do after high school? I am planning on attending the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse for radiology sciences.
Tell us about your farm. My grandparents operate a 60-cow operation right outside of Tony. The breeds on the farm are Holsteins, Red & White Holsteins, Jerseys, Guernseys, Brown Swiss and Ayrshires. I have grown up showing their animals. When I got a little older, I was given the opportunity to get some of my own. I now have my own small herd of Guernseys and Ayrshires that are at my grandparents’ farm. The farm shows animals at county, state and national levels, and I have been lucky enough to be the leadsman for them.
working at a children’s hospital or in the emergency room.
Tell us about your farm. Neumann Brothers Dairy is a dairy farm owned by both my stepfather and uncle. They started it when Jeff was a senior in high school, starting from nothing. They have since expanded to multiple locations, milking 260-280 cows at a time, while crop farming about 1,400 acres. I became involved with the farm the summer after my fourth-grade year and have never looked back.
Following his passion
Goetz completes education at Iowa State University
By Tiffany Klaphake tiffany.k@dairystar.com
While Brady Goetz did not grow up on a dairy farm, he has long had an understanding of and interest in the industry.
“When I was a junior in high school, I knew the dairy industry was where I wanted to be,” Goetz said.
Growing up in Minnesota, Goetz lived in town but spent summers at his aunt and uncle’s dairy farm in a different town. While in high school, he got a job at a local dairy farm.
Today, Goetz is a nutrition and management consultant with GPS Dairy Consulting LLC and covers South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas. He earned an undergraduate degree and a Ph.D. , both in animal science, from Iowa State University.
“For me, when it comes to education, it is something that nobody can take away from you,” Goetz said. “Yes, having a higher degree means more opportunities in the industry, but to me it was about something that I was passionate about and enjoy doing. So, I decided to continue to pursue it.”
After high school, Goetz went to Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar, Iowa, and received his associate’s degree in dairy science. From there, he managed a 450-cow dairy in Iowa.
“When I managed the dairy, I found out that nutrition is the driver for everything,” Goetz said. “If I wanted to affect protability, cow health or reproduction rates, it all came back to nutrition. I enjoyed that aspect and I loved my time managing a dairy. I just felt like there was more that I could do.”
Goetz decided to continue his education and obtain his bachelor’s degree. When exploring his college options, he talked with a transfer coordinator at Iowa State University, and by the time he hung up the phone, Goetz knew Iowa State University was where he wanted to go.
“I had an awesome interaction about what transferring would look like, what my degree would look like and we had a 30–40-minute conversation and in my head, I was thinking, ‘If this what everybody at Iowa State is like, that is where I want to go to school,’” Goetz said. “Then I toured the campus. It is a big campus but still has that small-town feel, so that was the right t for me.”
While attending Iowa State University, Goetz got involved in research and was a teaching assistant. That only deepened his interest in dairy.
“I fell in love with (research) and asking the why and understanding everything around that,” Goetz said.
After working on research and having a positive experience with his professor, Goetz decided to continue on and get his advanced degree in animal science.
“My interest sparked in answering the why questions,” Goetz said. “I had a project that aligned with what I really wanted to do and had a major professor that I enjoyed working with, so I decided to continue on.”
Goetz also helped at the university dairy farm, was active with the dairy science club and the dairy challenge team as a participant and a coach.
“My time at Iowa State really helped me grow and I got to meet a lot of people and make connections with other students and professors,” Goetz said. “That really helped me professionally.”
Goetz graduated from Iowa State University with his Ph.D in the spring of 2023 and has been
with GPS Dairy Consulting LLC ever since.
“Being a nutritionist is everything I thought it was going to be,” he said. “I like the people; I like the challenge that comes with nutrition. Ration balancing is a part of what I do, but a lot of it is people and management and consulting and I really enjoy helping producers achieve their goals. That is one of the greatest things I get to do with my job.”
Brady Goetz
