Leadership
I wonder what is the magic formula that will allow dairy farms to continue making it. I don’t have a magic 8 ball that can tell us that, but what I can tell you all is that part of the formula requires resiliency.
Change is hard, but we live and work in an industry undergoing massive changes. Just as in every major historical upheaval in agriculture, some will survive and come out the other side stronger.
When it comes to farm culture, actions speak louder than words. A leader’s influence sets the tone and establishing a good farm culture is not only essential, but also vital to retain employees.
With the guidance of their consultant Bruce Vande Steeg, DVM, Leiden LLC, Sonya and Johan Koke were able to trust in their team and even take time away from the dairy without worry.
Brett Barlass works hard to set a positive culture on his Hilmar, Calif. dairy. The long-term manager finds unique and fun ways to engage with his employees, making meetings more fun and effective.
Dairy producers and industry professionals who register before Sept. 30th for the Milk Business Conference will earn a chance to win three concert tickets to see Garth Brooks live in concert at Caesar’s Palace on Dec. 1.
IDFA is seeking nominations for four top awards presented annually to leaders in the dairy industry, including the 2024 Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year Award. Nominations open today and will close on Friday, Oct. 27.
Reshaping how we view training can give employees the boost they need. Producers should take a broader view to reenergize and empower the workforce.
Hank Wagner, a farmer and a certified leadership training coach, encourages us to lift everyone up around us by telling them not only what they want to hear, but also what they need to hear or just be a good listener.
Providing housing options for dairy farm employees at Larson Acres has taken the turnover rate from an already low 7% all the way down to less than 1%
Raising teens isn’t for the faint of hearts. Raising teens is not easy and while many of those years are spent watching our children thrive on and off the farm, other times we are just trying to survive.
A 60 second program has become a crowd favorite and for the youth who were brave enough to stand up in front of the room to share their message, it was a launching pad for future success.
Regardless of a dairy’s size, a balanced suite of leadership skills is necessary to manage and motivate team members for the sustainability of a dairy’s workforce.
Instead of writing down these big audacious goals, Jon Acuff, an entrepreneur, speaker and best-selling author, has better advice: Set micro goals.
Todd and Louise Malecha have one mission: Keep everyone on the same page. For their operation, that “same page” is a 587-page business plan.
Little steps can ease frustration and improve communication on your farm.
Often, dairies have an idea what their operations will look like down the road. But they can’t answer who will be the successor of the operation, as no formal succession plan has been set.
Few people will pass up the opportunity to scoop up a refreshing bowl of ice cream. The ice cream industry is worth more than $10 billion and the average American consumer scarfs down 20 pounds of ice cream each year.
Are you interested in being more effective in business and personal interactions? Are you tired of butting heads with that annoying person on your team? JD Fiechtner, DVM, shares tips to “Be Better Than Before.”
Negativity breeds negativity, right? Remember that. But the same can be said about positivity. Positivity can grow if we choose it too. Flip a switch on your mind, that will turn up cheerfulness on the farm.
Communication. We all know it’s important. Jay Joy from Bridgeforth LLP shared on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast how his family farm all got on the same page.
Don’t let day-to-day farm tasks stand in your way of showing some extra gratitude to your hardworking employees.
Adversity is a character test. From low milk prices, rising interest rates, weather and supply chain hiccups, farmers are used to dealing with adversity and things beyond their control. Our character is challenged daily.
The president and CEO of Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA), Patrick Criteser shares his career path, advice, lessons learned and more in a casual sit-down conversation.
Have you ever wondered why some topics, people, or plans resist change?
“You’re not rich until you have something money can’t buy.”- Reese Burnett
Half of success is showing up certainly holds true for labor-dependent farms. Although Brett Barlass, dairy manager of Yosemite Jerseys in Calif., shares he went nine years without a no-call or a no-show employee.
The nation’s largest research dairy is underway, as the groundwork has officially begun for the University of Idaho’s Idaho Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, better known as Idaho CAFÉ.
The founder and CEO of GoodSport Nutrition, Michelle McBride shares her career path, advice, lessons learned and more in a casual sit-down conversation.
Christine Bender has found ways to motivate and engage her employees through monthly meetings, and the results speak for themselves.