Episode 6: Joel Krall Opens Up About Working With The Hand He Has Been Given And Making The Most Of Unexpected Opportunities Cow-Side Conversations podcast

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39:50

The truth is out West! We’re hopping on the ET Highway and venturing to the most notorious alien hot spots, including Roswell’s infamous crash site, Area 51’s eerie perimeter, and a mysterious desert watchtower. Join us as journalist Laura Krantz, host of the podcast Wild Thing , beams up to share stories from the front lines of UFO reporting—from strange sightings and quirky festivals to a mailbox where people leave letters to extraterrestrials. Maybe you’ll even decide for yourself: Is Earth a tourist stop for spaceships? UFO hot spots you’ll encounter in this episode: - UFO Watchtower (near Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado) - Roswell, New Mexico - Area 51, Nevada - Extraterrestrial Highway (aka State Route 375), Nevada - Little A’Le’Inn, ET Highway, Nevada - E.T. Fresh Jerky, ET Highway, Nevada - Alien Research Center, ET Highway, Nevada - The Black Mailbox, ET Highway, Nevada Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group .…

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Episode 6: Joel Krall opens up about working with the hand he has been given and making the most of unexpected opportunities

30 days ago 57:05

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In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Joel Krall of Furnace Hill Holsteins in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania opens up about how he has re-shaped his mindset to be content with the hand he has been given. From his passion for genetics that inadvertently led him to grow his herd to new partnerships that spurred him to form a satellite dairy operation, Joel talks about doors that have opened – and doors that have closed. He reflects on specific herd health challenges he has troubleshooted and how he has learned to accept help, even when he didn’t think he needed it. Joel also describes some of his unique reproduction strategies and shares how life’s unexpected twists continue to remind him about what matters most.

58 episodes

#MBA #Business #Center For Dairy Excellence

Episode 6: Joel Krall opens up about working with the hand he has been given and making the most of unexpected opportunities

Cow-Side Conversations

published 30 days ago

MP3•Episode home

Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts!

58 episodes

#MBA #Business #Center For Dairy Excellence

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Cow-Side Conversations

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Episode 6: Joel Krall opens up about working with the hand he has been given and making the most of unexpected opportunities 57:05

30 days ago57:05

57:05

Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations , Joel Krall of Furnace Hill Holsteins in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania opens up about how he has re-shaped his mindset to be content with the hand he has been given. From his passion for genetics that inadvertently led him to grow his herd to new partnerships that spurred him to form a satellite dairy operation, Joel talks about doors that have opened – and doors that have closed. He reflects on specific herd health challenges he has troubleshooted and how he has learned to accept help, even when he didn’t think he needed it. Joel also describes some of his unique reproduction strategies and shares how life’s unexpected twists continue to remind him about what matters most.…

Cow-Side Conversations

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Episode 5: Kendra Nissley shares about balancing farm & family, harnessing help from heroes, and life lessons learned on the dairy 55:04

9 weeks ago55:04

55:04

Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations , Kendra Nissley of Jubilee Dairy in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania wraps up Women’s History Month by sharing about her journey on the farm and trying to find a sense of balance in it all. While farming and family often go hand in hand, it can be challenging to prioritize your children, your marriage and your own needs when the day-to-day responsibilities on the farm are so demanding. Kendra reflects on some intentional decisions she and her husband, Jeff, have made in their journey to invest in employees, navigate the transition process between generations, and rely closely on outside experts – or as she says, “heroes” – to help them finetune the details and execute new plans. From sustainability projects and boosting pounds of butterfat to a value-added cheese business and grants that help them save money, Kendra opens up about lessons they’ve learned along the way. She says it’s a neverending balancing act and an ongoing process of asking their family: How can we steward this farm so we farm it and it does not farm us?”…

Cow-Side Conversations

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Episode 4: Nate Mowrer talks about being proactive with transition cow health, building trust between generations & balancing business with the farming lifestyle 38:52

13 weeks ago38:52

38:52

Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Nate Mowrer of Mowrer Farms in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania describes how they try to create a well-balanced business for their family’s eighth-generation dairy farm. This includes all facets of the business, both the hard and soft issues. On the herd management and cropping side, Nate shares how they use technology to be proactive with transition cow health, cut protein costs with high-oleic soybeans, and utilize GPS technology and a variable rate program with their crops. On the family business side of the equation, he opens up about how they foster a small team of employees who enjoy coming to work every day, build trust between family members as they established an LLC and continue to transition the business, and find balance between a profitable business and the farming lifestyle.…

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Episode 3: Brad Hoover discusses his breeding strategy and having patience in building your herd 34:19

17 weeks ago34:19

34:19

Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations , Brad Hoover of Brook-Corner Holsteins in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania gives a deep dive on the breeding and genetics decisions he makes for his family’s herd of 350 Registered Holsteins. From focusing on fat and protein levels to boost pounds of components to specific types and traits that lead to longevity, Brad discusses the ways they try to maximize herd performance and get well-balanced cows. Unlike a lot of dairy operations right now, Brad is raising more heifers than cows – and works to keep good genetics behind the cows to drive profitability as he markets most of the heifers with a premium. Brad describes the return (ROI) he gets from investing in genetics, registered cows, and high-quality animals. He’ll be selling some of his animals at the PA Holstein Association’s annual sale in early February.…

Cow-Side Conversations

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Episode 2: Joe Zug defines what growth means to him and reflects on new endeavors like hauling their own milk, installing a lameness camera & hiring an executive coach 22:21

23 weeks ago22:21

22:21

Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Joe Zug of Zugstead Farms in Juniata County, Pennsylvania defines what growth means to him on his family’s 950-cow dairy. He reflects on major, growth-related projects like building a new dry cow facility and expanding their herd. Joe also shares smaller, more recent endeavors that are helping to drive profitability and growth: deciding to haul their own milk for cost savings, installing a lameness camera to be proactive about hoof health concerns, being aggressive with their breeding program, and hiring an executive coach to help enhance their "people" skills. "I don't think you can grow unless you are profitable," Joe shares in the podcast.…

Cow-Side Conversations

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Episode 1: Paul Mason shares daily decisions that add up on the farm, new cropping technology that optimizes their acreage, and how he builds buy-in with employees 1:05:20

27 weeks ago1:05:20

1:05:20

Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! To kick off the first episode in Season 5 of Cow-Side Conversations, Paul Mason of Mason’s Chrome View in Chester County, Pennsylvania shares how the details add up on his 500-cow family dairy operation. From unique ways they keep employees engaged with production goals and understanding the “why” behind what they do to calf-raising protocols that have paid dividends, Paul reflects on all the little details and management decisions that are part of dairy farming – and how he finds balance between being content but never satisfied. He shares some of the new technology he has implemented on the cropping side with variable rate application, precision planting and zone sampling to optimize their acreage with the future in mind. Paul also opens up about how he has used grants to jumpstart capital investments on his farm and build buffer into the dairy business.…

Cow-Side Conversations

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Episode 12: Josh Waddell talks about finding innovation in daily tasks, using data to milk the right cows, and managing manure with less mechanization 19:55

30 weeks ago19:55

19:55

Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! “When you look at innovation, what can you do to your daily tasks to automate them, simplify them, and make them labor-friendly and super easy? That’s where it’s at – your daily tasks.” In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Josh Waddell of Apple Shamrock Farms LLC in Northwestern Pennsylvania talks about what innovation truly looks like – and how finding labor savings within daily tasks often gets forgotten on dairy farms. He shares some of the technology he utilizes on a daily basis and innovative decisions he has made to save on labor and drive efficiency. These include a three-cell lagoon system and sand lane system that helps reduce mechanization and labor costs by pumping manure versus hauling it. Josh also talks about the Afimilk cow monitoring system and feed tracking data he uses to make sure he’s milking the right cows, a coherent group calving system and bedded pack barn he built for springer cows, and the unique system he developed for group housed, free choice fed calves.…

Cow-Side Conversations

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Episode 11: Matt Carr opens up about farm accident, recovery, and keeping your mind in the right spot when running a dairy business 41:32

35 weeks ago41:32

41:32

Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! We all know that on a dairy farm, it’s very easy to go from zero to 50 in the blink of an eye – but nothing is more important than saving a life or preventing an injury. In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Matt Carr, a third-generation dairy farmer from Westmoreland County, opens up about a farm safety accident where he lost the fingers on his left hand. He describes how quickly the accident happened, what the physical and mental recovery process was like, and the lessons he learned through the incident. Their dairy operation is a true family business with some additional Spanish-speaking employees. Matt shares how developing clear protocols for their workforce, while always remembering to have fun, is one of their top priorities. He also compares running a dairy business to the years he spent running marathons – and shares how keeping your mind in the right spot is key to working toward your goals.…

Cow-Side Conversations

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Episode 10: Trenton Canon and Josie Offerdahl share sibling perspective on diversification, growth, and what brought them back to the farm 42:08

39 weeks ago42:08

42:08

Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Trenton Canon and Josie Offerdahl (the fifth generation on Canon Dairy in Mercer County, PA) share how they are focusing on diversity as a way to grow. In this interview with the siblings, Trent talks about some of their cropping strategies and farm management practices – from robotic milking technology to cover cropping and direct marketing with beef. Josie describes the creamery side of their business and how processing their own milk is helping secure their farm’s future. As the next generation, the siblings open up about what brought each of them back to their family farm and how their personal goals both play a role in diversifying Canon Dairy. From pursuing regenerative cropping strategies and an expansion of their beef herd to making all of their milk A2 through breeding and investing in a cream separator, they share how diversification is key to their future growth.…

Cow-Side Conversations

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Episode 9: Andy Bollinger talks about honing in on heifer management, cow management and forage management 52:02

44 weeks ago52:02

52:02

Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Andy Bollinger of Meadow Spring Farm in Northern Lancaster County, Pennsylvania reflects on how someone once told him that the best dairy farmers are not great at any one aspect of farming, but are good at three key areas of dairy farming: heifer management, cow management and raising your forages. He talks about the unique feeding system he has implemented over the years to maximize forage quality, how he has worked to boost plant and soil health, and how he manages a workforce of trustworthy and highly motivated employees. Andy also shares how his team has managed this summer’s heat wave and what he learned from his parents about the farm transition process.…

Cow-Side Conversations

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Episode 8: Amy Brickner shares how she started bottling milk, balances herd work with her value-added business, and continues to dream big even when she is told ‘no’ 1:01:06

48 weeks ago1:01:06

1:01:06

Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! “I got told ‘no’ a lot,” Amy shares as she reflects on the years she spent getting her value-added dairy business off the ground. In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Amy Brickner of Stover Farms and Destiny Dairy Bar in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania opens up about her journey to bottling her own milk and how the times she heard ‘no’ only fueled her to fulfill her destiny: create a space for her community to see where their food comes from. With a herd of 80 milking cows, a Wagyu dairy cross beef herd, and an on-farm store where she sells her milk, ice cream, beef and more, Amy shares how she goes the extra mile to connect with her customers. She also talks about how she balances herd work with the value-added business, the vulnerability that comes with opening her farm to the public, and how she continues to dream big to move her business forward.…

Cow-Side Conversations

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Episode 7: Katie Sattazahn and Jessica Slaymaker talk about farm, family, friendship, and mental wellness 55:54

1 year ago55:54

55:54

Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! For Mental Health Awareness Month, this episode of Cow-Side Conversations showcases how a unique friendship started years ago helps a small group of farm women located across the state balance the highs and lows of farming and family life. Katie Sattazahn and her family farm in Womelsdorf, Berks County, while Jessica Slaymaker and her husband farm in Columbia Crossroads, Tioga County. They share their perspective on why making space and grace for your mental wellness matters on the farm.…

Cow-Side Conversations

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Episode 6: Duane Stoltzfus talks about forage and feeding strategies, digester, and succession planning 40:36

1 year ago40:36

40:36

Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! Duane Stoltzfus of Pennwood Farms LLC in Somerset County, PA shares a glimpse inside their nutrition program, the feeding decisions they make for their 600-cow herd as they crop 2,000 acres, and the return on investment they’ve seen after implementing a feed watch technology system. He also describes the ups and downs of having a digester on their farm and explains the lengthy, but fulfilling, journey their family took to develop a transition plan that provides opportunities for the next generation.…

Cow-Side Conversations

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Episode 5: Yvette Longenecker describes how they balance growth and profitability when managing satellite operations, modernizing facilities, and working with family 41:41

1 year ago41:41

41:41

Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! Too often, we hear about dairies that are exiting the industry or those without a next generation. We don’t always hear how dairy farm families are positioning their operations for the future. In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Yvette Longenecker of Penn England LLC in Blair County, Pennsylvania shares how they work to find the sweet spot between growth and profitability. With six partners, about 2,100 mature cows, 3,600 acres, 50 employees and three different facilities, patience has been key when evaluating new projects or expansions. She describes their current building project and how they are working to drive efficiency and better manage milk production and quality. Yvette also opens up about how to navigate a family business during periods of growth, when to embrace opportunity versus stay patient, and how they use benchmarking to evaluate the return on possible expansion projects so they don’t over-leverage themselves.…

Cow-Side Conversations

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Episode 4: Caroline Zimmerman shares how they use sexed semen to manage heifer inventories and utilize ultrasounding for early detection of calfhood issues 56:33

1 year ago56:33