All Episodes

Episode 6: Jim Harbach dives into strategies for no till, cover cropping, soil health, and fertilizer savings ahead of spring planting

Episode 5: Kate Musselman describes expansion for their 3,000+ cow herd, balancing family and business, and optimism about the PA dairy industry

Episode 4: Alan Davis discusses the shift to robotics and how data, herd health and profitability are intertwined

Episode 3: David Sattazahn reflects on expansion, transition, and key factors that influence profitability

Episode 2: Jeremy Martin shares how he unexpectedly found himself managing a dairy at 17 and how that shaped his management philosophy on the farm

Episode 1: Kerri Weber shares how an unexpected brain injury changed everything for their family and farm but how that taught her to celebrate each day

Episode 12: Steve Harnish talks about the herd health data that matters and shares his leadership journey

Episode 11: Dee Shafer shares how their farm moved from high risk to financially strong

Episode 10: Jennifer Metzler opens up about a recent parlor fire and the community support that carried them through the aftermath

Episode 9: Zach Kreger describes how small dairies can continue to compete and shares how simple improvements have almost doubled production

Episode 8: Greg Hemsarth shares how they’ve integrated robots into the herd, built trust with employees, and took a proactive approach to transition planning

Episode 7: Angie Breneman describes new facilities on the farm, what it's like to balance on and off-farm jobs, and how she keeps things in perspective

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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’

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

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

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

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

Episode 3: Justin Risser talks about transition, herd health, and treating each animal, field and employee as an individual

Episode 2: Sue Miller shares how artisan cheese combines science with intuition, fosters community, and begins with beautiful milk

Season Three Recap: Here's our favorite conversations with 12 dairy farms

Episode 1: Neil Hertzler gives inside look at rotational grazing operation & how to drive strong milk production, herd and pasture health

Episode 12: Cory Mellott and Kerry & James St. Onge describe how they are bringing new life into existing dairy operation through benchmarking, innovation, and employee management

Episode 11: Tyler Rohrer talks expansion and how new rotary parlor improves herd health, overcrowding and employee management

Episode 10: Matt Brake opens up about pushing forward after a barn fire and investing in fully automated, robotic barn

Episode 9: William Lesher shares how making ice cream and investing in a value-added business drives growth for the next generation

Episode 8: Tricia Adams describes their farm’s unique terrain, growing beef enterprise, and strong community connections

Episode 7: Jess Peters opens up about farming, mental health, and how sharing our burdens can help

Episode 6: Daryl Martin talks about diversification and saying “yes” to opportunity

Episode 5: Shawn Saylor shares the benefits of new cropping technologies, methane digesters, and how carbon neutral can also equal profitability

Episode 4: Rod Hissong discusses satellite dairies, group calf facilities, and cultivating a team

Episode 3: Phoebe Bitler offers tips for calf care and maintaining compost barn and robotics facility

Episode 2: Dale Brown shares how overcrowding has improved profitability and the benefits of benchmarking

Episode 1: Jennifer Orr reflects on family, community, and how they inspired their value-added dairy business

Season Two Recap: Our favorite takeaways from conversations with 12 producers

Episode 12: Tom Barley describes how they maximize herd performance, production and cow comfort

Episode 11: Frank Graybill shares words of wisdom after transitioning out of dairy and lessons learned on farm safety

Episode 10: Jared Kurtz gives an honest look at managing a dairy farm with multiple generations

Episode 9: Clint Burkholder offers strategies for preventing heat stress and maximizing forage quality

Episode 8: Maria Forry shares why agritourism and on-farm events are worth it and how to manage multiple enterprises

Episode 7: Michelle Kirk opens up about how an unexpected loss can affect farm transition and mental health

Episode 6: Ben Peckman gives insight on his innovative planting strategies and ways to manage high fertilizer and seed costs

Episode 5: Candice Dotterer White shares lessons learned from integrating beef into their herd

Episode 4: What is this all for? Donny Bartch discusses transitioning between generations and transforming with robotics

Episode 3: Greta Halahan & Virginia Deffibaugh share calf management strategies and how to get it right from the start

Happy New Year: Our favorite moments from Cow-Side Conversations

Episode 2: Allen Behrer & Pete Posnett describe their creative approach to employee management

Episode 1: John Kline shares how transition planning has helped his family and allows him to give back

Episode 12: Emily Montgomery gives an honest look at the rewards and challenges of starting a cheese-making business

Episode 11: Brett Reinford opens up about farm accident and shares methane digester revenue streams

Episode 10: Josh Waddell describes how to control energy costs and make other efficiencies

Episode 9: Walt Moore gives go-to strategies for controlling feed costs in the midst of record-high grain prices

Episode 8: Duane Hershey shares how genomics are strengthening herd performance and longevity (Special June Dairy Month episode)

Episode 7: Chuck Carr opens up about mental health after barn fire and traumatic brain injury

Episode 6: Jason Frye shares the power of a business plan — and how it guided his 40-cow dairy into the value-added space

Episode 5: Alan Waybright discusses low cost improvements and outside consultants

Episode 4: Carissa Westrick shares insight about their value-added and agritourism efforts

Episode 3: Tony Brubaker shares how tracking dry matter intake makes a big impact

Episode 2: Nate Heim discusses vaccination protocols and biosecurity

Episode 1: Mark Mosemann shares risk management strategy

Cowside Conversations Trailer