(Please note that the speaker biographies were current at the time the proceedings were published in which their presentation appears.)
Patrick C. Hoffman
Patrick C. Hoffman is an Associate Professor-UWEX and dairy specialist for the Department of Dairy Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Pat received his BS degree from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and his MS degree in Dairy Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has been employed at the University of Wisconsin for the past 22 years. His current responsibilities include conducting applied dairy research and development of dairy outreach educational programs for the University of Wisconsin. His research focuses on growth and development of dairy replacement heifers and perennial forage utilization by lactating dairy cows. Pat is the author of 28 peer-reviewed articles and 65 scientific abstracts. In addition, Pat has written over 165 proceedings, media, and extension publications. Pat has presented five invited papers for the American Dairy Science Association and the American Society of Animal Science related to replacement heifer management. Pat has been an ADSA member since 1987 and has served on and been chair of numerous committees. Pat has also served on the editorial board for the Journal of Dairy Science for the past 6 years. Awards include the “Second Mile Award” from the University of Wisconsin—Extension and the “Outstanding Forage Research” award from the Wisconsin Forage Council. He is a featured speaker at numerous state and national dairy management conferences and seminars.
Dr. Greg L. Bethard
Greg Bethard received his BS, MS, and Ph.D. degrees from Virginia Tech in dairy nutrition and management. Following graduate school, he worked on the faculty at New Mexico State University and then as a technical service specialist for Monsanto Dairy Business. Currently Greg owns and operates G&R Dairy Consulting, Inc., in Wytheville, Virginia, with his wife Rachel. G&R Dairy Consulting, Inc., provides consultation for dairy producers in Kansas, New Mexico, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia and Italy. Nutrition, management, financial and records-analysis services are offered to dairy clients. Greg has published articles in the Journal of Dairy Science and written articles for various dairy magazines. He has also given presentations to dairy producers and allied industry throughout the United States and in Italy. Greg and Rachel were blessed on August 15, 1998, with the birth of their daughter, Michaela. They make their home in the beautiful mountains of southwest Virginia.
Dr. Kent A. Weigel
Dr. Kent A. Weigel was raised on a dairy farm near Platteville, Wisconsin. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Platteville as an undergraduate, where he completed a double major in Animal Science and Biology. He then pursued a Master’s degree in Animal Breeding and Genetics at Iowa State University, under the supervision of Dr. Gene Freeman. Lastly, he received a Ph.D. in Animal Breeding and Genetics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as well as a Master’s degree in Biometry, while working under the supervision of Dr. Daniel Gianola. After graduate school, Dr. Weigel spent three years at the U.S. Holstein Association where he conducted research regarding genetic improvement of functional traits in dairy cattle and calculated national sire evaluations for conformation traits. For the next six years, Dr. Weigel held a joint position with the University of Wisconsin and World-Wide Sires, Inc. In July 2001, Dr. Weigel became Assistant Professor/Extension Genetics Specialist at the University of Wisconsin. He also maintains a strong working relationship with the industry, as evidenced by his status as Genetic Programs Administrator for the National Association of Animal Breeders. In his current position, Dr. Weigel’s research is focused on genetic improvement of dairy cow survival, genetic aspects of fertility, interaction of genetics with herd management practices, controlling inbreeding, and possibilities for crossbreeding. In addition to his research, Dr. Weigel has given lectures to academic, industry, and producer audiences in twenty-five countries. Dr. Weigel serves on several key industry committees and teaches genetics within the Farm and Industry Short Course at the University of Wisconsin.
Jolene Brown, CSP (319-643-2429)
Jolene Brown, from West Branch, Iowa, is one of the premiere professional speakers in agriculture. She’s best known as one who brings humor, hope, and helpful ideas to keep us laughing while we learn. Jolene is also a real “Farmer Brown” who understands our hearts, our homes, and our business. She has earned the highest designation of professional speaking achievement from the National Speakers Association. She is also the past chair of their National Ethics committee.
This award-winning speaker has made numerous guest appearances for television and radio broadcasts and is a frequent contributor to Successful Farming Magazine.
Along with her professional speaking, Jolene blends many different roles: farm partner with husband, Keith; mom of two daughters; and an active supporter of community and church activities. You’ll leave her sessions with information to take back home, some ideas to put into action, and something good to talk about in the days to come. From personal greetings to friendly farewell you’re sure to enjoy your time of learning and celebration with Jolene Brown.
Dr. Robert Cropp
Robert Cropp is Director of the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives and Dairy Marketing and Policy Specialist with the University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension, both at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has devoted the past 36 years to working with agricultural cooperatives and dairy marketing and policy issues. Extension/outreach programs are directed at cooperative boards of directors, managers and employees. In the dairy area, extension/outreach programs and research target dairy farmers, dairy cooperatives, and dairy leaders in regards to dairy outlook, milk pricing, dairy priced risk management, and federal dairy policy.
Dr. Cropp is frequently called upon to provide expert testimony on federal dairy policy issues at U.S. Congressional hearings. Dr. Cropp facilitates strategic planning sessions for cooperatives and assists with business structural changes and with organizing new cooperative businesses. Dr. Cropp received his Ph.D. and MS degrees in agricultural economics, both from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Cropp has received numerous awards for his teaching, extension work, and service to agriculture and cooperatives.
Dr. Ann C. Schauber
Ann Schauber is the author of Working with Differences in Communities: A handbook for those who care about creating inclusive communities, published through OU Extension in 2002. The book is a practical guide for individuals who want to communicate more effectively with those who are different from them.
Ann has been working with Oregon State University Extension Service since 1978, first as a 4-H Youth Development agent in a rural/urban county, then as county director and manager of a three-county volunteer community-leadership program. Her current position as State Diversity Leader is based on the belief that difference brings more possibilities for creative solutions to the problems we face in our society today. Ann also worked in Delaware and Michigan with the Cooperative Extension Service. She has a doctorate in Intercultural Communication/Organizational Change from the Union Institute, a University without walls based out of Cincinnati, Ohio. Her master’s degree is in Community Development from Michigan State University and her bachelor’s is in Home Economics Communication from the University of Delaware.
Dr. Jim Quigley
Dr. Jim Quigley is Vice President of Research and Product Development for APC, Inc., in Ames, Iowa, USA.
Jim Quigley is a native of New Hampshire and was raised on a small livestock and vegetable farm in rural New Hampshire. He received his BS from the University of New Hampshire in 1979 and MS in 1983. His Master’s research focused on rumen development in young dairy calves. Jim then attended Virginia Tech where he studied heifer nutrition and received his Ph.D. in 1985. Following graduation, Jim took a position with Cargill, Inc., in Elk River, Minnesota, where he served as dairy research manager. In 1988, Jim took a faculty position at the University of Tennessee. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 1993, and in 1994 Jim won the T. J. Whatley Distinguished Young Scientist Award at Tennessee. During his tenure at the University of Tennessee, Jim’s research focused on the nutrition and management of young dairy calves. In 1999, Jim won the Merial Dairy Management Award presented by the American Dairy Science Association.
In February 1998, Jim joined APC in Ames as a dairy nutritionist, where he is responsible for conducting dairy calf research and product development. He became the Director of Worldwide Research and was promoted to VP of Research in December 2002. Jim also holds an adjunct professor appointment in the Department of Animal Science at Iowa State University.
To date, Jim has published over 200 publications related to calf nutrition, management, and immunity. His current research efforts are directed to increasing health and survival of calves during the colostrum and milk feeding periods, and to improving our understanding of rumen development and weaning practices. Jim has spoken to farmers, veterinarians, and scientists at conferences and symposia all over the world. His “Calfnotes.com” website has been hugely successful, and has been visited by people in more than 75 countries and translated into several languages.
Steve Hayes, DVM
Steve Hayes received his D.V.M. from Iowa State University in 1979. He practiced as a large animal veterinarian focusing on dairy in Medford, Wis., and Edgerton, Wis. In 1983 he joined a regional feed company in the Midwest as the Technical Services Veterinarian. He remained in the feed business focusing on dairy and the replacement heifer until 1997 when he joined Milk Products Inc. as Technical Service Manager. Milk Products Inc. is a private label milk replacer manufacturer located in Chilton, Wis. His current position allows him to focus his entire time and energy on the pre-weaned calf while he travels the entire United States doing training/informational meetings and working with calf and heifer growers in a role both as a consultant and trouble shooter. He currently resides in Winona, Minn.
Sheila M. McGuirk, DVM, PhD
Dr. Sheila M. McGuirk holds the position of Professor in the Department of Medical Sciences which includes sections of large animal medicine and food animal production medicine in the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She also is a member of the Affiliate Faculty, Department of Animal Health and Biomedical Sciences, and is a Hoard’s Dairyman columnist for the Veterinary Column Questions.
She received her BS (Biological Sciences) from Cornell University (1973) and her DVM from the University of Georgia (1977). She completed her MS (Physiology, Pharmacology) at Ohio State University (1981), and attained her Ph.D. (Physiology, Pharmacology) at Ohio State University (1985). Dr. McGuirk also received a Specialty Certification from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 1982.
Dr. McGuirk’s clinical and teaching interests are focused on the integration of individual animal diagnostic, therapeutic and preventative strategies into herd-based problem diagnosis and management. Her research interest is in the development of tools and protocols that will reduce morbidity and mortality rates on dairy farms. Strategies that result in early, accurate disease detection and effective treatment are the focus of field-based projects.
Dr. McGuirk has received numerous awards for her teaching, clinical and research efforts: Norden Outstanding Teacher of the Year, 1990, 1994; AABP Award of Excellence, 1998; World Dairy Expo, Friend of Expo Person of the Year, 1998; WVMA Practitioner of the Year, 2000; Omega Tau Sigma National Gamma Award, 2002; and Election to the NCVEI Board of Directors, 2001.
Sandra Godden, DVM, DVSc
Sandra is a 1993 graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph. After working for two years as an associate veterinarian in mixed practice in Eastern Ontario, she returned to Guelph to complete a three-year Doctor of Veterinary Science degree specializing in dairy production medicine. From 1998 to present she has been a member of the Center for Dairy Health, Management and Food Quality at the University of Minnesota where she is involved with student teaching, applied research, and dairy outreach activities. Major academic interests include mastitis control, pasteurization of waste milk and colostrum, calf health management, applied nutrition, and Johne’s disease control.
Mark Crave
Mark Crave is part owner and herd manager of Crave Brothers Farm, LLC. He is also responsible for coordinating the daily operations of the farm’s 12 full-time employees.
The farming operation is owned by Mark and three of his brothers, Charles, George and Tom. The family has farmed in Waterloo, Wisconsin, for 21 years, growing from 65 cows on 190 acres to 650 cows and 1,500 acres of cropland.
Mark graduated from the UW-Madison in 1988 with a BS in Dairy Science. He and his wife, Tina, enjoy traveling whenever time allows.
Dr. Paul Fricke
Dr. Paul Fricke was raised on his family’s production row crop and dairy farm near Papillion, Nebr., where his father and uncle continue to farm today. After receiving a BS degree in Animal Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1988, Paul went on to complete his MS degree in 1992 and his Ph.D. degree in 1996 in Reproductive Physiology from the Department of Animal & Range Sciences at North Dakota State University in Fargo, N. Dakota. As part of his Ph.D. program, Paul conducted research from 1994-1995 at the USDA Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebr. In 1996, Paul accepted a position as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the laboratories of Dr. Milo Wiltbank in the Department of Dairy Science and Dr. O. J. Ginther in the Department of Animal Health and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
In 1997, Paul accepted an interim position as Extension Specialist in Dairy Cattle Reproduction in the Department of Dairy Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 1998, Dr. Fricke joined the faculty in the Department of Dairy Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in Dairy Reproduction. Paul’s current position includes a 75% Extension and a 25% research appointment in dairy cattle reproduction.
Dr. Fricke’s research interest continues to focus on ovarian physiology in dairy cattle. Paul has conducted research on development of hormonal protocols for synchronization of ovulation and fixed-time artificial insemination in lactating dairy cows in confinement-based and grazing-based dairies, development of hormonal protocols for synchronization of ovulation and fixed-time artificial insemination in dairy heifers, factors affecting twinning and management of dairy cows carrying twin fetuses, and practical methods for early detection of nonpregnancy in dairy cattle. Dr. Fricke has authored or co-authored 16 peer-review journal publications and 24 scientific abstracts.
The goal of Dr. Fricke’s extension program is to maximize reproductive efficiency of dairy cattle by applying knowledge gained through basic scientific research to develop practical management programs and technologies for use in production dairy cattle operations. Dr. Fricke continues to teach a Bovine Reproductive Ultrasound Workshop in Wisconsin that has been attended by more than 150 veterinarians from 26 states and two Canadian provinces since it was first offered in 1999. Since 1997, Paul has spoken to more than 200 audiences in Wisconsin and has presented more than 50 invited papers at conferences in 15 states and three Canadian provinces. In addition, Paul has been an invited speaker for dairy producer, industry, and veterinary audiences in Ecuador, Poland, South Africa and Spain.
Don Gardner, DVM
Dr. Gardner has raised heifers for 25 years. He has been a dairy practitioner for 33 years. He served on the original PDHGA task force, went on to serve as SE Regional Director, 1st Vice President and then President of PDHGA. Don Gardner is currently chairman of the PDHGA BMP program.
David Grusenmeyer
David Grusenmeyer joined the PRO-DAIRY staff at Cornell University as the Human Resource Management Specialist in September 1998. David has particular interests in personal branding and image development, situational leadership, and situational self-leadership training. He has also written and offered presentations and workshops on a variety of topics including developing business and personal mission, vision, value and goal statements; developing top performing employees; recruiting and hiring employees; multi-cultural workforce issues; orientation and training programs; performance appraisal; motivation; negotiating skills; delegation; problem solving; conflict management; employee handbook development; standard operating procedures; and communication skills.
David spent the previous 20 years as Extension Dairy Agent for Washington State University in Washington’s largest dairy county. He was responsible for Extension education programs covering all aspects of dairy business and production management as well as the 4-H youth dairy program in Whatcom County, Washington. David developed and coordinated the Washington Extension business education curriculum for Farm Services Agency (FSA) borrower training. He also provided statewide leadership for dairy nutrient management, environmental issues, and water quality education as well as conducted dairy nutrient management field research and demonstration projects.
David was raised on a dairy and crop farm near Dayton, Ohio, received a B.S. in Agriculture from The Ohio State University, an M.S. in Dairy Nutrition and an M.A. in Education from Michigan State University, and an M.B.A. from Western Washington University. David has also taught and consulted on numerous occasions in China, Estonia, and Russia.
David can be reached at Cornell University, 211 Warren Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853 or by phone at (607) 255-0756 or e-mail at dcg10@cornell.edu.
Barbara Sturm
Hi! I’m Barbara Sturm from Caledonia, New York, where I am the Young Stock Manager/Raiser and Office Manager for J-Rob Farms, Inc. Together with my husband Bob and his father, we cultivate alfalfa and corn on 1000 acres in the upper Genesee Valley to nourish our young stock, dry cows, and 475 milking Holsteins.
Having been involved in agriculture all of my life, starting with being raised on a “hobby” farm through today where it is our livelihood, my goal has become to be more educated about and involved in agriculture. Expanding my agricultural horizons has taken me throughout the United States, Canada, England, the Netherlands and Denmark.
I am a graduate of LEAD NY, Class 8, and the Young Dairy Leaders Institute, Class 4, and a very active participant in many local and state agricultural committees and organizations—Cornell Cooperative Extension, NYS Ag Society, and Upstate Farms Young Cooperators, to name a few.
Some of my off-farm activities and interests include raising our 26th potential guide puppy for Guiding Eyes for the Blind and being an Area Coordinator; a certified Master Gardener; canine agility training; music; and outdoor activities such as canoeing and skiing with a renewed interest in horseback riding.
Guy M. Vogel
I am a 43-year-old dairy farmer in Cato, near Manitowoc, Wis., am married, and have four children. In 1981 I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Mechanization with a minor in Animal Science from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. I worked on the family farm throughout grade school and high school, and while attending UWP, milked cows on a 80-cow-dairy farm outside of Galena, Illinois. After graduation, I returned to the family farm part-time and hauled bulk milk for Lake-to-Lake Dairy. In 1986, I worked for my parents on the then 120-cow dairy full-time. In 1993, my brother and I formed the Vogel Family Farms Partnership, taking over the family farm. We underwent expansion in 1996, building a new 4-row freestall barn and transforming the existing dairy barn to a double-8 parallel parlor and holding area. Twenty stalls were maintained in the old dairy barn to accommodate treated and fresh cows. Currently we are milking 300 Holsteins and run 1100 acres. We raise all heifer calves for replacements and sell bull calves at 2 weeks old. Calves are on Land-O-Lakes Cow’s Match milk replacer from day 2 through day 42. Calves are raised in individual hutches until completely weaned. At that time they are transferred to superhutches until about 2 ½ months of age. They are then moved to bedded-pack group pens until about 5 months of age. All animals older than 5 months are housed in freestalls with divisions by age and pregnancy status.
Jan Gawthrop, DVM
Jan Gawthrop is a veterinarian practicing in North Manchester, Indiana. He is a 1975 graduate of Purdue. Dr. Gawthrop is one of a few veterinarians specializing strictly in young calf-raising. He emphasizes that calves be treated safely and humanely, and he constantly looks for those management techniques that lessen stress and prevent disease. His practice is called CalfCare, where they “care for calves and the people who raise them.” Dr. Gawthrop also owns a calf-raising business, CattleLink, where they produce 20,000 calves per year from babies to 6 months old.