Name: William Wolf

Job Title: Senior Dairy Technology Support Specialist 

Company: CowManager

What education are you bringing with you to this position?

I received a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science from Texas A&M University, focusing my studies on cattle production systems. I also attended the U.S. Dairy Education and Training Consortium, where I spent six weeks learning from leading dairy science professors from across the country and visiting numerous dairies throughout the Texas Panhandle and eastern New Mexico.

Please describe your agricultural background.

I grew up on a north Texas dairy farm that my grandfather built in the '70s after branching off from my great-grandfather’s dairy. In addition to the dairy, we also farmed wheat and coastal pasture for grazing and hay production. As I got older, I became increasingly more involved in the farm operations. During high school, I was active in FFA and showed beef heifers through the program. After college, I purchased springing Jersey heifers to run as my personal string of cows on the family dairy.

What territory will you cover?

I will be covering the North American market as well as assisting international colleagues on support cases that span into my working hours.

What are your new responsibilities?

I am responsible for providing producers and specialists with system support, answering questions about the system and its different modules, and verifying proper installation of new systems.

What previous positions have you held?

Previously, I was working in network operations at an internet service provider, assisting in customer solutions as well as network maintenance, expansion and mapping. Before that, I was full time on the family dairy involved with all daily tasks, as well as looking for opportunities to improve efficiency and increase cow comfort.

Who has made the biggest impact on your career?

The biggest impact on my career wasn’t tied to any one person or group, but rather to the time I spent away from the dairy industry for a couple of years. Not only did it expand my horizons, it helped reignite my passion for the industry. Beyond that, I’m especially grateful to everyone who has opened their farms up for tours and educational opportunities, and to those who have been willing to discuss their unique challenges and the solutions they’ve found.

How will you be of most help to producers in your region or area of expertise?

Having been actively involved in the family dairy, I know the importance of having things work, like equipment and systems – and when they don’t, I understand the urgency of being able to get them back up quickly. With my experience in the tech sphere, I join this team with the knowledge necessary to diagnose and resolve issues quickly, helping to get producers up and running with full capabilities.

Why did you choose this company?

This company has been on my radar for several years. I first heard about the company through its partnership with Select Sires and was quickly impressed with how much information they could gather from a sensor in the ear. The rise of technology in the dairy industry has always been of interest to me, and this company stands out as a leader. 

What goals would you like to accomplish while in this position?

The ultimate goal is to help producers operate their farms effectively and efficiently, as well as continuing to build their trust in the company through quick and reliable support. This is achieved by maintaining operational systems and working with our performance specialists to educate producers on how to get the most value out of the different CowManager modules.