Golden Oaks, Ransom Rail and Exels Holsteins and Jerseys are names familiar to the winner’s circle at World Dairy Expo, but these three herds have another common chord. They all operate commercial dairies.

Progressive Dairyman caught up with five industry professionals who step away from their main livelihoods for one week of the year to pursue passions close to their hearts. They make their livings doing such things as balancing rations, planning manure pits or selling semen, yet when World Dairy Expo rolls around, they take on a different set of tasks.

Some people may find bird watching to be an enjoyable hobby, but for a dairy producer, watching flocks of birds attack feed piles or roost in barn rafters is not their idea of a good time.

Pagel’s Ponderosa John Pagel, owner | Chris Szydel, herd manager Casco, Wisconsin Maintaining hoof health during the dry period can be a challenge on many dairies, but at Pagel’s Ponderosa, a movable, homemade stainless-steel footbath ensures that all cows are covered.

Trucks, tractors and tons of feed make harvest season a busy time on dairies – and potentially a dangerous one, too. Juan Quezada, director of safety and training at Milk Source, strives to keep employees out of harm’s way while putting up large volumes of forage. The dairy located in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, handles roughly 360,000 tons of corn silage, 130,000 tons of haylage and 50,000 tons of sorghum silage per year.

Budjon Farms of Lomira, Wisconsin, may be well-known for their showring achievements, but their recent building additions are for more than just show. To keep pace with their evolving business structure, Tom and Kelli Cull completed a project this summer that elevates the experience at Budjon for both their customers and cattle.

More than 300 attendees from more than a dozen countries gathered in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for the Hoof Trimmers Association’s Hoof Health Conference on July 16-19. The four-day event brought in the hoof trimming trade’s renowned experts from industry and academia, speaking on topics such as digital dermatitis (DD) and animal welfare.