Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Anthony Rice of Clover Creek Cheese Cellar in Blair County, Pennsylvania describes his family’s transition from a conventional dairy farm to a seasonal, pasture-based operation more than 30 years ago. He shares the detail and creativity that goes into the cheese-making process along with the protein and butterfat goals they have for their herd. The Rice family processes all of...

Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Brent Copenhaver from Talview Dairy, a 500-cow dairy milking at two different locations in Lebanon County, PA, spoke about his journey into the dairy business, getting his start by purchasing cows and equipment from a retiring dairy producer. His approach to the dairy business includes prioritizing a balanced lifestyle, building strong relationships, building up cash flow, and...

Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Jim Harbach from Schrack Farms in Clinton County, Pennsylvania dives into all things cropping as we prepare for spring planting season. With a goal of keeping something growing in the soil every day of the year on their 2,500 acres, Jim describes the transformation he has seen in their soil over the last 50 years. He shares how to navigate higher fertilizer costs by focusing o...

Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Kate (Kulp) Musselman of Kulp Family Dairy LLC in Blair County, Pennsyvlania gives an inside look at their 3,000-cow dairy operation. With three different sites and 6,500 acres between owned and rented land, Kate shares the herd management and employee management strategies that make up their dairy business and satellite operations. As they navigate an expansion that will take...

Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Alan Davis of Davis Farms LLC in Butler/Armstrong County, Pennsylvania describes his family’s decision to upgrade to robots versus building a new parlor for their 150-cow herd. He shares how the shift to robotics has helped them make data-driven breeding decisions and achieve earlier intervention when it comes to herd health. From managing heifer inventories to budgeting and b...

Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! “Profitability is paramount, and we try to never be satisfied. What can we do to keep pushing production and maximize our facility?” Speaking to their forward-thinking approach and eye for critical details, David Sattazahn, who farms with his brother Doug and wife Katie on Zahncroft Dairy in Berks County, Pennsylvania, reflects on some of the decisions that have led their family, farm and herd to where they are today i...

Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Jeremy Martin of Mountain View Holsteins LLC in Berks County, Pennsylvania shares his unconventional journey after taking over management of his family’s dairy farm at the young age of 17 when his father unexpectedly passed away. With 140 cows in their herd, Jeremy describes how he focuses on production, cow comfort, breeding, and ways to make farming fun. Jeremy also shares h...

Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! “I always believed I was bringing my husband home. I also believed he could not come home to an empty barn. I was going to do everything to make sure there were cows here. He needed something to fight for.” In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Kerri Weber of Rustik Dairy LLC in Franklin County, Pennsylvania opens up about her journey navigating her husband Rob’s unexpected brain aneurysm 15 months ago. After more...

Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Steve Harnish of Central Manor Dairy LLC in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania describes how they address bottlenecks on their 200-cow dairy operation, navigate land price constraints, and leverage certain pieces of technology to manage their cows more intensively. From upgrading their transition cow facility and installing cow ID technology to investing in rumination boluses and ...

Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, we welcome our first-ever dairy producer from outside of Pennsylvania. Dee Shafer of Shafdon Farms in Jefferson, Maryland describes her family’s 10-year journey of trying to turn things around financially – moving from a place of being financially strapped with lenders telling them to look for someone else to becoming financially strong and profitable. Some of their most signi...