Holstein World: Describe your position at Holstein World. When did you first begin working, what are your primary responsibilities, favorite tasks, etc.

Sarah Schmidt: In June of 2005, I joined the Holstein World team as an Internet Services Associate and Contributing Writer. My primary responsibilities include working with current Internet customers and their websites, while also helping to develop websites for new customers and promoting the Internet services we have to offer. Secondary responsibilities include writing stories for the magazine from time to time, and coordinating our efforts on the All Breeds Blog.

Some of my favorite tasks include completing a website and posting it for the world to see, visiting with breeders and researching pedigrees. I enjoy following the progress of a customer’s herd and becoming “involved” in their operation.

Holstein World: Share with our readers a little bit about your personal background. What you did before Holstein World, schooling, family members, pets, hobbies, etc.

Sarah Schmidt: I grew up on a Registered Holstein family farm, Raylore Farm, in Hutchinson, MN. My parents, siblings and I have always been involved in the dairy community and enjoy showing at any level. Junior Holstein activities were a part of our life from a very early age.

After graduating from the University of MN in 2005 with a degree in Animal Science, I went straight to work for the Holstein World. While in school I had internship experience with Cargill Animal Nutrition, MN Dept. of Agriculture and the College of Agricultural, Food & Environmental Sciences. I was also very involved on campus with the Gopher Dairy Club and the Dairy Judging Team. Go Gophers!

My husband, Kelly, and I just recently purchased an acreage in SW MN where we currently have a herd of three bred Simmental heifers. (Kelly works for the American Simmental Association.) Plans are to grow this group of heifers, while also working with Holstein heifers from my parents’ farm. Equal beef & dairy! Showing (both species) is one of our hobbies, along with playing with our Springer Spaniel, Brodie, reading, remodeling our house and barn, and visiting our families.

Holstein World: What is one of your favorite memories working here? Most exciting accomplishment?

Sarah Schmidt: Some of my favorite memories come from when our whole team gets to spend time together. We have a lot of fun together, whether it be a sale, company meeting or World Dairy Expo. We enjoy what we do and the people we work with, that makes it easy to have fun!

Personally, my most exciting accomplishment has been seeing my work, a website or a story, published online or in the magazine. Also, seeing the number of websites that we work with grow from about 100 when I began, to now being close to 250! Online advertising is definitely not a passing fad – its here to stay! People really enjoy the convenience and ease of promoting their animals online, while also reading the daily news information that we provide.

Holstein World: Is there any additional information you’d like to share?

Sarah Schmidt: I LOVE visiting with people and I LOVE cows! I have a tremendous respect for breeders who have dedicated their lives to developing cows and cow families, and have a progressive and optimistic view of the registered dairy cattle business. At a time when it can be easy to dwell on milk prices, feed prices, weather, finding good help, etc., I find it refreshing to talk with someone who is excited about a springing heifer or anticipating the classifier’s next visit. I enjoy helping people promote their animals through print and online advertising. Be excited and proud of your herd – if you’re not, who will be?

Holstein World: Describe your position at Holstein World. When did you first begin working, what are your primary responsibilities, favorite tasks, etc.

Karen Knutsen: I started at Holstein World in February 2002, so I””m just about to celebrate being a New Yorker for five years now! When I was first hired, my primary responsibilities included more public relations things - writing press releases, helping plan special issues, writing promotion pieces, and helping with ads. I transitioned into an assistant editor position about a year after that, and eventually became Editor in August of 2004. Besides writing, as well as organizing a fabulous editorial team, I still dabble with some ad work and website updates. I””m also in charge of collecting news for both Holstein World and AllBreed Access daily updates. My favorite part of the job, by far, is traveling and learning the stories behind everyone that I meet. It doesn””t matter if you have 30 cows or 3,000 cows, your stories are fascinating because they all reflect the passion that we share for the Registered Holstein cow.

Holstein World: Share with our readers a little bit about your personal background. What you did before Holstein World, schooling, family members, pets, hobbies, etc.

Karen Knutsen: I was born and raised on Lovdal Farms in Rising Sun, MD. My dad and uncle were partners on the dairy, until just recently, when my uncle retired. Dad still milks cows and loves it! I graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in animal science and left school to work as a poultry supervisor for Perdue Farms in Delaware. The chicken business is quite an adventure, and I should probably write a book about those 1.5 years of my life, but I missed the dairy industry too much to stay. I worked for Semex USA for 10 years - both on the east coast and in Madison, so I got to fully appreciate the level of enthusiasm that Badger fans have for all their teams! From Semex, I came directly to the World. I””m currently serving as a 4-H co-leader for the Moo Crew Dairy Club in central New York, and love, love, love the winter times here - including skiing, hockey, snow shoeing and anything that involves being outside in the cold weather! I still get home to milk some weekends, and really enjoy working at Lylehaven when I can!

Holstein World: What is one of your favorite memories working here? Most exciting accomplishment?

Karen Knutsen: I””ve got too many favorite memories to pick just one - but most include those lovely travel stories! Julie Brown and I trying desperately to find a hotel with a hairdryer on a trip west…decorating for the Kingsmill sale, any trip to California, a speeding ticket on the way to the Heatherstone sale, my Bacon Hill lunch meetings…this industry is filled with many great clients, but more importantly, it”’’s filled with even more great friends! And of course, our office is loaded with practical jokesters. We have an awesome working environment both here and with our field team - the best I””ve known! Exciting accomplishments have been the evolution of AllBreed Access and the continued new developments in Holstein World.

Holstein World: Is there any additional information you’d like to share?

Karen Knutsen: I think the success of Holstein World and AllBreed Access is all due to teamwork - between the livestock ad team and the internet team, and also between all our readers. The magazine should really be called “Your Holstein World” as we try extremely hard to bring the world to your door, telling your stories and reporting on your events. We absolutely love what we do, and while many of us would like to, we can””t milk cows. These magazines are our “farms” and we””re just as committed to making them succeed. I think you””ll see a lot more new things in 2007 - both in print and on the internet. We hope you like them! Please feel free to let us know what you think - our ability to change and grow comes from your comments and suggestions!

Holstein World: Describe your position at Holstein World. When did you first begin working, what are your primary responsibilities, favorite tasks, etc.

Jenny Thomas: I started with Holstein World in January 2006 working on special projects including the first issue of AllBreed Access. I then joined the staff as a full-time employee in March 2006 as a breeder advertising sales representative. My duties include sales and editorial responsibilities for AllBreed Access as well as Internet sales for both the Holstein World and AllBreed Access websites. In addition, I help with show, sale and event coverage for both the Holstein World and AllBreed Access publications. The most current addition to my list is the All-American Jersey Contest which has exceeded many expectations in its first year!

Holstein World: Share with our readers a little bit about your personal background. What you did before Holstein World, schooling, family members, pets, hobbies, etc.

Jenny Thomas: I grew up on my family dairy - Richman Farms in Lodi, OH. The farm consists of 700 acres and they are currently milking 40 head of registered Holsteins, Jerseys and a couple Brown Swiss. I attended Ohio State, where I earned a degree with a major in Animal Science and a minor in AgBusiness and Economics. After graduation, I worked for Ohio Farm Bureau as an Organization Director. Two years later, I moved back to the family farm and worked for Ohio Holstein Association as the Office Manager.

In December, I married Nathan Thomas of Triple-T Holsteins, North Lewisburg, Ohio where we currently reside. We board show heifers and cows, while milking our small herd of Holsteins and Jerseys.

My hobbies and pets are much of the same creature…the cows! So much of my life revolves around the cattle and the people that work with them.

Holstein World: What is one of your favorite memories working here? Most exciting accomplishment?

Jenny Thomas: I currently am drawing near to my one year anniversary….and can not believe that it has already been that long! I have enjoyed every minute! What they say is true…time flies when you are having fun and surrounded by great people. It has been a great experience to be part of such a close-knit and cooperative team.

As far as my most memorable moments…my first official week of work sent me on a road trip in Maryland with Frank Putman. We had a great time and a very successful week during our herd visits. We dubbed our trip “Frank & Jen’s Great Adventure.” I felt very fortunate to be able to visit with the great people and their cattle and calling it my ‘job.’

AllBreed Access has been a work in progress, growing and evolving with each issue. The website in return has gained popularity and both the print and internet have taken off to a new level! Now, we have added the All-American Jersey Contest for the deserving Jersey breeders. It has been a great sense of accomplishment to see recognition given to these well deserved individuals and their owners.

Holstein World: Is there any additional information you’d like to share?

Jenny Thomas: Growing up, I always leafed through the pages of the Holstein World. I remember seeing great cattle and high profile herds that covered the pages. I only hoped that one day, I would have something ‘good enough’ to advertise. Now when I reflect, I realize that there is always someone looking to buy…but self-promotion is essential to be found. It does not matter if you do not have the winner from Madison, you still have ’something’ that ’someone’ could be looking for! BE FOUND!