Second day of activities in New Mexico (supplied by Lindsey Worden, Holstein Association USA)

YDLI class members began their leadership training on Thursday with a full day of insightful and eye-opening workshops.

YDLI Coach Michele Payn-Knoper began the opening session with a rousing video, showing students why it is critical for the dairy industry to have a strong voice. She also got the blood pumping with some kickboxing to ensure that everyone was awake and enthusiastic for their workshop on personality types!

Are you a lion, a beaver, an otter, or a lab? The answer to this question can define how you relate to your family, friends, and coworkers. Jim Henion lead a very interesting session on understanding personality types and investigating why people act the way they do. Everyone completed a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator survey and answered introspective questions to help determine their personality type. After deciding which group they fit into, the class broke into teams based on their type, and were challenged to come up with a solution to a scenario about the proper way to handle dairy expansion. This exercise sparked quite a bit of lively discussion between the different types, and everyone came away with a better understanding of themselves and each other.

At lunch, the 2006 and 2007 Distinguished Alumni Leader Award (DAL) recipients were honored. Bonnie Burr, from Connecticut, and a member of the first class of YDLI was honored as the 2006 DAL, and Duane and Marilyn Hershey from Pennsylvania, also Class I members, were honored as the 2007 recipients.

After lunch, David Williamson stretched the creative limits of the classes’ imagination with several team building exercises. Participants quickly learned that coordinating 76 people to accomplish a task required strong leadership and perseverance. Williamson used the theme of petroglyphs to demonstrate that people can have different perceptions of the same situation and that it is important to think outside the box to achieve difficult tasks. Self-discovery was again a theme in the afternoon workshop, when everyone was challenged to figure out exactly what drives and motivate them to do what they do and accomplish their goals. The workshop concluded with people creating their own “metro-glyphs” and tapping into a creative side that many didn’t know they had!

Patricia Katz provided the evening entertainment after dinner, speaking about the importance of life balance. It’s a fast paced society that we operate in, and it is important to take a step back and pause to re-charge our batteries and avoid burn out. Katz will provide more insight on this topic that most can relate to during her opening session on Friday morning.

Also on the agenda for tomorrow is a YDLI favorite – media training, lead by David Pelzer and Joan Horbiak. Class members will learn how to speak up for and defend their cause when the camera is in their face and they’re being challenged with difficult questions. They will also have the opportunity to hear from Donna Manring and gain some understanding about consumer and nutritional issues facing the industry. Finally, the evening will close with some entertainment that promises to be absolutely “mesmerizing”.

Check back tomorrow for more updates and pictures from Day 3 of YDLI!

Holstein Foundation Chairman Chuck Worden, Bonnie Burr, and Programs Manager Jodi Hoynoski.

Marilyn Hershey accpets the 2007 DAL Award.

Joanna Samuelson taps into her creative side with David Williamson.

Class members get “pumped up” by Pat Katz’s life balance discussion.

Phase 1 of Class 6 of the Young Dairy Leaders Institute kicked off on Wednesday with tours of New Mexico dairy farms and a Welcome Fiesta.

New to YDLI this year, participants had the option to tour two New Mexico dairy farms. Approximately 60 class members visited the dairies, which were located about an hour south of Albuquerque. The first stop was Jones Dairy, Inc. in Veguita, run by Ron, Linda, Dale, and Jeff Jones. The Jones family milks 2,500 cows in a 56 stall rotary parlor. The second stop was H.A.W. Farms in Belen, NM. This dairy is owned by John and Holly Woelber, and their son, Luke. They milk 2,000 cows in a double 30 parallel parlor. We would like to thank both dairies for their hospitality! The weather cooperated once again, with temperatures in the low 60s. Both farms exposed class members to a style of dairying that many hadn’t experienced before, and it was a great learning experience for all.

After getting cleaned up, it was time to officially kick off the program with the New Mexico Welcome Fiesta. Going along with the “fiesta” theme for the class, everyone was able to enjoy some delicious Mexican food – chips, salsa, tacos, taquitos, and empanadas – while listening to good music and enjoying great company. After eating and some informal mingling, Holstein Foundation Programs Manager Jodi Hoynoski and YDLI Coach Michele Payn-Knoper lead the group in a mixer, challenging the class to step outside of their comfort zone and get to know their classmates a little better. The assignment was to pick a person that they didn’t already know and “interview” them to find the answer to some interesting questions. It was a great activity to get everyone acquainted and have some good laughs along the way.

Thursday will mark the beginning of the workshops for the class. Michele Payn-Knoper will kick off the session, giving everyone an idea of what lies ahead on their YDLI journey, and challenging them to expand their horizons. Next, Jim Henion will lead a workshop on understanding and working with different personality types. At lunch, the Holstein Foundation will honor the Distinguished Alumni Leader Award recipients, Bonnie Burr (2006) and Duane and Marilyn Hershey (2007). The afternoon begins with David Williamson helping everyone to think outside the box and stretching the limits of their creativity. Finally, the keynote speaker at dinner will be Patricia Katz (who is also leading a workshop on Friday), speaking about life balance leadership and sharing some strategies to help everyone “keep the fire in their fiesta”.

Check back tomorrow for updates and pictures from Thursday’s session!

Class members start to roll in….Jodi Hoynoski and Kelli Dunklee talk to Josh Hushon at the registration desk.

Annie McCullough and Jeni Dingbaum check out the calves at Jones Dairy in Veguita.

Group picture in front of the milking barn at H.A.W. Farm in Belen.

Headlocks as far as the eye can see at H.A.W. Farm!

Michele Payn-Knoper listens to Andy Meyer and Lori Connelly respond to the question, “If a movie were made about your life, what would it be called and what actor would portray you?”.

Guest blogger: Lindsey Worden, Holstein Association USA

Young Dairy Leaders Institute Class 6 Kicks Off Today!

Final preparations are being made for Phase I of Young Dairy Leaders Institute (YDLI) Class 6 in Albuquerque, New Mexico! While most of the country is experiencing frigid temperatures, the YDLI crew is enjoying beautiful weather in the low 60s, with no chance of snow.

Phase I kicks off on Wednesday afternoon with tours of two New Mexico dairy farms - Jones Dairy, Inc., in Veguita and H.A.W. Farms in Belen. Later in the evening is the New Mexico Welcome Fiesta, where class members will have the opportunity to mingle and meet their fellow classmates, Holstein Foundation Board of Trustees, and the YDLI Advisory Committee.

The rest of the week has a jam-packed schedule full of interactive workshops. Thursday’s program will focus on understanding different personality types and developing creative thinking. Friday’s workshops will cover life balance, extensive media training, nutritional issues, and will close with a hypnotist for evening entertainment. The final day, Friday, will include development of leadership skills, an industry discussion panel, understanding consumer issues, and planning for Phase II. The class will conclude with a final banquet on Saturday evening.

Seventy-five young adults from across the country will participate in this class of YDLI. Phase I is held February 27-March 1 and focuses on individual leadership and communications skills. Phase II takes place in the year after Phase I, and gives attendees the opportunity to apply and practice skills that they acquired during Phase I through activities and projects in their home communities. The class comes together again in Albuquerque February 25-28, 2009 for Phase III, which focuses more on group leadership skills and advanced media training.

Check back daily for pictures and updates from the events and workshops!

Sandia Mountain range

Sunset in the mountains

Welcome to YDLI!

Hotel entryway

The Albuquerque Grand Airport Hotel

Dr. Ray Nebel has been visiting with DairyLine Radio over the past few weeks about things that can derail a herd`s reproductive success. To recap, the things he has touched on so far are:
-Transition
-Nutrition
-Disease
-Lack of systems

But the constant behind all of these things is people! Working with good people translates into a good team that will work hard to make things better. They are the ones working with the transition cows, mixing the ration, treating sick cows, etc. There must be strong compliance to set protocals and communicaton within the team. Schedule monthly team meetings as a time to have question & answer for everyone on the team.

The people behind the success of any operation are the managers. To truly be an effective manager, what does it take? This week`s Success Strategies with John Ellsworth on DairyLine Radio answers that question. Click the play button below to hear the full segment.

Too often the success of a business is not realized because the management team has one of two ways of thinking: 1) We`ve always done things this way. OR 2) We`ve never done it like that before. Rise above this mentality and eliminate all unnecessary tasks! Efficiency is vital.

Effective managers…

1. Know where their time goes.
2. Build on strengths - theirs and others.
3. Force themselves to stay within priorities.
4. Concentrate where superior performance with produce outstanding results.
5. Make effective decisions by researching and reviewing options.

Enjoy these additional scenes from the meetings and sale during the 2008 California Holstein Convention, held the last weekend in January in Sacramento! Photographs courtesy of Carolina Evangelo.

Sale time!

Winners of the A.J. Quist Junior Breeder Award are Jon & Tami Tollenaar.

There”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””’’s nothing quite like a dairy bowl victory!

Frankie J. Coderniz, retiring from the Board, gets a useful and beautiful gift of appreciation.

The Van Exel family did a phenomenal job getting things ready for sale day and took every precautionary measure to protect from the ongoing rains. The family was also recognized the night before at the convention banquet, as Hank & Carolyn were awarded the coveted Senior Breeder award.

It”””’’s a boy! Proud parents Amy & Chad Ryan of Fond du Lac, WI, welcomed their first child, Dylan Joseph, into the world on Sunday at 6:30am. Chad is a partner in Ryan-Vue Holsteins, while Amy is employed at ABS Global. Congratulations!

Accelerated Genetics staff Kari Stanek, Communications & Public Relations Coordinator, and Amber Elliott, Advertising and Public Relations Intern, finish off the ””””””””blog”””””””” from the 2008 Young Producer Winter Get-Away - ””””””””Winter Safari at the Kalahari””””””””.

Another successful Accelerated Genetics Young Producer event comes to an end. The final day began with a delicious breakfast buffet followed by an exciting Wild Animal scavenger hunt, with members able to explore all of the facilities at the Kalahari Resort.

Then Dana Zurbuchen, a motivational speaker, talked with the group about “How to Master the Work/Life Balance.” Dana encouraged the group to keep family time a priority and how to balance family with work.

Finally, both adult and youth learned about “Confined Space Farm Safety” with Cheryl Skjolaas. The final session was an interactive program where families were able to discuss their farms and how to stay safe in confined spaces.

Before the conference concluded, a drawing for a ””””””””free”””””””” stay at the Kalahari Resort was done and the winner was Hannah Iverson of Plum City, Wis.

Everyone in attendance enjoyed all the weekend had to offer, especially the INDOOR water park. A special thank-you to the Young Producer Committee, without their help and commitment this get-away and other Young Producer events would not be possible.

The next Accelerated Genetics Young Producer event is the Leadership Conference titled ””””””””Cultivating Leaders”””””””” featuring speakers Jolene Brown, Donna Moenning and Tom Jadin. This conference will be held March 29-30, 2008 at the Wintergreen Resort and Convention Center in Wisconsin Dells, Wis.

Again if you live in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois and are interested in attending future Young Producer events check out the Accelerated Genetics website www.accelgen.com or call Kari Stanek 800.451.9275 ext. 222 or kstanek@accelgen.com.

The Grady family of Oregon, Wis. found the ””””””””elephant”””””””” during the wild scavenger hunt.

Dana Zurbuchen gets some input to her Mastering the Work/Life Balance session from this young man.

Cheryl Skjolaas demonstrates how easily a person can get sucked into a gravity box filled with corn during the farm safety session.

Mike Korth of New London, Wis. shares his new farm safety rule for at home.

Katie Martin, Portage, Wis. and Chris Davis, Wisconsin Dells, Wis. brainstorm different things that could happen in the combined space of a silo during the safety session.

Winners of the Safari Hat Decorating contest in ages 6-8 (l to r) 3rd Holly Oberreich - Plymouth, Wis., 2nd Phebe Christen - Monroe, Wis. 1st - Libby Pankratz of Auburndale, Wis.

Taking home the most coveted prize of the weekend a stay a the Kalahari Resort is Hannah Iverson (center), she with her brother Nate and mother Nancy.She said she will using her gift card during this summer”””””””’’s National Holstein Convention to be held in Wisconsin at the Kalahari Resort June 23-26, 2008!

Also, Accelerated Genetics, as a convention sponsor and Wisconsin-based agricultural business, wants to welcome Holstein enthusiasts to Wisconsin this summer for the 2008 National Holstein Convention to be held June 23-26 at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.

Written by Amber Elliott, 2008 Advertising & Public Relations Intern:

After a fun-filled Safari afternoon, it was time for dinner of roast beef, ham, and all the fixings. An exciting night of magic and comedy was ahead. Jerry Fraiser, a well known magician provided suspense and excitement. Adults and children alike enjoyed card tricks, escape acts and even a floating attendee.

Next the best dressed awards were announced with the top 5 receiving prizes. The awards went to families and individuals that fulfilled the safari theme to the fullest. 5th place - Elle Walker and Ben Tibor of Minnesota City, Minn. 4th place - Doug & Jane Popp of Royalton, Minn., 3rd place - Jim & Barb Davis of Tomah, Wis., 2nd place - Tom & Katie Grady of Oregon, Wis., and the Best Dressed Safari Family was Ryan and Tonya Wayerski and their children Mackayla, Riley, Landyn and Taryn of Pittsville, Wis.

Finally, it was time to relax by watching movies, playing games or going to America”””””””’’s Largest Water park. Participants were able to choose from floating down?the lazy river, flying down one of the many water slides, or splashing in the wave pool.

As the first day of the Accelerated Genetics Winter Get-Away ended, producers still had much to look forward to with more opportunities to explore the Kalahari and the Young Producer Program.

3414 - Ellie Larson…sporting her bathing suit in the wonderfully warm indoor waterpark!

3427 - These to ”””””””’’safari”””””””” kids are enthralled with the comic magician.

3434 - Kelly Oberreich and Mike Lewien get their 5 minutes of fame helping Jerry Fraiser with a magic trick.

3471 - This ””””””””lil hunter spots the some big game!

3499 - The finale of the magic act was floating this young girl on stage and everyone was in ahhh!

Another short burst of snow didn”t stop 241 from migrating to the Accelerated Genetics Young Producer Winter Get-Away “Winter Safari at the Kalahari” in Wisconsin Dells, Wis.

Big Safari Hunters of all shapes and sizes (otherwise dairy and beef producers along with their families) from across Wisconsin, parts of Minnesota and Iowa gathered together to network, learn new things and get out of the cold for the weekend.

After a welcome program and introductions the group split up and went a variety of directions. The adults learned about nutrient management and air quality issues from Chris Baxter, UW-Platteville Professor & Extension Nutrient Management Specialist. Youth ages 8-18 headed to Knuckleheads entertainment complex to try their hand at bowling or ride on one of the many indoor amusement rides. The tiny tots of the group had their own special room to head to where they excitedly colored safari pictures, designed some crafts and even went on a safari hike.

Now the group is taking a break in the Kalahari Resorts HUGE indoor waterpark…many of them were talking about trying their hand at surfing or going on the wild water coaster ride.

Tonight, the group will enjoy a Safari feast followed by a Comic Magician, Jerry Fraiser. Plus much more to come for late evening and Sunday!

The Accelerated Genetics cooperative Young Producer Program is available to customers (herd owners and employees) in the membership area of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois. If you live this area and wish to learn more about upcoming events check out Accelerated Genetics website at www.accelgen.com or contact Kari Stanek at 800.451.9275 ext. 222 or kstanek@accelgen.com.

Tony and Maizie Scheffler Family - Zumbrota, Minn.

Someone spotted a wild animal at the Kalahari

Tim Servais, Stoddard, Wis., Introduces him and his family during the welcome program.

The Popp family of Royalton, Minn. really got into the Safari spirit…they are hunting for the big cats!

Amy Larson of Larson Acres, Evansville, Wis. helps her daughter Ellie and others with craft projects during the tiny tot session.

Some little hunters gather butterflies.

More young hunters make there way through the ”wild” safari.