In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen speaks with Mikayla McGee of Jon-De Farms in Baldwin, Wisconsin. With dairy farming roots at Jon-De dating back to 1912, Mikayla shares her journey of returning to her family farm, challenging traditions, and making bold decisions to optimize operations. From right-sizing their dairy herd and adopting a rotary parlor to navigating human resources and maintaining the legacy, Mikayla discusses the blend of innovation and tradition that drives the farm today.

This Episode is Brought to you by Compeer Financial.

Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Our dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs.
For more information, contact the Compeer Dairy Industry Experts.

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• 00:00 Introduction to Bold Decisions at Jon-De Farms
• 01:15 Mikayla McGee's Return and Leadership Challenges
• 01:49 Historical Insights and Family Legacy
• 03:57 Transitioning and Finding Her Place
• 08:44 Innovative Changes and Right-Sizing the Dairy
• 14:40 Implementing the Rotary Parlor
• 16:57 Employee Well-being and Work Schedule Adjustments
• 18:29 Technology and Innovations in Dairy Farming
• 20:22 Right-Sizing Philosophy and Financial Decisions
• 22:45 Human Resource Management and Employee Relations
• 27:30 Future Plans and Personal Reflections
• 28:47 Rapid-Fire Questions and Final Thoughts